The Sport with the Biggest Ego

The past three months I have watched my friend train and diet in an admirable way for a natural bodybuilding competition. The amount of dedication it takes to embark in this physically tasking competition always surprises me, even though I see this dedication from him every year.

Bodybuilding shows have this negative notion that they are simply “freak shows”, however due to the substance free regulation these natural shows are also free from the freakiness. No doubt the contestants are still in jaw dropping shape with the resemblance of Greek gods appose to human hulks like Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Regardless of the physical stamina of these athletes the show day is always the hardest element of bodybuilding. No training can prepare the contestants for the hours of flexing and posing under the hot lights and the judging eyes of the crowd. My friend told me the worst part about these shows is indeed the stage. His least favorite part is the layers of tanner, which is mandatory, and the application of cooking spray to his skin for the judging. Going back stage you can literally smell the Pan cooking spray and see the empty bottle lying around.

So not only are these contestants judged while overheated, sticky and painted orange they are starving for food. The day of the show most contestants are foodless and waterless from the time they wake up till the time they wake off stage.

Working in a gym I see a lot of members train and diet down for a show so I have a pretty good understanding of the struggles of bodybuilding. An understanding I lack is not how but why? After all is said and done the winners go home with a four inch plexiglas statue and two pounds of protein. I suppose it is to win a title for fittest person or to feel the success for completing that goal.

I find myself with an increasing interest in this sport, if you can call it a sport. The reputation of bodybuilding is often coupled egoistical personalities, which is a characteristic most negatively respond too. In any sport humbling must accompany competing. Regardless of the vanity associated with this sport I still find the pure intrinsic motivation inspiring. There is no team to win for, there is no grand prize or wide fame to claim, no this is a personal sport. So I guess it is safe to use a cliché and say everyone is a winner in this sport. Truly everyone who walked the stage reached their goal.

Image: Christopher Pick ND is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.