Tuks's Muzi Maluleke achieved a goal he set himself ten years ago when he won his category during the recent Amateur Olympia bodybuilding competition in Korea.
Ever since the University of Pretoria's SEMLI (Sport, Exercise, Medicine and Lifestyle) masters student, has taken up bodybuilding, he dreamt of one day competing at the Mr Olympia Competition which he considers to be the "Super Bowl" of his sport. Now he will be able to do so as his victory means he has qualified to compete in the IFBB Pro League. He might be the first African bodybuilder in his weight category (212 pounds) to do so.
If everything goes according to plan Maluke hopes to compete at the Mr Olympia competition within the next two years.
"I am 27. The consensus amongst bodybuilders is that you reach your physical peak by your late twenties early thirties. There is no guarantee that I will get to compete at the Mr Olympia competition as only the 20 best bodybuilders in the world qualify to compete in the two respective categories.
"But his I can promise. If I do get to compete, I will aim to finish in the top six. I don't think since 1994 any South African bodybuilder has been able to do so."
There is however much more to Maluke than striving to get the perfect muscular physic. He is currently also busy doing his masters degree in sports science and conditioning. The Tuks student is actually in a race against time to finish as he has been accepted to further his studies in Germany for five months. Afterwards, he wants to do his PhD.
"One of the things I strive towards is to prove to people that 'big muscles don't equate to having a small brain'. It has always been essential to me to find a balance in life and to set an example to youngsters. I can pride myself in being genuinely disciplined. I have learnt precisely when what needs to be done. It helps setting yourself specific goals within a certain time frame."
Football is Maluke's other big passion. That is what drives him to keep on studying.
"I aim to try and make a difference in South African football. For this reason, it is exciting to get the opportunity to study in Germany. They are after all one of the leading football nations in the world. I want to research from an African perspective as what can be done to create our unique physiology football profiles.
"It is essential to create a minimum standard at which players need to be if they want to compete against the world's best. It has already been done in American 'football'. Once the physiology profiles are in place, it would be possible to ensure that the South African football brand becomes more competitive and marketable."
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