It may be nearly December, but international opportunities for UKBFF / IFBB athletes continue to come thick and fast.

Last weekend bikini fitness athlete Lisa-Marie Graham continued her hot streak by becoming the first UK competitor to win an IFBB Elite Pro masters competition, earning €1,000 in the process.

She was taking part in the IFBB Masters Elite Pro in Rome. Fellow British bikini fitness competitor Kat Jakubcova was fifth.

This was Lisa-Marie's eighth event of the year and she isn't done yet – she plans to compete at the IFBB Masters World Professional Championships in Spain, which take place from 6 to 8 December.

In the amateur event that accompanied the pro show, Olga Upelniece finished fourth in bodyfitness and Szilvia Babinszki did not place in a masters bikini fitness class that featured no fewer than 20 women.

This weekend sees Olga, fellow bikini fitness athlete Meg Lawrence, wellness competitor Shannon Mackie and reigning British bodyfitness champion Victoria Crewe in action at another major international IFBB event – the Diamond Cup Prague.

It will be Olga's last push for the $9,000 top prize awarded to whoever tops the IFBB World Ranking in bodyfitness in 2019.

Two weeks ago UK Nationals men's physique Kishan Patel champion narrowly missed out on a top 10 place at the 73rd IFBB Men's Amateur World Championships in the United Arab Emirates in a class featuring almost 30 guys.

With major events like the IFBB World Fitness Championships and the IFBB World Masters Championships still to come, there is still plenty to play for, and it's great to see UK athletes making the most of the global opportunities.