Benson Rewu hopes to flex his muscles in Vegas soon

Bodybuilding has always been a passion for Benson Rewu (29), who hails from Barberton. The father of three said his passion for the sport was stirred while he was completing his secondary schooling.

“I had the privilege to play first team rugby during my high school years and did not like the fact that most of my teammates were bigger than me and had even more muscle than I did.

“I could not understand why some of them packed on muscle and just grew bigger and bigger. That’s when I started lifting weights at home,” he said.

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Rewu grew up on a farm just outside Gauteng, between Bronkhorstspruit and Pretoria, and attended Silverton High School. As his interest in the sport grew, he started collecting materials from scrapyards to start his own gym.

“I started lifting weights, not knowing what I was doing, but the goal was to gain some size and get lean at the same time.

“I did research on how to build lean muscle mass and the first fitness video I watched was Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Pumping Iron.”

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He cites the bodybuilding icon as his greatest inspiration in his quest to attain a muscular physique. From these early beginnings, Rewu started entering bodybuilding competitions with the help of Rico van Huizen from the Netherlands.

“He coached me and I managed to place second at the International Natural Bodybuilding Association (INBA) Africa’s Naturals in 2017.”

The win spurred Rewu on to continue participating in the sport and expand his knowledge through YouTube videos. The avid bodybuilder follows a strict exercise programme and is fully aware of the pitfalls to which many aspiring bodybuilders succumb.

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“Most gym partners I had known never used to enjoy training their legs or doing cardio, and this became one the things I avoided as well. Ever since I started leg training twice a week with some cardio, they became one of my best training days.”

His vision is to serve as an inspiration and he added that he lives by the maxim: “Do not let your talent take you places where your character cannot keep you”.

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Rewu is this year’s open men’s and overall winner at the INBA championships, held in Durban, and has been extended an invitation to compete in the international IMBA competition which will be held in Las Vegas from November 14 to 17.

To realise this dream, he has to raise funds to cover his travelling and accommodation costs. For further enquiries, contact Benson Rewu on 079- 110-2896