All set for Body Building Championship
Calistus Kolantsho | Wednesday August 19, 2015 16:09
The organiser of the event, Lust Sithole said the body building competition, which was introduced in 2010, would see the introduction of new categories.
The new categories are men’s fitness and women’s bikini challenge. The main contest is for the Mr. Iron man and Miss Iron woman award. Sithole said the contestants will be judged in the relax, compulsory and the freestyle poses. He said under the poses, judges would look at the athlete’s body proportion, symmetry, density and definition, looking at thickness and muscle separation.
He said the men’s fitness category is for those with chiseled six packs, but are not muscular. Sithole said as for the women, they should be well-trimmed and have flat tummies. He noted that not all women are interested in being muscular.
“Since the championship started five years ago, the response has been amazing. It keeps growing each year. We have local body builders who are excelling in other countries such as South Africa and Zimbabwe,” Sithole said.
Some of the successful body builders are Steve Obotseng, Junior Moloiso, Gontse Sechele and Mogomotsi Kgabo.
Sechele came third at the 2015 Mr. Universe a fortnight ago in Seoul, Korea. Kgabo was third at Muscle mania competition held in Zimbabwe in 2012 and went on to grab second position during the Botswana Championship the same year.
The athlete was second in the Mr. Botswana junior category in 2012. Obotseng competed in the All Africa competition held in Harare, Zimbabwe in 2012 and finished fourth.
Sithole said the reigning Mr. Zimbabwe, Champion Mbewe will be one of the contestants during competition. He said the intention is to develop body building in the country by having competitions in other towns such as Francistown and Selebi-Phikwe.
“Body building is all about healthy living and our intention is to spread fitness awareness especially among the youth. The sport is not only about going to the gym, but it encourages discipline. The joy of life is not all about drugs, sex and alcohol,” he said.
Sithole said they intend to teach the public about the importance of nutrition especially supplements in the sport. He said people must know the difference between supplements and steroids.
The championship has received assistance from Mmegi newspaper, Notwane Pharmacy, Easy Building, Legae Investment, Lefa Holdings, Fleming Asset Management, Farouk Ishmael and Butterfield Bakery.