WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A KENYAN AMATEUR BODYBUILDER.

May 05, 2024

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A KENYAN AMATEUR BODYBUILDER.

WHERE DOES OUR BODYBUILDING HISTORY BEGIN?

Mickey Ragos in his prime.

Body building in Kenya has over the years been perceived as an enhancement sport. Which begs the question, is it true or just a stereotype? The global competitive bodybuilding dates back to 1901 when it was first held by a German named Eugen Sandow in London. This paved way for its rise as a competitive sport worldwide. In Kenya, its existence came into play in the late sixties which resulted in the formation of an association. It was named Kenya Weightlifting and Bodybuilding Association (KAWABA) which was chaired by Tom Omwombo. This resulted in the rise of an incredible chap by the name Mickey Ragos. In his prime, he was the reigning champion having eleven consecutive titles to his name. In the mid-nineties he retired but still maintained his lifting routines.

In 2019 during the under 21 Mr. Ragos competition.
Mr. Chris Omedo addressing the audience.

Kenya Bodybuilding Federation (KBBF) was first registered in 1996 making it a separate entity from other weightlifting categories. Just before its collapse, it was headed by Chris Omedo. The downfall was as a result of poor management and leadership wrangles. Despite all these, competitions have still been taking place.

What are the basics of amateur bodybuilding in Kenya?

Eat, sleep, train then repeat is a common answer to this but is it really? Being an amateur bodybuilder, there is only so much you can achieve with the limited resources and exposures to help catapult you to the next level. A decent physique can be achieved with proper training. Proportional balance of the muscles and how well an athlete can present them is key.

Having a well distributed training regimen that carters for this would be great. Nutrition being the biggest driving force needs to be in-check. At this level in bodybuilding, muscle retention would be key especially for hard gainers. Finding sustainable sources of protein at affordable prices would be pivotal. Supplementing where there is a deficiency of any macros would make the process slightly easier. Counting of macros might be hectic for anyone with no resources but it would be crucial for anyone who finds it difficult during the cutting phase. Quality sleep could be termed as a great strategy for recovery but being a local amateur results in little to no luxury for that. Having a program that allows recovery time and getting some decent macros in the system is among the easiest ways of going about it . The fact that they still face unemployment to meet their daily needs makes it tougher. This is totally different from professional bodybuilders who can solely rely on endorsements and sponsorships for survival.

What are some of the risks and reward to it?

It being a competitive sport, creates the urge of wanting to take the process a notch higher. This could result in ego lifting or involvement in enhancement drugs without proper guidance. There are some deadly repercussions to it like chronic injuries and internal damages to the body which are detrimental in the long run. On the bright side especially in modern times, there are a ton of opportunities. This has been attributed to the rise of social media. One of the quickest ways is by monetizing your training knowledge and experience by being a fitness trainer. This has created job opportunities for young upcoming bodybuilding amateurs. They can venture into fitness modelling working with local brands. This is also linked to brand influencing, where they get to work with local supplement and gym wear companies. Venturing in security services also would help meet their income. This opportunity channels are quite expansive depending on their preferences.

What can be done differently to propel our amateurs to the next level?

Having a solid association or a federation which carters for the needs of the amateurs would be a game changer. This would easily enable educational forums to help them understands some of the fundamentals of moving through the ranks. Support from the national government through the ministry of sports would help empower these amateurs. Sponsoring some of the best amateurs to represent the country in the international competitions would be a good motivating factor for the rest.

Intervention of local and international sponsors will enable financial empowerment of more competitions. This will give amateurs a platform to showcase their hard work and dedication. Shout out to KATS and MMEA for their continuous efforts in promoting the sport through the years. Most of us got the inspiration from these shows.