Mustangs – the Dancing Place recently set the stage for the biggest bodybuilding event ever to take place in Mbombela.

The Puma Classic, a qualifier of the IBFF World Championship in Slovenia set to take place in July, saw 116 registered bodybuilders strut their stuff in spectacular fashion.
Athletes from Knysna, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and even as far away as the Republic of Ghana were present.

In the end there could only be one winner. Judges were all in agreement that one athlete stood out above the rest – local bodybuilding phenomenon, Stefan Marais.
He not only won his division for seniors up to 90 kilograms despite only being 23, but took the overall win at the event. By doing so he qualified for the IBFF World Championship where he will go head-to-head against bodybuilding and fitness competitors from all over the globe.

Having won numerous titles locally and abroad, Marais is no stranger to the big stage. But winning on home soil where his career started when he was still puny at the age of 15, often being looked down upon, has meant more to him than any title he has ever won.

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“Despite the competition being smaller than what I am used to, I felt like I have just won Mr Olympia. It is by far my most memorable win,” he said.
“I couldn’t help but burst into tears when Johan Esterhuizen, who has played a massive role in my career, handed over my trophy. What’s more, I dedicated my award to Ryan Pretorius who died in a car accident last year, without whom none of this would’ve been possible,” he said, adding that he went onto stage never expecting the win.
Erik van Heerden, the very athlete he had lost to at the Arnold Classic in 2018, stood besides him before going on stage.

“The first time I realised that I am in for a chance, is when Erik and I both weighed in at 89 kilograms, which was a massive improvement for me since our last encounter when Erik was much bigger than me,” he said, adding that his motto going onto stage was “the bigger the calling the greater the fight”.

Off stage were posters in remembrance of Pretorius, and Marais’ attempts to hold back the tears while holding up his trophy to Pretorius were unsuccessful. “He kick-started my career, and for that I will forever be thankful. Every second of every minute on that stage was dedicated to him,” he said.