Amateur body builder scoops gold

Bloemfontein’s very own muscle man Itumeleng Khoabane has claimed the title of overall winner at the Body Building South Africa (BBSA) Free State Novice Championships that were held at the Bloemfontein City Hall last weekend.

The competition attracted body builders from all over the province, who were all gunning for the ultimate prize which is usually given to an athlete with the most defined muscles. The competition categories for males were Junior under 23, Masters over 40, Classic Body Building, as well as Senior Men. The women competed in the Beach Bikini, Fitness Bikini, and Ladies Body Fitness category.

“This year we had 105 of the best novice athletes in the Free State and the City Hall was packed to capacity with spectators,” said organiser Conrad Nagel, who is also an accomplished body builder.

Khoabane, who scooped both the Senior Men’s title and the Overall Winner title, has been doing body building for the past 18 years. Through entering a number of competitions, he has mastered his own recipe for successful muscular sculpting and training.
“My first competition was in 1994. I began training without a diet and it is only recently that I got moral support and a sponsor. It has been a very challenging journey. This is the first time I became the overall winner in any competition. I am looking forward to more competitions. In five years’ time, I want to have my own gym, with branches all over the country. I also want to promote bodybuilding as a sport, because I have realised that people do not understand the sport. I also really want to be one of the best in the country, maybe even be a professional overseas.”

Khoabane believes that any person can build muscles, but when it comes to body building the biggest challenge is building quality muscles.

“There is a certain training regime you must follow, specific foods that must be consumed, and every athlete has their own secret formula to winning a competition.”

According to Khoabane, preparation for a competition, which usually takes three or more months, requires the athletes to have a balanced workload, get enough rest, as well as staying within the limits of the body’s recovery capacity.
Khoabane added that the sport requires extensive discipline and hard work.

“For this competition, I started my preparations at the beginning of this year. Last year when I entered, I got the fifth position in my category. I am very happy with my achievement. My biggest aim with doing body building is to make something positive out of my life. I take this sport very seriously. I am more determined now to make my mark as a body builder.”

Khoabane said the last week of preparation for a competition is usually the most challenging as this is where body builders have to preserve what they have been working for months leading to the competition. In order to look great on the day of the competition, the athletes must decrease their consumption of water, sodium, and carbohydrates and use nutritional supplements to avoid getting cramps ahead of the competition.

The next BBSA IFBB Free State Championships will take place in August this year. A Free State team will then be selected to compete at the BBSA IFBB South African National Championships that will take place from September 5 to 8 in East London.