Muscle Christmas 2005 By Timezone
|
Users viewing this topic:
none
|
|
Logged in as: Guest
|
Login  | |
|
Muscle Christmas 2005 By Timezone - 12/1/2005 8:09:00 AM
|
|
|
Old Navy
Posts: 2942
Joined: 1/7/2005
Status: offline
|
Harry Hayfield (muscleman), of Ceredigion, Wales, United Kingdom, an enthusiast of the sport of international bodybuilding, started a very interesting tradition that I asked him to share with us. Each year, around this time, beginning in New Zealand, Harry profiles an old-time bodybuilder, a current bodybuilder and an up-and-comer, someone relatively new to the sport. Harry goes around the world, from time zone to time zone, ending up in Samoa on Christmas Eve, with a special tribute on Christmas Day. So, while you enjoy all of Harry's tributes, please don't post any responses that would break up the thread until he has made his final post on Christmas Day. Thank you Harry, this it cool.
_____________________________
Scott "Old Navy" Hults, NFPT-CPT; NGA-CPT
FAME, NGA & IDFA Natural Master Pro Bodybuilder
FAME, NGA & OCB Contest Judge
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Muscle Christmas 2005 By Timezone - 12/1/2005 8:22:32 AM
|
|
|
Muscleman
Posts: 212
Joined: 6/2/2005
From: Ceredigion, Wales, United Kingdom
Status: offline
|
Cody Nicolas Coster.
Cody was born in New Zealand and has had some forty years experience working with teens and juniors. Commencing his bodybuilding interest at the age of 16, when he founded The South Waikato Weight Lifting Club and by the age of 18 he had developed the South Waikato Weight Lifting Association.
Cody was driving past the ruins of a fire in Tokoroa where the recent YMCA had been razed by fire and noticed amongst the rubble, some partially burned bodybuilding training equipment. He went to the Director of the Y.M.C.A explaining what he had in mind and asked if he might have this? Permission was willingly given and so over the next few months he restored all the equipment, cleaning and making good all the weights and meticulously returning all the machines to good working order.
Cody had had the perception to notice that the whole town was full of young, fit looking Maoris, Samoan, Cook Islanders, Tonga, Fijians and every Polynesian race of the Pacific.
He saw Teenagers between the age of 13 and 19 years old .that were particularly well developed, some already huge and strong. Seeing this Youth population gave Cody the progressive idea to establish an exclusive gym for Teenagers and Juniors. He then set about renting premises. This Gym proved immensely popular with the teenagers and Juniors and it was not long before they were showing visible results.
Within Months he had Founded The South Waikato Bodybuilding association and by the years end he had founded the first Pineland Championships where Bodybuilders came from all over New Zealand to compete.
Cody then went on to found the N.Z.F.B.B. (New Zealand Federation of Bodybuilders) after which he contacted Ben Weider President of the International Federation of Bodybuilders in Canada, and from this, Cody made New Zealand the 35th nation to become part of the I.F.B.B.
Ben Weider placed Cody in contact with the then President of I.F.B.B Australia and a strong bond was formed between Cody and Frank Burwash the Australian President. Cody proceeded to present the first official I.F.B.B. Mr. New Zealand and became New Zealand's first official Bodybuilding National Judge. After this he staged many other Regional and National Championships all over the North Island of New Zealand.
He later traveled to Melbourne Australia to Judge his first Australia Bodybuilding Championship for which he obtained his Australian Judges card.
He returned to Australia on many occasions after this to Judge Bodybuilding Competitions and obtained his Instructor Certificates and Diplomas in the city of Melbourne Australia. Cody also obtained his International Judging card for the 1980 Olympia in Sydney Australia.
He received the Certificate of Merit from Ben Weider I.F.B.B. and similarly, also from Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Canada.
The first Instructors School in New Zealand with the support of the New Zealand Government was next, and this became a major success. Afterwards he staged the First Oceania Champions (The worlds First Royal Performance of a bodybuilding shoe) with the Maori Queen Honoring the Championships, and also in attendance, the Mayor, and representatives from the Governments of New Zealand, Samoa, Cook islands, when many of the top Australian bodybuilders came over for these Championships to help make it the then biggest championship every staged in New Zealand. He was co-founder of the P.B.B.I. in Australia and New Zealand and staged the first Professional Championships in the South Pacific
Cody was also responsible for the staging of the BodyMasters Classic for which the great American Professional Bodybuilder John Brown guest posed. Later, John reported to the media that never previously had he witnessed such an amazing spectacle, as when upon walking into the gym to see 160 Teenagers and Junior's all training for competition, with some thirty of them in contest shape. He went on to explain that Cody had developed something very special in Taking Kids off the streets and developing a massively impressive team of exceptional developed teen and junior bodybuilders, rarely to be seen elsewhere in the world.
Numerous political and institutional acclaim for his work followed and he was the recipient of several awards. He also gained considerable media coverage during this time from the National Press and in particular the Weider magazines. He even later established his own bodybuilding magazine, "Muscle Australia."
He had a high reputation too for training sportspersons, including many of the All Blacks (National Rugby team) and it was not at all unusual to see Bodybuilders from all over the South Pacific visiting Cody's Gym. As incorrigible as ever, and despite the fact that he was facing his ninety-ninth major operation, he was in the process of developing and growing a successful sports fitness and bodybuilding training group, where using his tried and tested methods, many teens and juniors were once again achieving considerable growth success as bodybuilders and useful members of society,
Sadly, Cody failed to live to successfully reach his one-hundredth major operation, which like all the others in the past, he would undoubtedly have faced with indomitable courage humor and fortitude. He leaves a legacy of countless developed mind and muscle members of several generations, whom probably would never have had the drive to achieve without the continual encouragement and many facilities provided by him. His considerable and selfless achievements together with a real champion spirit, will always remain with those whose path he crossed.
Joe Ulberg
Joe lives in Wellington, New Zealand and trains at the Lee Mills gym in the town. He's been training for 24 years with his first competition back in 1984 (aged just 15). He's won several titles including:
2 years ago South Island champs 2002 Under 85kgs Open 1st and Overall Winner (after a six year absence from competition), 2002 Mr NZ U80kgs
2003 Mr Wellington U85kgs 1st and Overall Winner, 2003 Mr New U85 kgs + Overall Winner, 2003 Universe Qualifier Mumbia India U 80kgs Placed 12th, 2004 Mr NZ U80kgs 1st place and will enter the 2005 Men's World competiton in the under 75kg class. When asked what preparation he did for the contest he replied: "For the last 12 months I have been mainly focusing on training the mind and spirit. As I believe it is this that is responsible for your entire belief in achieving the impossible. If you truly believe in becoming this amazing being, then anything is possible. If you first train the mind and spirit, then the body will follow. Some people call this the Core" Like most bodybuilders his wife has always supported his bodybuilding and describes herself as "his number 1 fan". To help with his cardio training, he bought a mountain bike and cycles to and from work 40-45 mins each way at least 4-6 days per week. When asked who he aspires to, it's clear that Joe is a very religious man, replying: "God first and foremost, but if I was to choose someone that has played a major influence in my life, that would have to be 2 people and that is Elvis Presley and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Why, because they had a dream of one day becoming this amazing beings that they are" and when asked what advice he would give people wishing to compete today on an international level he said: "I say, definitely equip yourself with complete humbleness and observe and take notes" Charl Viviers A native New Zealander, Charl recently won the junior title at the 2005 New Zealand Championships and says that for him bodybuilding can be summed up in just one word. "Satisfaction". "Yeah, sure it's about having fun" he adds, "but when you get serious and you really get into it, it is more the satisfaction you get out of it" As for future plans his ultimate goal is to get on stage at the Mr. Olympia contest and perhaps this has an influence on his one tip to other bodybuilders, "If you wanna make HUGE gains, you gotto eat like an animal!" and his favourite bodybuilders, "The massive, 300lbs Dorian Yates and of course, Arnold. Where would we be without Arnold?"  Joe Ulberg (Current New Zealand bodybuilder)  Charl Vivers (Up and Coming New Zealand Bodybuilder)
_____________________________
H. Hayfield
(in reply to Old Navy)
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Muscle Christmas 2005 By Timezone - 12/1/2005 8:34:00 AM
|
|
|
Muscleman
Posts: 212
Joined: 6/2/2005
From: Ceredigion, Wales, United Kingdom
Status: offline
|
Lee Priest
(written by his mother in 1996)
There is probably little about Lee's childhood that hasn't already been told, or written about. I would like to say being Lee's mum I have been given me the inside running on the effect Lee's childhood has had on the man he is now. I would like to say that, but it wouldn't be the truth. Anyone who knows Lee, knows he plays his cards very close to his chest and had done so all his life.
Lee was born Lee Andrew McCutcheon, at Newcastle (a town about 100miles from Sydney) on the 6th July,1972, into a working class family. His elder sister Kellie, was a very excited two year old looking forward to taking care of her 'baby brother'. Lee was 9lb at birth, loved his food and quickly outgrew his 'big sister' and the rolls reversed. Lee was so strong he loved to carry Kellie around. Much to Kellie's chagrin. This was not the 'baby brother' she expected. Lee carried his bikes rather riding them. From a very young age he would lift, or try to lift anything that wasn't tied down.
When Lee was four his mother's marriage ended and with that the first of many changes to which Lee would adapt. We were religious. God had the answer to everything. Both children were heartbroken. Lee learnt, at a young age, you can get hurt by the people you love even as they tell you how very much they love you. Life went on and about that time Lee found comic super heroes. Tarzan, became his hero and he constantly wore his Tarzan swimmers. He discovered Superman when he was about six. I made him the first of many Superman suits. In his suit, he was Superman. He would be constantly jumping from everything he could, with his red cape flying. It was a miracle he never injured himself. The suit gave him the courage he needed. He became a bit of a hero in his own right. His loving nature always came through. He loved to right all wrongs and be friend to those who didn't have any. He was bright and loved reading. He loved the thought of flying and resolved to become a pilot. ( I would be allowed on his flight, as long as I called him Captain).
His mother remarried when Lee was six and though his stepfather was old enough to be his grandfather , Lee accepted the marriage. Lee had, and has to this day, a great capacity for love and acceptance.
When Lee was twelve years old, he found out about his father homosexuality. Back then homosexuality was never spoken about. Even the thought of homosexuality meant shame. What a time to have you own sexuality questioned. Lee bore the taunts of schoolmates. He would often come home upset with ' Your dad 's a poofter' ringing in his ears. He was left with one friend, one true friend. Lee took on the name of my married name of Priest. We had to get a silent number on our phone to shield Lee from all the phone calls from some very sick people. Lee's relationship with his dad fell apart. His dad not understanding the name change and Lee, not understanding what was happening to his world.
About this time Lee was introduced to the gym by his grandfather, I guess the rest is history. (To this day his grandparents are his number one fans). Lee had at last found something in which he excelled and even better it was all up to him. He had taken on many sports before and was very good at each of them. I was told Lee was a natural. He loved running, but then to run he had to high jump, so that was out. He joined Pony Club, learnt Karate, but he lacked confidence. In bodybuilding, Lee found something.
He alone could determine his fate! He has since learnt, the hard way, that wasn't completely true.
After Lee won a few competitions, schoolwork went by the way. Lee lived and breathed body building. We realized Lee was driven to be the best body builder ever and he was serious. He was offered a job, working with a friend who owned a Fire Extinguisher Service Company. He could work and train. Everything revolved around training. Holiday time meant finding a gym . Lee never took a holiday from training. He used every bit of his determination and courage. He kept training when others had fallen along the wayside. Lee endured the disappointments and reveled in the victories. At a young age Lee had learnt more about life than most of us ever learn. He gained an insight into the complexities of life and living. He accepted his defeats with honor, and celebrated his victories with honest humility.
All who know Lee, know these traits are Lee. He loves, he accepts, he always tries to understand. He is prepared to help anyone in genuine need. In saying this, Lee is human, along with the rest of us. He is the first to admit that, but Lee was a very special child with a tender heart. Now he is a very special man, the tender heart hardened a little by life. Lee would say, hardened a lot. People with Lee's insight into life and his capacity for love, don't come into your life very often. I am just so lucky he came into mine..
Guy Grundy
(written by himself in 2003)
I was born in a small outer west town of Penrith in Sydney, Australia in 1971. My father & mother where divorced a couple years after I was born, so I lived a great deal of my early life with my mother various family members . In those years I was shuffled around so much, that by the age of 13, I had attended no less than 15 schools and I was still unable to read or write. I was diagnosed with and suffered from malnutrition for much of my early life. By the age of 16, I was looking after my self. I developed and suffered from a severe form of acne for about a 4-year period. My case was so bad and dangerous, that specialists prescribed me one of the most powerful drugs ever developed, Roacutane. Roacutane is a schedule 7 drug, which is in the same class as heroine, morphine and the like. For 99.9% of the population, one course of Roacutane would be sufficient, but as luck would have it I was one of the few patients who had to have two courses. By the time I was removed of it, I had taken a dose never before seen in my Australia.
Anyway, I have battled these obstacles and many more like them on my way to becoming the number 2 amateur Bodybuilder in the World. Testament to this, I have been awarded my US Green Card, under the category of an exceptional athlete. This has provided me with the opportunity to live and work in America, my greatest dream and achievement thus far and one of the proudest moments of my life. I have my own colum "Muscle Flashes" in Musclemag & have written for such magazines as Ironman & Max Muscle. I am also a freelance writter & photographeras having written over 20 published articles worldwide. I have been featured on numerous magazine covers and filmed and stared in two documentaries on professional Bodybuilding. One I did for the BBC was seen by over 24 million viewers, as well as being screened regularly on British Airways flights to this day. I have also appeared in all of the major Health and Fitness publications. And have had the great fortune to tour around the world, where I perform seminars and guest spots to packed auditoriums and lecture halls. I have won both my countries national titles, IFBB and NABBA, as well as placing 2nd at the 2000/2001 World Championships.
As I have matured in life, both physically and mentally, I have learnt to focus all of my energies into who I chose to be and what I can do with what I have been given, instead of dwelling on past misfortunes and what ifs? if I can do it then there is absolutely no reason why you can't either. I have learnt "In life it does't matter how many times you get knocked on your ass, it only matters that you get back up & chase what it is you are after". This is how I have lived my life & I have always believed in my self no matter what I have encountered. I will finish with my favorite quote " AS YOU THINK, SO SHALL YOU BE".
Luke Schembri
(as reported in 2003)
THE Australasian Natural Body Building Association (ANBBA) is fighting to have its sport recognised at an Olympic level.
Competitions for unnatural bodies, pumped up with steroids and drugs, are becoming less popular among competitors.
Four body builders from Fitness Plus gym in Northmead will compete at the National Australian Body Building titles on October 12 at the Castle Hill RSL Club.
Luke Schembri, 22, of Winston Hills, won Mr Sydney in the junior competition.
"It was great," Schembri said of the win.
"I was over the moon that all the work had finally paid off."
The win was even more poignant because 21-year-old Tim O'Connor, Schembri's training partner, finished second.
"It was just as good as coming first because Luke's probably my best mate," O'Connor said.
"At the nationals I'm hoping for the same result."
Joanne Coombe, 38, of Baulkham Hills, won the open event for women in the 163 centimetre category.
Last year, she won the masters division of the Sydney title and finished second in the Australian titles.
Lisa Baker, 25, of Seven Hills, won the Miss Fitness category. Baker completed a two-minute routine displaying her high level of fitness, strength and flexibility. The former ballet dancer has also competed in sport aerobics.
John Fuller, owner of the gym, trained all the competitors.
"Each year we encourage people to compete," Fuller said.
"To have all four entrants win is unusual. I support body building and fitness and want it to become a legitimate sport. We would not compete in any other competition because of the ANBBA drug test to keep competition clean."
Robert Powell, president of the ANBBA, said an Australian team will be selected to attend the world championships in Belgium.
"The best people will represent our country, with expenses paid for by the association. The members of the team are drug tested under IOC guidelines."
Powell started the association in 1984.
"I started the idea of drug testing body building in 1984," Powell said.
"They all laughed and said it would never work. At the recent natural body building competition Sydney titles there were 60 competitors and an audience of 1200 it is definitely growing as a sport."
The sport has a provisional licence to compete at the Olympics in Athens.
(As we know of course, the attempt was unsucessful)
 Lee Priest (New South Wales Classic Bodybuilder)
 Guy Grundy (Current New South Wales bodybuilder)
Luke Schembri (Up and Coming New South Wales bodybulder)
< Message edited by Muscleman -- 12/2/2005 2:51:12 PM >
_____________________________
H. Hayfield
(in reply to Muscleman)
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Muscle Christmas 2005 By Timezone - 12/2/2005 2:53:12 PM
|
|
|
Muscleman
Posts: 212
Joined: 6/2/2005
From: Ceredigion, Wales, United Kingdom
Status: offline
|
Michael Moss
Michael Moss from Gosford on the central coast of NSW competed in the ANB Australian Bodybuilding Titles narrowly going down to Mark Kostanti in the under 90kg division. Michael went home, lived his life as normal, started a family with his beautiful wife Simone, and they both started their own personal training business called VIP Fitness. But Michael had unfinished business, he wanted that ANB Australian under 90kg champion's trophy. Michael started training harder than ever also developing a diet best suited to his physique. He came to Sydney in 2001 to compete in the ANB NSW Titles. Michael won the under 90kg division and also took out the overall champion's prize. Three weeks later he flew to Queensland to take on Australia's best. Michael won that 90kg division, the one he has thought about for four years but there was more to come. Michael, with his dream of winning the overall Australian champion's trophy was no longer a dream in one of the best lineups seen in years and Michael with his smooth posing style and take no prisoner attitude, was crowned the 2001 Australian Champion. His stats as of 2003 were: Age: 26, Height: 5ft, 7 (1.72m), Weight: 178lbs (81kg)
The best way to tell Michael's story is to let him speak for himself. Because he is a man of many words, here's my questions and his answers:
What got you interested in bodybuilding?
I initially started training to be healthy minded and physically strong. Once started on the fitness lifestyle ride and seeing changes in the shape of my body and the positive high feeling you get from weight training I was committed for life. Then two to three years into my training, a gym buddy suggested that I should try competition and that comment planted the seed in my mind and heart to give me the desire and passion to compete.
What made you decide to compete?
I compete because it gives me the discipline, dedication and commitment to carry over in other areas of my life, such as relationships and friendships.
How do you find dieting for comps? Most competitors find it hard.
I find dieting for competition enjoyable and challenging. By being knowledgeable in nutritional aspects of dieting and knowing your own body, how it responds to certain food and fluids, you can diet quite easy and level minded. My diet is a balance of low carbs and quality proteins and essential fatty acids that becomes a part of my life style to maintain a low body fat percentage and keep the body and mind in a balanced healthy range. By keeping diet and training consistent and constant, you keep getting consistent results in your performance and overall package. Some competitors find it hard because they might be eating food so bland and tasteless, but by keeping a variety of foods and adding sauces, herbs and spices, the food can be very enjoyable to eat. I also continue to eat these foods in the off season to maintain a balanced diet.
How long have you been training?
I have been training for 17 years now, I have been very consistent over this time with only 1-2 week intervals of time off every 4-6 months, other than that my training has been consistent over the 17 years.
How does it feel to win an Australian title?
It feels awesome to win the ANB Overall Australian Title, its all your goals, dreams, hard work, commitment and dedication paid for in full and I will share this experience with clients, friends and family, and to see lives change through the fitness lifestyle it's well worth every ounce of training, posing , time and sacrifice.
What roll did Simone play in this year's victory?
Simone's roll in this year's victory is very special to me, she has been with me every step of the way, with my pre-comp tanning, cooking, cleaning and helping in every possible way, and clearing out of the kitchen when feeding time was on. Simone has been my strength and has pushed me along through all kinds of barriers, stresses that goes with contest preparation.
Tell me about your family, they are very special to you?
My wife Simone is the 2001 runner-up Australian champion, her support, love and commitment and dedication to our children and myself is unwavered. She supports me 100% in everything I do which makes it easy to commit to life's challenges. We are best mates and good friends and we are committed to each other for life. We have two beautiful children, Kayla 8, and Riley is 2, both I love very dearly and are currently flexing and all pumped up for their next meal.
You work as a personal trainer?
That's right, both Simone and I are personal trainers specializing in contest preparation and nutrition, getting results and changing peoples lives. We are currently very busy and will be branching out into areas so come and train with the champions.
Do you have an opinion about drugs in bodybuilding?
Who needs to take drugs, only the weak minded and insecure that's who (sorry if I offend anyone, but that's the truth). With the right training, nutrition, recovery and supplementation you can achieve awesome results.
Do you have any advice for any young bodybuilders?
My advice for young bodybuilders is don't take drugs, live a healthy lifestyle inside and outside the body because you only get one chance at it. Plus by being strong and saying no to drugs it gives you inner strength and respect from all your friends and family, and you'll live a long full life.
What do you enjoy outside of bodybuilding?
I enjoy the company of family and friends also cooking and eating a variety of tasty low fat foods. Dedicated to bodybuilding and fitness and loves to help people make changes to their physiques they never thought possible. I have been training for 7 years and for the past 2 years I have decided to step up to the next level and start taking things seriously. I have been helping friends achieve their fitness and bodybuilding goals for the past 2 years. On the 25 of May 2003 I decided to enter my first Natural bodybuilding competition (ANB Sydney) and ended up taking the mens Novice class and the Overall mens class. I am passionate about the bodybuilding and fitness industry and am very interested in making it a career.
The International Federation of Body Builders stated in a news release that the initial gold medalist at the 2003 World Women's Bodybuilding, Fitness and Body Fitness Championships -- Russia's Alevtina Goroshinskaya -- did not pass doping-control tests. The federation named Hayden the official winner and gold medalist of the lightweight division.
The September competition in Santa Susanna, Spain, was Hayden's third World Women's Championships. She first competed in 2001 in Brazil, where she finished 15th in her weight class. The following year, in the Czech Republic, she finished in eighth place.
"I'm very excited," Hayden, 31, said. "I wish I had won it back then because it would have been nice to have the Guam hymn played, but it's still great to be awarded the gold now."
"One of my goals is to do better than the last time I competed. I'm very lucky to be able to reach my goals," she added.
Hayden said the federation sent a letter to Joe Duenas, the president of the Guam National Physique Committee and vice president of the federation, informing him that Hayden would be sent a gold medal.
"This is the greatest accomplishment of any Guam athlete," Duenas said. "It is a great moment for our island and the people of Guam."
Czech Republic's Jitka Stastna, who initially placed third in the lightweight division, will be awarded the silver medal, the federation's Web site states.
Article 37.1 of the federation's doping-control program states, "Where an athlete has tested positive and is stripped of his or her medal, that medal shall be re-awarded to the appropriate finalist only if that finalist has been drug tested and has returned a negative test result."
Based on doping-control guidelines, Goroshinskaya will not be able to participate in federation-sanctioned events for a period of time based on her doping offense, and the Russian bodybuilding federation will be warned and assessed fines.
The prohibited classes of substances are anabolic agents, diuretics, narcotic analgesics, peptide hormones, mimetics and analogues, and stimulants, the federation Web site states.
"I am so proud and happy that Guam has been recognized at the highest level of amateur bodybuilding," Hayden said. "It is satisfying to know that when you work hard and follow the rules, you can be successful.
"This was a great year for me. I want to thank everyone for their support and encouragement," the Agana Heights resident added.
With the gold-medal finish, Hayden qualifies to compete as a professional bodybuilder at federation events, the release states. Hayden adds the gold medal from the world championships to her two gold medals from the 2003 South Pacific Games in Suva, Fiji, among other bodybuilding awards and distinctions.
In Fiji, Hayden won the middleweight division and was named best overall female bodybuilder in the South Pacific.
Thumbnail Image
Thumbnail Image
 Attachment (2)
_____________________________
H. Hayfield
(in reply to Muscleman)
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Muscle Christmas 2005 By Timezone - 12/3/2005 1:14:48 PM
|
|
|
Muscleman
Posts: 212
Joined: 6/2/2005
From: Ceredigion, Wales, United Kingdom
Status: offline
|
Stan McQuay
Born in Yokoska, Japan (to an American marine and his Japanse wife) in 1973, Stan is perhaps best known as the winner of the 2000 Musclemania Superbody contest, but it's not the only contest he has entered. Weighing 205lbs when he takes to the stage, he has won:
1999 Musclemania (Welterweight Class), 2000 NPC California Championships (Middleweight Class), 2000 Musclemania Superbody (Overall), 2001 Musclemania Superbody Professional (Overall) and the 2002 NPC USA Championships (Middleweight Class)
Hidetada Yamagishi
Bodybuilding was be one of the new events at the 14th Asian Games in Busan, South Korea (held in 2002), and Japan is hoping its muscle men will do the country proud by bringing home a medal or two. Hidetada Yamagishi, 29, is hoping that the sports would make a big impact at the Asian Games. He is encouraged by the fact that he is the 2001 Asian champion in the 80kg category.
But he is not letting his title go to his head and is currently concentrating on his legs by lifting weights of up to 300 kilos. He is also focusing on building up his arms and chests. He told our reporter: "Of course I'm aiming for the gold medal. Becoming the champion is all I want. But I will need to perform my best. As long as I'm in good shape on stage, then good result should follow."
In competitions, the body-builders are judged based on the bulk of the muscle, the definition of the body proportion, and the beauty of their pose. This is based, for example, on the double biceps and chest.
And when Yamagishi makes his appreance on October 3rd, his coach believes, Yamagishi has all the makings of a champion. Toshio Konuma, 13-time Japan bodybuilding champion, said: "He's good at posing. The expression on his face is very nice. That's a very important point, to put on expression."
In Japan, bodybuilding is not exactly a popular sport but all that may change if Yamagishi wins. There are 1,200 men and 200 women registered with the Japan Bodybuilding Federation. It is a far cry from calling it a popular sport in Japan so the Asian Games athletes and coaches are hoping to win at least 2 to 3 gold medals to promote body-building.
He made his pro debut at the 2005 Ironman Pro and although coming last, he will not let the experience stop him.
Thumbnail Image
Thumbnail Image
Attachment (2)
_____________________________
H. Hayfield
(in reply to Muscleman)
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Muscle Christmas 2005 By Timezone - 12/4/2005 2:01:36 PM
|
|
|
Muscleman
Posts: 212
Joined: 6/2/2005
From: Ceredigion, Wales, United Kingdom
Status: offline
|
Michael John Gonzales
When you hear of an athlete so young and has competed for just a little over a year and has won several titles to his name, you just know he is one of a kind.
Michael John Gonzales is 23 years old and a native of Angeles City, Pampanga.
Mike started out as a powerlifter while attending college. He joined a powerlifting contest at the university he was attending in 2001 and won the Overall title. This was just a stepping stone for him in developing his physique because his dream was to be a bodybuilder.
This dream together with his drive and determination to pursue a career in bodybuilding led him to train at the 14 Hour Fitness Gym in Angeles City. Here he found the camaraderie of other competitors, like Gerald Pangan (April 2004 Featured Athlete) who gave him the support he needed. Moreover, he read books and magazines on training and dieting on his own to learn the ropes of the trade. This led him to experiment in different foods his body responds to.
He also applied them to his daily training program.
Last year, January 2003 he joined his first event and won 5th place in his category. He remembered Jonathan Pateno, the second placer in his category telling him “Marami ka pang kakaining bigas” (You’ll need tons of rice to eat before you can reach my level). This became a challenge for him. A month later they competed again at the Mr. Valentine Pope Pius event. Mike ran away with the winning trophy leaving Jonathan in second place.
Mike is focused when he prepares for an event. Four months prior to the event, he trains hard and heavy attaining a quality muscular weight at 195 lbs. Then he starts his diet program a month after and a strict diet 2 months before the show to taper down to his target weight which is between 151 lbs. – 154 lbs. His carbo depletion starts 7 days before the event. He eats high protein foods like egg whites, chicken breasts and lean ground beef. He eats 3 medium size camote (sweet yam), spread throughout the day just to get his energy going. On the day of the contest, he loads up on carbohydrates (pasta with American cheese) to pump up the muscles. Also, he only consumes 6 liters of distilled water (water depletion) 4 days before the event to exaggerate striation and vascularity.
Currently, Mike is focused in renovating a building to open up his own gym for business first week in November, 2004. This is located in front of the Angeles University, his alma mater, in Angeles City, Pampanga. At the same time, he is also training to get ready for the competitions coming up in February, 2005. He has also worked at Slimmers Mega Mall as a gym instructor and personal trainer from August thru December, 2003.
If you ask him how he’s done all these at a young age, his answer is ‘Agyu ke ini!’. That means ‘You can do it!’ in Pampanga dialect. He’s also inviting everybody to come to Pampanga to visit his gym. ‘Mekeni keng Pampanga atchaka ye pasyalan ing gym ku!’- Come to Pampanga and visit my gym, says Michael. He believes the reason why gyms are all over the City of Angels is because Angelenos are very health and figure conscious and it shows in their lifestyle.
Incidentally, the President of the Philippines, Madam Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is also from Pampanga. One would lead us to believe the greatness of Pampangenos. But that’s beside the point.
Good luck, Mike. Truly, you’re one of a kind!
Awards
- 2003, January - Ginoong Grace Park 2003 5th place, Medium, Caloocan City, Metro Manila
- 2003, February - Mr.Valentines Pope Pius 2003 1st place, Lightweight, Manila
- 2003, February - Mr.Panagbenga 2003 2nd place, Lightweight, Baguio City
- 2003, February - Mr.TLC 2003 2nd place, Lightweight, Subic, Zambales
- 2003, March - Mr. Laguna Muscleman 2003 1st place, Lightweight and Overall, Laguna
- 2003, April - Mr. Clark Centennial CDC 2003 3rd place, Lightweight, Clark Air Base, Pampanga
- 2003, May - Mr. Marilao 2003 2nd place, Tall, Marilao, Bulacan
- 2003, March - Summer Hunk 2003 1st place, Lightweight and Overall, La Trinidad, Benguet
- 2003, May - Ginoong Luzon 2003 3rd place, Heavyweight, Tayabas, Quezon
- 2003, May - Mr. Penafrancia 2003 2nd place, Heavyweight, Naga City, Camarines Sur, Bicol Region
- 2003, May - Ginoong Manila 2003 2nd place, Medium, Pandacan, Manila
- 2004, February - Mr. Panagbenga 2004 Heavyweight div, Baguio City
- 2004, February - Ginoong Pampanga 2004 2nd place Lightweight div, Angeles City, Pampanga
- 2004, March - Mr. Tayug 2004 4th place, Lightweight, Tayug, Pangasinan
- 2004, March - Mr. Body Beautiful 2004 1st place, Lightweight, Panique, Tarlac
- 2004, March - Ginoong Cavite 2004 1st place, Lightweight, Cavite City, Cavite
- 2004, April - Mr. Bangued, Abra 2004 1st place Lightweight, Bangued, Abra
- 2004, April - Mr. Body Flex 2004 2nd place Heavyweight, Valenzuela, Metro Manila
- 2004, April - Mr. Bagak 2004 2nd place Heavyweight div, La Union
This is the problem with the Asian continent. True, bodybuilding is starting to make an appearance but there are only up and comers.
Thumbnail Image
Attachment (1)
_____________________________
H. Hayfield
(in reply to Muscleman)
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Muscle Christmas 2005 By Timezone - 12/5/2005 2:08:50 PM
|
|
|
Muscleman
Posts: 212
Joined: 6/2/2005
From: Ceredigion, Wales, United Kingdom
Status: offline
|
Just like in China, Singapore and the island nations of the Indian Ocean are just starting to enter the world of bodybuilding, but without the leadership of people like Mr. Chua, they wouldn't have anywhere to compete. So it is perhaps fitting that Mr. Chua should be profiled as our countdown reaches Asia's heartlands
Name: Paul Chua
Titles: IFBB vice president for Asia; secretary general/treasurer, Asian Bodybuilding Federation; president, South East Asian Bodybuilding Federation
History:
* Paul Chua was born in Singapore on September 2, 1941.
* Long-time chairman of Goodhealth Distributors in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.
* He managed his own badminton club from 1962 to 1970.
* In 1964, he was elected secretary of a bodybuilding association.
* In 1968, he was tabbed as assistant treasurer of the Singapore Amateur Bodybuilders Association. He became its general secretary in 1971.
* In 1970, he organized the IFBB Asian Bodybuilding Championships and helped numerous Asian countries become affiliated with the IFBB.
* In 1975, he was elected secretary general/treasurer of the Asian Bodybuilding Federation, a position he still holds.
* Since 1975, he has organized several World Amateur Bodybuilding Championships, five Asian Championships, four South East Asian Championships and various regional championships.
* Mr. Chua played an instrumental role in getting bodybuilding included in the 2002 Busan Asian Games in Korea and in that year's South East Asian Games.
Awards (partial list):
* IFBB Diploma, 1975
* IFBB Certificate of Merit, 1977
* IFBB Silver Medal, 1978
* IFBB Gold Medal, 1979
* Certificate of Commendation from Singapore Sports Council, 1983
* Medal of Honor from Taiwan Amateur Sports Federation, 1986
* Oscar State Memorial Award, 1987
* Named IFBB Bodybuilding Official of the Year, 1989
* IFBB Distinguished Service Award, 1990
* IFBB Gold Order number two, 1995
* Achievement Medal number six from the IFBB, 1999
* The Order of Myanmar from the National Olympic Committee, 2001
Remarks: Paul Chua justifiably can be called the "Father of Bodybuilding and Fitness" in Asia. No single member of the IFBB Executive Council has done more to grow the sport of bodybuilding in this region of the world. He is a staunch advocate of drug-free sport and ensures that all national federations in Asia are organized and run in a professional manner. His personal qualities of persistence and dedication in the pursuit of official IFBB objectives are matched by his empathy toward bodybuilders at all levels and his readiness to personally help them achieve their goals.
Tomorrow, we reach the Central Asian timezone and perhaps one of the new heartlands of bodybuilding. The Russian area of Siberia.
Thumbnail Image
Attachment (1)
_____________________________
H. Hayfield
(in reply to Muscleman)
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Muscle Christmas 2005 By Timezone - 12/6/2005 2:21:41 PM
|
|
|
Muscleman
Posts: 212
Joined: 6/2/2005
From: Ceredigion, Wales, United Kingdom
Status: offline
|
Singapore Bodybuilders triumph at ASEAN BC 2004
Posted by The Jakarta Post - Jakarta, Indonesia on 6/20/2004 (Views: 2259)
Singaporean bodybuilders emerged the overall winners in the 7th South East Asian Bodybuilding Championship 2004, which ended in Bali on Saturday.
Singapore won three gold, three silver and two bronze medals. They won the golds in the 65kg, 80kg and 90kg categories.
Myanmar brought home two golds in the 55kg through Zaw Wan and the 85kg courtesy of Min Zaw Oo, who was later declared Mr. Bali.
Two golds were also won by Vietnam while Thailand returned home with one gold.
Indonesia had five contenders in the finals but only Iswinando and Indiana came down off the stage with medals -- bronzes in the 75kg and 90kg classes respectively.
The other three Indonesians, Ketut Arsa in the 55kg, Syarifuddin Naani in the 65kg and Bobby in the 70kg classes finished empty-handed.
Ketut Arsa admitted to being overawed by his rivals after witnessing how they performed on the stage.
"Aware that my chances were slim, I felt down. I was so nervous that I shaved my head," he said while pointing at his almost completely shaven head.
Indonesian trainer Yopi admitted that the bodybuilders from neighboring countries such as Vietnam, Singapore and Thailand looked far better than the local athletes.
But Yopi signaled that if Indonesia had competed with its top athletes they would probably have ended up in a stronger position.
A number of strong local athletes have been deprived of the chance of participating in the tournament following a dispute between the newly-established Indonesian Body-Building Federation (FBI) and the long established PABBSI, the weightlifting and powerlifting body, which also used to supervise bodybuilding.
"Our top bodybuilders are not allowed to take part in this championship. If they do, they will be banned from the National Games in September," Yopi said.
Indonesian team manager Irwan Siregar hoped that the National Sports Council (KONI) would recognize FBI, currently chaired by political activists Roy BB Janis.
Despite having a questionable regime, Myanmar (formerly Burma) like several countries in central Asia is starting to produce bodybuilders of note. And just like Pele thinking that an African nation will win the World Cup by 2010, I think it won't be that long before an Asian nation produces a major bodybuilding champ
Thumbnail Image
Attachment (1)
_____________________________
H. Hayfield
(in reply to Muscleman)
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Muscle Christmas 2005 By Timezone - 12/7/2005 2:06:12 PM
|
|
|
Muscleman
Posts: 212
Joined: 6/2/2005
From: Ceredigion, Wales, United Kingdom
Status: offline
|
Nationalility : Balinese
Date of Birth : 13 December, 1976.
Off-Season Weight : 92 kg (198 lbs)
Competition Weight : 82 kg (176 lbs)
Height : 168 cm
PERSONAL GOALS
Arnawa has taken a serious and intelligent approach to achieving his goals in bodybuilding. His knowledge of the sport extends from health & nutrition to muscle development, to various exercise and training methods & the type of results each will achieve. Nine years of serious commitment has provided him with valuable information on the degree to which his body will perform under various conditions. A training and study program conducted entirely through self-motivation. He views his commitment to the sport and the sacrifices to 'normal living' simply as the path he must follow to become the best in the sport.
2003 AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS - Arnawa's desire to reach the height of bodybuilding extends to international standards. His strong ties with Australia prompted him to take his first 'international steps' in that direction. In October 2003, competing for the first time outside of Indonesia, Arnawa took out first place and overall champion in Western Australia's State Body Building Championship and received medallions for best chest, legs and arms. This awesome victory granted the opportunity to represent WA in the 2003 Australian Bodybuilding Titles. Amongst a field of Australia's finest athletes, Arnawa again reined supreme and became Australia's Under 80 kg champion. The best body from a field of 15 competitors, all representing Australia's state capitals.
2004 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS - In 2004 Nyoman Arnawa had even greater success, traveling to the U.S. to compete against an international field of the finest natural bodybuilders on earth - the Musclemania Pro World Championships. Bali's Silent Predator won the overall professional title, becoming one of the youngest champions in history; he became champion a few weeks before his 28th birthday.
2005 NATURAL OLYMPIA - Komang made a last minute decision to enter the Mr. Natural Olympia 2005 competition and won the crown. The event was held in Las Vegas on November 19th and invited the worlds best to create an awesome line up of natural athletes under the INBA association, a fantastic world wide association heavily promoting drug free body building.
DRIVEN TO BE THE BEST - Komang is one of the finest and most committed athletes on the island of Bali. His passion and enthusiasm for the sport fuels his desire to be the best in his field. His martial arts training has equipped him with a powerful mental focus that out-performs his outstanding physical strengths. His thorough knowledge of the sport and his body ensures that training is carried out effectively and at a rate and intensity most beneficial to reaching his goal successfully and without injury. Arnawa's natural approach to sculpting his body has earned him great respect and caught the attention of many international promoters. He is a true talent to the sport and a fine representative of drug free athletes. His modest attitude, and good nature will earn him the reputation of 'one of Bali's finest'
Thumbnail Image
Attachment (1)
_____________________________
H. Hayfield
(in reply to Muscleman)
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Muscle Christmas 2005 By Timezone - 12/8/2005 2:12:46 PM
|
|
|
Muscleman
Posts: 212
Joined: 6/2/2005
From: Ceredigion, Wales, United Kingdom
Status: offline
|
Following the toppling of the Taleban in 2002, Afghanistan's bodybuilders are all up and coming. Therefore, today's posting comes from the Daily Telegraph in November 2004 on the new craze sweeping Kabul. Afghanistan's tough guys used to wear beards and wool caps, study the Qur'an and fight mountain battles. These days an increasing number have waxed chests, cheesy grins and bulging biceps. "People don't want to fight any more," says Temour Shah, a beefy 23-year-old, pumping weights under an Arnold Schwarzenegger poster at Gold's Gym in central Kabul. "They want to look healthy - like in the movies."
Bodybuilding is the new craze of postwar Afghanistan, particularly among young urban men. The number of gyms in Kabul has doubled to 46 in the past two years, while a further 30 are scattered across the country.
Every day from 5am men crowd into sweaty halls across the city, grappling with clanking weights machines before cracked mirrors.
Conditions are spartan - water coolers, neat white towels and showers are unknown luxuries - but enthusiasm runs high. Barely able to afford the £4 monthly membership fee, some enthusiasts work out in their baggy shalwar kameez trousers; others use their work clothes.
"Everyone wants to look strong, but the problem is calories. Most clients just don't have enough food," says Hafizullah Anis, 26, who owns Gold's Gym. He says he helps his poorer clients by offering them free protein supplements he buys at Bagram US military air base.
Returning refugees from Pakistan and Iran have fuelled the bodybuilding craze, but its origins stretch back to the 60s. One of the oldest aficionados, Aziz Arzo, owns a rundown gym in a former dental surgery overlooking the dried bed of the Kabul river.
A short, stocky man in his 50s, he proudly displays his first exercise machine: a homemade contraption of weights, hooks and pulleys. Other weights in the gym are fashioned from concrete moulds and old engine parts.
He says he has 150 "students", of whom the poorest work out free of charge.
"I am one of the originals. They come to me for my experience," he says, beside a pouting portrait of himself on a podium in the 70s.
Bodybuilding is a natural pursuit in a culture that prizes machismo. The national sport, buzkashi, involves two horseback teams beating a headless calf carcass around a pitch.
The streets are covered with pensive images of the Tajik warlord Ahmad Shah Mas soud, an Afghan national hero. But inside the gyms, the governor of California is king.
"I studied Schwarzenegger's career carefully," says Noorulhoda Sherzad, a dentistry student and the current holder of the Mr Kabul title.
"He achieved everything he wanted. I have dreams, too."
The Taliban tolerated bodybuilding, but only if those working out remained fully clothed and wore beards. "The competitions were ridiculous. You could only show your top," Mr Sherzad says.
In those days, strong, young men could be conscripted into fighting. Today, however, "our gun is our muscle", says Ahmad Ranjber, a gym owner who boasts a 77-year-old among his clients. "And he has a good body, too," he adds.
The body-conscious vogue also reflects slowly increasing freedoms. Strict social norms prevent young men and women from mixing in public, but many bodybuilders coyly admit they hope to impress. Mingling with American soldiers has fuelled their desires.
"I am exercising for the big body so the girls will like me," says Feroz Khan, a 20-year-old lorry driver at Bagram base, taking a break from his first workout. He has an American girlfriend called Nikita, he boasts in broken English, although some of his friends express doubts. Romantic choice was part of Afghanistan's new dispensation, he insists.
"I am a love man - I am not for arranged marriage," he says. "Under the Taliban, it was very dangerous. If I looked at a girl; they would say, 'Why you look?' Then they would fight me.
"But now Hamid Karzai is my chief. Since he become president he will allow the love marriage."
Regrettably, however, an unsavoury side of modern sport has seeped in.
The prestigious Mr Afghanistan crown lies unclaimed after controversy engulfed last month's contest.
There was a "small problem" with one of the frontrunners, explains a judge, Fazal Ahmad, of the Afghan Bodybuilding Federation. "We suspected him of doping."
There are no drug testing facilities in Afghanistan.
Tomorrow, we start on the real muscleheartlands of the western European continent with some rather suprising people you might not assume had any connection with the sport.
_____________________________
H. Hayfield
(in reply to Muscleman)
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Muscle Christmas 2005 By Timezone - 12/9/2005 7:01:58 AM
|
|
|
Muscleman
Posts: 212
Joined: 6/2/2005
From: Ceredigion, Wales, United Kingdom
Status: offline
|
Classic Bodybuilder: Sabah Taleb Mehdi
To Sabah Taleb Mehdi, who suffered under Iraq's brutal Baathist regime, Arnold Schwarzenegger is the anti-Saddam.
When the dictator was toppled after 35 years of repression, ordinary Iraqis found themselves suddenly able to do things that were previously forbidden--like speaking freely, using the Internet, even leaving the country. To Mehdi, it meant one thing above all: Now, he could name his gym after Schwarzenegger.
"The most important thing is that we got rid of the old oppressive regime," says the 43-year-old owner of Arnold Classic, Baghdad's only bodybuilding gym. "And now, after the fall of Saddam, I was able to fulfill my dream of naming my gym after Arnold."
In his youth, Mehdi was a Mr. Asia bodybuilding champ. For a time, he was Saddam's favored bodybuilding trainer. Then he fell from grace and was forced to flee the country. Throughout all his reversals, he remained faithful: Mehdi has worshiped "the Arnold man" since 1973.
That year, Schwarzenegger was a two-time Mr. Olympia but still a few years away from international fame as a box-office champ. Mehdi was a scrawny Baghdad teenager who kept scrapbooks of Mr. Olympia and dreamed of being like him someday. With Arnold as his inspiration, he started working out. He kept at it until he had a physique worthy of competing in international contests.
If it wasn't for bodybuilding--and Schwarzenegger--Mehdi might not be here today: As a 20-year-old Shiite, he was prime cannon fodder for the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war. "So, by 1980, I might have been dead," says Mehdi. "I might have had to go to the front." Instead, he won a special gold medal that year as the youngest contestant in the Mr. Asia competition.
TRAINING UDAY AND QUSAY Mehdi won Iraq's national bodybuilding championship every year from 1977 to 1990. He trained the Iraqi national bodybuilding team for worldclass championships. He wrote fan letters to Schwarzenegger in 1976 and 1977. Once, he even got a reply from Arnold himself, addressed "To my friend."
Saddam's two sons, Uday and Qusay, went to Mehdi to get rippling muscles. So did the son of Ali Hassan al-Majid, the infamous "Chemical Ali" known for gassing 5,000 people to death in the Kurdish city of Halabja in 1988. Mehdi won't confirm that they used steroids. "That's another story," he says, grimacing fearfully. But he did say that Uday, in particular, wanted to look good without doing much work.
"They just wanted to build up their bodies fast--they didn't want to work hard," says Mehdi with scorn. "They didn't have a mind for bodybuilding, because the government didn't see the future of Iraq."
Being a trainer to the regime's elite had its risks. Saddam's henchmen tried to take over his club, ordering him to close it to his regular customers. Uday muscled in on Mehdi's business importing nutritional supplements from Asia. Saddam's nephew, whom the dictator installed as president of Iraq's union of professional bodybuilders, was jealous.
The harassment was not subtle. The government would routinely read his mail; at one point, a Baathist agent came to him with an open envelope from the International Federation of Bodybuilders. "Who is this Ben Weider," the agent asked him, "and why are you getting mail from a Jew?" The letter, which he keeps to this day, was a routine inquiry about his subscription to FLEX magazine.
The final straw came after Mehdi dared to criticize some of the ruler's relatives for their laziness. He was stripped of his position with the national team. Fearing for his life, he fled to Malaysia. He lived there for six years, without his wife and children, sneaking back every couple of years to visit them.
In 2000, he moved back to Baghdad and tried to rebuild his life. He bought a gym in the city's dilapidated downtown, just blocks from the giant statue of Saddam in Firdaus Square. When Mehdi tried to name the gym after his beloved Schwarzenegger, Uday's Olympic Committee wouldn't allow it. No foreign names for Iraqi gyms, they told him. It wasn't until April 2003, when Saddam's statue fell, that Mehdi renamed his gym.
ARNOLD STILL INSPIRES The night Schwarzenegger was elected governor of California, Mehdi and his bodybuilding friends stayed up until four in the morning watching the election returns in the gym. "When I found out he won," says Mehdi, "I was crying with joy."
Little by little, he started putting up more and more posters of Schwarzenegger. Today, his gym is plastered with hundreds of images of the Austrian Oak. Outside, a giant 10-foot portrait of two Arnolds flexes over concrete barriers and armed guards.
These days, Mehdi is again training the Iraqi national bodybuilding team for the Mr. Asia competition. He has resurrected his import-export business. And now he has a new ambition: that one day Arnold will visit his gym.
"It would be my dream if he comes here," Mehdi says. "I know he's a famous man, and he's not really free to visit people--I understand."
When Schwarzenegger made a morale-boosting visit to U.S. troops in Iraq in July, Mehdi was hoping his idol would stop by for a visit. He e-mailed several bodybuilding Web sites and asked them to invite Schwarzenegger to Arnold Classic. He received no response.
"I wish I could find a way to send him letters or a message," Mehdi says. Asked what he would say, his face lights up at the idea. "First of all, he would remain habiby," he begins happily, using the Arabic term of respect and endearment that spans everything from "my love" to "my friend."
"I would congratulate him with all my heart for the position he attained: 'Reaching this position makes the whole sport of bodybuilding proud. It's an indication that you're a great man. And don't forget your friends in Iraq, and especially Sabah, who used to write you letters in the 1970s.' And then I would invite him to visit."
After his experience with the Baath regime, Mehdi stays out of politics. "I'm a sportsman--I don't get involved with any government, because I am afraid of the government," he says. In California's election, however, he sees hope for his own country.
"We have lost most of our lives to the hatred of the old regime, but hopefully things will be better soon," he says. "Inside Iraq, perhaps there's a man just like Arnold, who will lead our country in peace."
Current Bodybuilder: Alexander Fedorov (taken from his own website)
I was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia in 1978 to a middle class family. As a teenager, I went to school and pursued various hobbies just like everybody else. Although I tried different sports including soccer, wrestling, and martial arts I took a special interest in bodybuilding. On January 1, 1992, my father, one of the best St. Petersburg athletes took me to the gym for the first time. That is when my passion for bodybuilding began and I realized that it was my calling.
My father turned out to be an outstanding coach. Soon I began to participate in various national competitions. In 1997, I surprised even myself by winning the German Open, a prestigious international competition. In 1998, I became the best in my category at the World Junior Championship. This accomplishment was very important to me because I became the first Russian athlete to win this competition. Also, at that time, I graduated from the College of Bodybuilding and Fitness in Saint-Petersburg with a degree in personal training.
After winning the World Junior Championship, a lot of changes happened in my life. I got married and began to consider financial stability of my family. Unfortunately, at that time in Russia, bodybuilding was a sport not profitable enough to support a family. That is why I decided to stop training and to go into business.
Although business did not bring me much money, I gained from this experience in a different way. I learned how to effectively communicate with different people. I learned how to plan ahead and become more practical. I often think that business and sports are very similar. Two years of entrepreneurial experience taught me how to manage my time effectively, to be receptive to those around me and to be persistent in reaching my goals.
However, these few years without bodybuilding in my life taught me that, first and foremost, I am an athlete and will always remain such. At the beginning of 2002, the Russian Bodybuilding and Fitness League founder gave me the opportunity to return and I started preparing for the upcoming European Championship. I agreed almost immediately and began my quest to become an absolute European champion.
Truthfully, many people did not believe in my comeback into competitive bodybuilding.
Sometimes even I hesitated and felt insecure about my own abilities because too much time had already passed and too many great opportunities have been missed during few years. But at this point I also realized that bodybuilding was my passion and I could not exist without it. I was dedicated to preparing myself to the toughest challenge of my life - the upcoming European Championship.
With my family's support, I became an absolute European champion. But this is only the first step in my career as I envision it. Now as a pro bodybuilder, I have set only the highest goals for myself and I believe that my contribution to bodybuilding will make it a more popular sport in Russia. Bodybuilding has a great future in Russia that I believe is very soon to come.
Up and Coming Bodybuilder: Ali Zahiri
Ali Zahiri was born in Theran, Iran in 1987 but moved to Germany in 1995. He began his bodybuilding training two years later and in 2003 decided to enter his first contest. It was a resounding sucess as he won the South German Championship at the first attempt and was recorded as being "Atheltic" with a bodyfat rating of just 3% and in another contest later on that year was recorded as just having 2% bodyfat. Now living in Hamburg, he is determined to prove that he is a rival for anyone by entering the German Bodyfit Contest in 2006. He hopes to enter that contest at "between 1 and 2% bodyfat".
Thumbnail Image
| | |
Printable Version
