Bodybuilders ready to flex muscles
Mqondisi Dube | Saturday May 4, 2024 06:00
At least 30 contestants are billed to flex their muscles as the organisation of the competition scheduled for May 25, takes shape. The last bodybuilding contest was held in 2019. Show organiser, Lust Sithole told MmegiSport this week that it is almost all systems go. “Right now we are going around the gyms mobilising athletes and helping them to get ready.
They are getting excellent conditioning for the show. The venue has changed to Sunrise Conference Centre in Phase Two (Gaborone),” Sithole said. He said there has been a positive response from the community with new sponsors joining their traditional partners. Sithole said sceptical athletes are now “really interested”.
Due to the number of interested teenagers, Sithole said they have included the ‘teenagers’ category. “That will give us a very wonderful platform for the future if we can start grooming athletes at a young age. They are looking really good. We are preparing them both mentally and physically. Everything is falling into place,” Sithole said. He said even women are interested in the competition, and there will be the wellness, rather than the bikini category. “I think this time the biggest line-up will be the wellness rather than the bikini category.
There are a lot of ladies who are looking good (for the competition) and wellness is probably the look of the moment. Even at the international level, we are finding a lot of bodybuilders now downsizing to wellness because the world at large is still finding it difficult to accept bodybuilding look on females,” Sithole said.
“Wellness is associated with femininity. Ladies are really interested and are getting in excellent condition, like Masego at Jack’s Gym, we have got Kay at Jack’s Gym Molapo and other ladies at Gangster’s Gym in Mogoditshane,” he added. He said they expect the biggest line-up in the physique category. “Bodybuilding is the most difficult sport, so, it is not easy to build huge muscle bellies and condition them to win shows. But physique is a lot more on the aesthetic looks, you don’t have to be a muscle hombre and we have several guys who look really good for the physique,” Sithole said.
He said Elliot Mpolokang is the favourite to win the male open division. 'He is tipping the scales at 95kgs and is ripped. In the veterans category we have former champions like Big Life, Steve Obotseng, making a comeback and they are in the best shapes of their lives.' Sithole said on the day, St George’s Clinics will carry out free heart check-ups for those attending the show.
Among sponsors are Guardian Angel Security, Airton, Online Solutions, SATIB 24, Tropicana, St George's Clinics, Notwane Pharmacy, Bres Electrical, Major Muscle and Fitness, Home Corp, USN, Gabz FM, Mmegi, SmartZone Plumbing, Bulk Distribution, Elis Mews Holdings, and PC Automotive Mechanics.