2013 WPFG Bodybuilding Competition

By Volunteer Megan Joyce

It was muscles galore at the WPFG bodybuilding competition at the Waterfront Hall yesterday evening.

Over 30 athletes from across the world tensed and posed to wow an excitable crowd in the Waterfront studio. Dame Mary Peters attended the showcase as judges from across the bodybuilding association NABBA awarded some of the finest physiques with gold medals. 

Both ladies and men competed in categories for all ages and heights with the majority of participants originating from the USA and Canada. Representatives from India and China performed well and proved the rise of the sport in both countries.

The evening took an unexpected yet memorable turn with one of the winning athletes proposing to his long-term girlfriend of four years. The answer being a resounding yes!

Just as the audience thought the romance was over, a competitor’s girlfriend was called to the stage to propose to her victorious champ. Again, the answer was never doubt.

The standard of entrants in the competition was extremely high with many athletes invited to compete in the Mr. Universe dual schedule in October.

Check the results page for the winners: http://www.2013wpfgfixturesandresults.com/

John Kitsco from the Toronto Fire Service

Hi, my name is John Kitsco and I am an Acting Captain with the Toronto Fire Service where I have been a fire fighter for the last 22 years.

I'm currently based at Fire Station 313 where I work with an outstanding group of guys and I am very proud to represent my crew, and the whole Toronto Fire Service, at this year’s Games in Belfast. I am really looking forward to competing in the bodybuilding event.

Bodybuilding is a passion for me and I've enjoyed competing in it for over twenty years. I have taken part in National level events as a top-ranked amateur, as well as in three previous WPFG events in Quebec, Vancouver and New York where took the gold medal at each one.

Now, as a senior competitor, I'm enjoying all the training and preparation for this year’s Games.

I am really looking forward to the camaraderie, seeing old friends and meeting new ones. To me being part of an epic event such as WPFG stands for something more than just sport.

So, I'll be proudly representing Toronto Fire in Belfast training hard to win, but more importantly I am looking forward to enjoying the whole of the Games and all the social aspects of it too! I am reassured that Belfast will best social experience!!