18^th July 2009

We are now well into the 2009 Bodybuilding season and based on what South Africa witnessed on Saturday at the Springs Civic Centre which hosted the WFF-WBBF USN Rainbow Classic, can only lead towards one of the great SA competitions when the SA’s comes around. The athletes are simply getting bigger, more cut and seriously more polished on the stage.

John Lesley was in outstanding world class condition and seems to inspire the other athletes with his no nonsense, professional approach to the sport. His ability to help others and answer their questions on the day with advice that will help them for the rest of their career has to be admired. Good to know that John Lesley is not an “Untouchable” when it comes to imparting information to others.

Bongani Nhlapo from the East Rand is definitely worth a mention. He was in outstanding physical condition winning His heavyweight division and presenting a serious challenge in the Overall lineup.

Dries Swart made a comeback after a five year layoff and returned a mature O/40 who absolutely stunned the audience into total silence with a body that was in world class condition.

The WFF-WBBF USN Rainbow Classic 2009 saw 150 entrants ranging from the U/16 to the Super Heavyweight Division which included a lineup of women divisions which equaled anything seen before. Yvette Van Staaden deserves a special mention for coming on stage as hard as the proverbial “Rock” and has set the standard for the Ladies Performance Figure for the year 2009. Once again the U/16’s had a lineup that presents a great future for the sport of bodybuilding and it warms the heart to see the competitive spirit seen among these young men. The Ladies Model Fitness Bikini saw the ladies displaying stunning evening wear which drew huge applause from the almost capacity crowd. The Men Fitness division was well attended by athletes who realize that this is a division open to those who are not quite at the bodybuilding state but are in good enough shape to present the audience with fitness routines that causes crowd participation.

It is good to report that the sport of bodybuilding and fitness is alive and well in South Africa.

Written by Martin Braum (WFF-WBBF “A” International Judge