Some of the winners posing for a photo with Quiet Shangai in dark blue T-shirt and Mark Anthony Vassilatos in light blue basketball jersey
By Tendai Chisiri
It was a hive of activity at a packed Zimbabwe College of Music as first time Bodybuilding and fitness athletes battled it out for the Mr Novice Zimbabwe contest with Milton Zawe emerging the winner on Saturday.
The competition running under the theme ‘’Our Sport Our future’’ was well attended both the audience and the athletes who took on stage. The main sponsor of the event Trysupps Academy chief executive officer was in a jovial mood as he followed the proceedings of the day.
It was all smiles from the National Federation of Zimbabwe Bodybuilding and Fitness executive as the contest showed that there is much to come in the Bodybuilding and Fitness calendar.
Milton Zawe shrugged stiff competition to scoop the top accolade in a show that left everyone happy and with no qualms about the judges’ decisions.
The athletes battled it out in the Junior men Bodybuilding, Women Development, Men’s Physique, Men’s Fitness and Senior Men Bodybuilding categories with the top three athletes getting certificates, medals, trophies, bags and Trysupps supplements whilst fourth, fifth and sixth positions got certificates only.
Milton Zawe was on cloud nine for clinching the prestigious position of Senior Men Bodybuilding. ‘’I am so happy and proud to be the winner tonight. I would like to thank my wife and others who helped me to what I have achieved’’, said ecstatic Zawe.
He trains at Fitness First Gym in Harare.
Although the other categories had 15 athletes contesting and more, Women Development category had 2 ladies competing in it. Camilla Potgifter outshined her friend Brooke Cuthbert to land the first position.
‘’After having my daughter 2 years ago, I thought of joining Bodybuilding and Fitness to have my body back. I started eight weeks ago with my friend Brooke Cuthbert’’, said Camilla Potgifter.
‘’ It was terrifying, it is scathing but it is very rewarding. It gives a big sense of accomplishment. We did weight training every day for an hour, cardio work for fifty minutes every day and the diet was very hard’’, said the ladies in unison.
Kix McSorky who is also an athlete form Shape Your Shassy Gym in Harare were the two ladies train bemoaned the number of woman who took to the stage.’’ Women think that weight training makes one big and bulk thus becoming unattractive but in actual fact one gets fit. Weight training is good for the bones and strength’’, she said.
In the Men’s Physique Duane Jenkins managed by Mr Zimbabwe David Weier came first in a tense competition. ‘’It was challenging. Was a bit nervous just kept my cool’’, he said. His manager David Weier said he gave the athlete ten weeks of preparations with strict diet.’’ This is my first athlete to be on stage. We had him to challenge big boys’’, he said. Weier is now eying Arnold Classic as he wants to take the sport to a next level.
In the Men’s Fitness, Malcom Dzvuke from Dzivarasekwa high density suburbs’ Just Pool Gym came victorious in the Men’s Fitness category. ‘’ I am so surprised and feeling happy at the same time. I didn’t really expect it. I am going to compete in other shows in future.
National Federation of Zimbabwe Bodybuilding and Fitness secretary-general Quiet Shangai was quoted by Newsday sport saying he was satisfied with the outcome of the Mr Novice contest.
“It was a great show. We surpassed the number 54 from last year by a distant. It’s something that we never expected and we are actually happy about that. It shows that the sport is growing, there is uptake. What we just need to do going forward is to ensure that we create a pathway for these athletes so that they remain in the game,” Shangai said.
Shangai also revealed that there were a lot of programmes designed to give space for newcomers to enter into bodybuilding and fitness.
Trysupps Zimbabwe chief executive officer, Tinotenda Ryan Gumbo speaking to Newsday sport said they were trying to inspire youths to take up the sport.
“We were so excited with the athletes and audiences turnout, with over 64 participants; it was a record-breaking show and it’s good to see the fruits of our hard work in trying to inspire the youths out there to get into bodybuilding and fitness as a career. This will go a long way towards the development of bodybuilding as a sport in Zimbabwe.
“As Trysupps Zimbabwe, that’s our mission to create opportunities for youths, encouraging them to refrain from drug use and get into training and healthy lifestyle. We are looking forward to host other big shows during the course of the year not only in bodybuilding but we are a brand for everyone and will get to rugby, soccer and even the general public raising awareness on healthy living.” he said.
Results
Men’s Fitness — Malcom Dzvuke (Harare), Men’s Physique — Duan Jentas (Harare), Senior Men Bodybuilding — Milton Zawe (Harare), Junior men Bodybuilding — Prince Moyo (Harare), Women Development — Camilla Potgifter (Harare).
News Sport Online 