BUILT

Q. Based on what I saw, the guy who won your class wasn’t nearly as ripped or muscular as you. How did it feel when the judges said you were way too big and jacked for physique?

A. I had a feeling this was going to be an issue. The night before the show, at the athlete’s meeting, they handed out a sheet saying that they would be deducting points for overdeveloped back and traps. I have a pretty thick back, so I was skeptical about whether I had entered the right category. Then after the athletes’ meeting, I was getting tanned by IFBB pro Nicole Ball, and I asked her how I looked compared to the other physique competitors. Her response was, “Don’t spread your lats when you hit the back pose.” After returning to my room, I got a text from my posing coach saying he’d gotten the handout as well and spoken with the judges, and he told me not to flex at all onstage. I knew after this text I was in the wrong category. The show day finally came and I rolled into the change room to look around, and everyone seemed fit but not in the condition I was in. I could see the stares coming from every angle at me as I removed my shirt and started eating my rice crackers. The tension was building; I knew that I was either going to win this show or not going to place, as I was way too big for physique. When I made third callout, I wasn’t that upset, as I kind of had a feeling it might play out that way. After the show I got a very positive email from the head judge saying I looked great. He said I had the right look for FLEX magazine, when they were after a Muscle & Fitness look. I am okay with not placing for being too muscular! I had a great journey in my first competition and met all kinds of great people along the way. I may try to do a bodybuilding show in 2013, but I need to get an old shoulder injury up to par to hold some of the mandatory poses.

To read more by Jayson Wyner, click HERE!