The heart and other muscles: Passion for health drive strong competition
When she’s demonstrating a cardiac ultrasound probe to her class, students will sometimes ask Kim Prince about her muscles.
While her life-saving career requires plenty of strength, it’s Ms Prince’s sporting passion that has built her powerhouse physique.
The CQUniversity Echocardiography and Cardiac Physiology Lecturer has earned a world champion title in bodybuilding, and this month will compete at international powerlifting event the ZeroW Pro 3 in Wales.
The Brisbane-based educator says her eight years as a strongwoman competitor has been a natural fit with her teaching and health care career.
Healthy competition
Ms Prince is current Australian female masters record holder for deadlifting in the natural (without performance-enhancing substances) category with a 201kg lift, and says her biggest goal is health.
“Because my career has always focused on cardiac, keeping the cardiovascular system strong and healthy is so important – no matter how you approach it.”
She began the training in her late 30s, after struggling with work-life balance and in a “slump”.
A gym challenge saw her lose 23 kilos in 12 weeks, and thrive on the routine and competition goals.
“Plus, the work is quite physically and mentally demanding, so the exercise is a great stress release!” she said.
Around her teaching at CQU Brisbane, Ms Prince trains every day of the week, including five 90-minute weights sessions, with cycling, walking or swimming on the other two days.
Lifting aspirations
Ms Prince’s training discipline gives her a handy perspective for preparing future sonographers and echocardiographers for busy health care careers.
“Whether it’s getting stronger, or getting on stage in a bikini, I am always motivated to get out of my comfort zone!” she said.
“And I encourage students to take the same approach. It’s not an easy course, but if you really want to help people, it’s worth it – even the smallest interaction you have with a patient can make their day go from bad to good.”
Following her competition in Wales, Ms Prince is set to volunteer at the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Milan, Italy.
“It’s just so exciting to be in that environment, where athletes have worked hard, and are at their peak!” she said.
“My role is supporting communications between athletes and the Olympic Committee and Paralympic Committee, so that’s a skill I use every day in my job, and using it in a new environment, in a new country, is a challenge!” she said.
CQUniversity’s Echocardiography courses are available to study in Brisbane or Sydney, visit the Echocardiography course page for more information.
