From cheerleading to bodybuilding

Ruan Vermaak, 17, took a leap of faith and did the unthinkable in under two weeks.

Ruan, a Hoërskool Noordheuwel pupil, recently scooped up four awards in his very first bodybuilding competition which he decided to enter at the last minute.

With only two weeks to go and with the help of his personal trainer and loving stepmother, Princess Susan Fourie, Ruan was ready to participate in the Sibanye North-West Development Show.

Here the youngster scooped the Mr Fitness Routine Award, took a second place in the under 23 division and a fourth place in the Mr Fitness Model Division as well as Mr Fizique.

He is currently the youngest athlete in the IBFF (International Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation) with the most awards for a newcomer.

Besides his new found passion for the sport, Ruan is also the captain of the Nories Cheerleading squad which has competed at the South-African Championships for the last three years.

“He was already fit when he decided to participate in the show as part of the Aroeka team,” said the proud stepmother and personal trainer.

His quick preparations for the competition kicked off with an adjustment to his diet and gym sessions.

Now he had to eat eight times a day which included foods such as chicken, fish, baby marrows and avocado’s.

“Although he has always maintained a healthy lifestyle, competing meant fine tuning his food intake and intensifying his work out.”

With a busy scheduled he fits in two hours of cheerleading training twice a week with the additional gym training and muscle shaping under the watchful eye of Susan.

His love for fitness started when he participated in one of his stepmother’s bootcamp classes three years ago, and like they say the rest was history.

Since then he has developed a love for fitness and training.

“I enjoy doing things that other’s hasn’t done before. I am able to to all these things through my Creator who strengthens me,” Ruan said.

He is described as a competitive bundle of energy by those closes to him.

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