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South Africans are absolutely killing it on the world stage as another one of our local heroes, Hansie Mokgoshi, won the International Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (IBFF) world championship title last week in Koper, Slovenia.

Mokgoshi, a 42-year-old police officer from New Eersterus, overcame a devastating injury in 2018, and with a typical South African never-give-up attitude, managed to overcome significant weight and muscle mass loss to win the gold.

Mokgoshi said he was required to compete in a qualifier show in South Africa, the 2021 All Africa Cup, before the world championship. He finished second in the pro division, earning him a spot in the Mr Universe competition in Italy in 2021. He declined the invitation, however, since he thought he needed to practice harder to win a world title.

 

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Mokgoshi told City Press that he used to practice karate with his father, who had weights in their home, 20 years ago.

“I started training with them to try to improve my body structure since I had a small build physique, which was disadvantageous for me when I had to fight in the tournaments of karate.”

He said that after graduating from high school, he joined the SAPS and met a trainer named Sergeant Mahlatsi, who told him he was cut out for bodybuilding and introduced him to the sport.

“He also taught me stage positions, how to work out, and what to eat. Since then, my interest in bodybuilding has grown. I’ve worked with a variety of instructors, including Charmine Howell, who first assisted me in competing in my first global championship in France in 2010 and placing fourth.”

According to Mokgoshi, bodybuilding is not a recognised sport in South Africa.

“We still struggle financially and we do most things from our packets. It is even difficult to get food sponsorships, and bodybuilding is all about eating healthily every day since it’s a healthy lifestyle and not just a sport,” he explained.

Mokgoshi now has his sights set on the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness Professional League show, Mr Olimpia, in a year or two.

 

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What a guy.

[source:citypress]