He built some muscle fibres at TSG

We recently caught up with someone who is new in the game but has already won a couple of competitions. So even though he is a Novice, he has already endured the process and reaped the reward. This is what the Regional and National Novice Bodybuilding Champion slash Tuks Veterinary Student slash Tuks Student Gym Member Gert Coertze had to say:

How did it all start? I know it has just started!

“The influence was from my father, he used to be a bodybuilder back in the day, and my brother who just began competing. I also exercised in high school under both their mentorship. This is my second year now. During my first year at Tukkies I wanted to compete but we decided that I should get bigger first, I weighed-in at 82kg at the competition before competition I was at 92kg”

For those who still think bodybuilding is just an egotistical sport for posers. Just briefly take us through the type of preparation that goes into this type of sport?

“The last two months prior to competition is vital from a nutritional point of view. My protein intake was on a high. I know I just started the sport but for those who think that we are just posers, try to eat chicken, fish, and rice or pasta in addition to that stay away from milk and sugars for a while and then repeat that comment. Two weeks prior to competition takes the carbs down and up the Protein, then the no carb day with only Protein, that’s a nightmare and a half. Then I still have to go to class, I promise there were days where I could not hold a pen, my hands were so shaky. On top of that the training (train like an animal look like an animal). Everyday I train as hard as I can”.

You are a novice, how does it feel to have such a great start to your career?

“All the glory to the one above. the feeling is fantastic”: your first official competition, your second official competition you win, doesn’t that put pressure on you?” “Not at all my goal was to win, I told my father that and he agreed that I look good. But I still have my head on the ground, train harder now, it’s a different day now and one day at time getting a little bigger.”

What role did the Tuks Student Gym facility/environment play in all of these?

“The facilities are good, in my opinion world class. I must say the people here the staff, the guy I know but don’t know his name are very supportive. Sometimes through the diet, my motivation is low but the whole atmosphere and politeness of the people just picks me up and keeps me going”