World Bodybuilding Championship

TWO local flex posers, namely newly crowned Mr Seychelles Fabien Antat and runner-up Nano Camille, leave Friday night (October 20) to represent the country at the 60th edition of the World Amateur Bodybuilding Championship which will be held in Ostrava, Czech Republic, from October 26 to 30.
Antat, who won both local competitions organised this year, will compete in the middleweight category (85-kg). The former swimmer is not new to this high level competition as he was 11th out of 18 participants in the IFBB 85-kg ranking following his outstanding performance during the 57th edition held in 2003 in Mumbai, India. Antat was also the 90-kg category champion of the 2001 African Bodybuilding Championship.

Camille, who will be flexing his muscles in the light heavyweight category (90-kg), participated in last year’s edition of the competition and was ranked 17th out of 20 participants in the 85-kg division.

According to Seychelles Amateur Bodybuilding Association (Sabba) chairman Marcel Ally who will lead the delegation, the main target is to make the world ranking and he said that he is confident that the two local bodybuilders can achieve this goal.

“Their preparation went on well and the two posers are up to the standard. In fact, they are in much better shape than when they competed in the Mr Seychelles contest,” added Ally.

It is to note that the World Amateur Bodybuilding Championship, formerly IFBB Mr Universe, is a bodybuilding contest organised by the International Federation of Bodybuilders (IFBB) and was first held in 1959.

The name was changed in 1976 to avoid confusion with the NABBA Mr Universe. From 1959 to 1969 there was just one category of competition which was open. In 1970, the competition was split into three height classes - the short (under 5’5), medium (under 5’8) and tall (5’8) - with an overall winner also decided. In 1976, the height classes were abandoned in favour of weight classes.

Legendary bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger won the 10th edition of the contest which was held in 1969 in New York, whilst Lou Ferrigno won back-to-back titles in 1973 and 1974. German bodybuilder Dennis Wolf was the grand winner of last year’s competition which was held in Shanghai, China.