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Prep is More Than a Phase. It's a Process of Mastery.
Prep is not an 8, 12, or 16-week sprint. It needs to be done properly to yield the best result for the Athlete on stage and the athlete returning to life after the lights go out.
Prep is the culmination of consistency, structure, and long-game thinking. Before you step on stage, you must build a foundation. Matter Athletica takes a principle-driven, whole-person approach to prep, physique, mindset, lifestyle, and identity.
Athlete Centered Approach
While most prep approaches fixate solely on the physique, Matter Athletica uniquely integrates biopsychosocial coaching, aligning physiology, psychology, and emotional resilience into every phase of prep tailored to the individual. This goes beyond just macros, programming and cardio; it's about understanding how stress, self-perception, identity, relationships, and mindset influence performance and long-term sustainability.
The Matter Method
Proven Results, Season After Season
Through multiple competitive seasons, we’ve guided athletes through every stage of prep, from early foundations to peak week, show day, and successful reverses into health phases.
The results speak for themselves:
🏅 32 podium finishes
🏆 1 Pro Card
🌏 1 Oceania Pro Title
Our method is built on precision in physiology, psychology, and long-term athletic success.
Phases of Prep with Matter Athletica
Pre-Prep
From your free consultation, we will conduct a prep pre-screening; this is where we can assess your experience, interests, and the areas of life and training that make you tick mentally. No one successfully preps without mental preparation involved.
Pre-prep - Active Preparation
From here, we begin your programming and nutrition to enter a pre-prep phase and discover your growth and maintenance, monitoring your training intensity.
Post Prep Health Phase & Life Integration
Post-prep comes next and is curated to successfully transition your body and headspace out of prep. You aren't left after stage day to your own devices and the reason for this is that too many athletes are, and it drastically affects their health long term and mental wellbeing. Physical and mental health and planned to transition you back into your routines and with a healthy relationship towards competition prep.
Our system has delivered the very athletes on this page to the stage, claimed multiple medals, and transitioned them back to their lives in a healthy fashion, both mentally and physically.
Your Coach
Meet Ben Mayfield-Smith. Founder, head coach & body composition specialist, and lead educator.
Your coach is Benjamen-Mayfield Smith. The head coach and founder of Matter Athletica and seasoned title-holding competitor...It's safe to say he has walked the miles in the shoes you are putting on.
At a glance:
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Bach of Behaviour Science (currently completing) Majoring in clinical psychology
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Australian Institute of Fitness (AIF) cert 3 in fitness
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AIF cert 4 in personal training
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AIF master trainer level 1
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ASCA level 1 (previously completed)
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ISSN-SNS certified
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Acceptance and commitment therapist level 1 certified
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Certified completion Stages of Change level 1
Our Results.
Below is our athlete gallery, showcasing our athletes and their show day package; however, a testament to each athlete we have had the pleasure to work with and respect to their efforts behind the scenes, we are proud of the results physically, but more importantly, of the individuals they became along the way. Careers that have excelled, self-discovery, discipline, relationships, environments, and boundaries. Prep is more than physical, it's redefining when done correctly.
Has My Coach Competed?
Ben has competed multiple times across his competitive history. Previous to now, he was undertaking a professional Rugby League career that was quickly taken from him when a distracted driver went through a red light and crashed into the side of his car on the way to work. With a permanent spinal disability, Ben sought to advance in his rehabilitation to strengthen his body again after years of pain suppression and several doctors telling him he wouldn't train again.
This led him down a path of bodybuilding. Ben has claimed Gold for IFBB QLD in Classic Season B 2022. From here, he has successfully taken a multitude of athletes to the stage, many of which placed multiple times.
Watch Our Athlete Docos
Our YouTube Channel is packed full of training vlogs, podcasts, interviews, and more! If you are interested in prepping with us, you will get the most out of these docos. Enjoy
Kicking off 2025 Strong! Season A, IFBB
Tom Axelsen just finished up our Season A, 2025 IFBB season. Placing in top callouts across Classic & Bodybuilding at QLD State Show. Taking home 3rd place in Bodybuilding True Novice at Nationals!!
Our 2024 Season!
Your Newest Figure Pro!
Tekarie Albert competed in Season A 2024, taking home not only her pro card for her division in her first-ever season but also taking home the overall Oceania Pro Title in the Pro Show as well for Figure International!
You can watch her Season Documentary on our YouTube Vlog below.
Our Season B IFBB Superstar
Cory had one of the most incredible transformations we have ever seen, mentally and physically, in an athlete. When Cory started with us, it was clear that with the right tools, he had the attitude required to tick the boxes of an athlete.
Not only did he achieve an incredible weight loss transformation, but once that was attained, he asked to move the marker again to another huge goal... Competing. Cory had set his deadline to have the date set to do this by Season B 2024, and debut as a first-timer in the IFBB.
Cory's work ethic and results are not ours to claim. Without the individuals' belief in their own ability to go after their goal, we can only achieve so much. Cory, with his continued passion for the sport, is pursuing a growth season for his next competition in the future, and we have nothing but praise for his monumental achievements across 2023 and 2024.
Our Seasoned Ninja - Ange
You can't not fall in love with Ange's energy! Angela came to us in 2023 to commence her next prep under the guidance of Matter Athletica. Our task was to ensure that, having worked with coaches previously, she not only experienced the healthiest prep but the most psychologically supportive as well. We guided Ange into two shows for season B 2024, and managed her bloodwork heading into the show, but also in the reverse out, which is something she had not experienced before.
We are now working with Ange to have the healthiest off-season that she has ever had, and are actively guiding her through the psychological foundations of what athletes typically experience post-show, educating her why, and building a kick-ass framework for her next show.
She cleaned up this season, and we are excited to have a growth season together for her next!
Watch Ange's Showday Doco!
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What is online coaching?Online coaching is a remote-based coaching service that provides personalized guidance, programming, support and community via a coach who is contactable online, and who provides online check ins and delivery of coaching through a downloadable application.
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How do I prep with Matter Athletica?Simply begin by booking in a free consult with our headcoach, as listed above in the services. From here, you will have a great and indepth, as well as insightful discussion with our Head Coach, Ben Mayfield-Smith. A seasoned veteran at taking clients not only to stage, but assisting in the transition of post-comp back to a sustainable and healthy life.
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Is online suitable for beginners?Absolutely, you wont be left on your own. We have two highly skilled coaches who will meet you where you are at with your current level of knowledge and guide you along the road to understanding your goals, nutrition and programming. Not a single client who has entered Matter Athletica has felt isolated in the pursuit of their goals. With a huge quantity of free and helpful resources in the client app, and coach check ins, you will find great success along your journey, even if this is the first time you have ever worked with a coach.
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What do I need to get started?The beauty of online coaching is that we will work with you, meet you with where you are at and the time and resources you have available that can assist towards your goal.
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Do you use coaching templates or is it personalised?We will spend the necessary time mapping out your path to get started once we have had the initial consult with you. You will be given your iniital client set up forms and a profile so we can tailor towards not just your physical goals, but better understand how you work mentally too towards goals. This approach then leads to a customised program and access to your own coaching portal in the client app. Here you will see your targets, daily behaviours/tasks to check off, and your program. Your check ins from your coach will also be sent in here too.
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What if I have Questions In Between Checkins?You can access your coach privately on Whatsapp Messenger and ask questions, provide form video checks, or concerns you have and your coach will respond as soon as possible in that day. There is a note section in your daily program too where you can take notes that you want your coach to see in your checkin for that week that may be related to your current session so you don't forget.