Ultimate body-building contest set for Saturday

Takudzwa Chitsiga

Zimpapers Sports Hub

ALL is set for the inaugural Ultimate Body-building contest that will be at Harare International School on Saturday.

The contest has a purse of US$5 000 and the winner will pocket US$3 500 making it the joint highest paying contest in the country.

The Ultimate Body-building contest will be the last competition on the body-building calendar. Ultimate Body-building contest is the brainchild of former body-builder, Alex Mangwiro.

Top athletes like reigning Mr Zimbabwe Gideon Teguru, Knowledge Mapfumo and Nigel Mapfumo are expected to battle it for the ultimate price. With Harare Classic giving US$2 500 to the main winner and the Zimbabwe Nationals’ main price pegged at US$3 500, the inaugural Ultimate Body-building Showdown competition becomes Zimbabwe’s highest-paying body-building competition.

The competition is also expected to be graced by foreign body-builders from as far as South Africa, Zambia, and Tanzania.

Top body-builders will compete in five categories namely senior men body-building open, junior men body-building (16-23 years), men’s fitness, women’s wellness, and women’s bikini fitness. Magwiro said all was in place for the event with several top athletes already showing interest in participation.

“As an ex body-builder myself, I have been competing for the past 30 years and I just felt the need to give back to my sport by organising a show. “I know the pain that body-builders go through when preparing for the shows, and many athletes feel that they are not been appreciated enough for their hard work, that’s why we are going to reward the main winner of the show with US$5 000.

“So, I had to look for sponsors who came on board with the money to motivate the athletes.

“We are so excited with the hosting of the Ultimate Body-building Showdown and the response from the athletes is very positive.

“Most of them have already registered online and we have athletes coming from as far as South Africa, Zambia, and Tanzania to compete. “We have a lot of local athletes who wanted to attend shows in South Africa this weekend but most of them are no longer going they are going to be participating in our show and we are expecting a very good show with top athletes.