Muscle-man wins national title
For Marcel this is the way to live life; when you put your heart and soul into something, you will always reach the top.
When it comes to preparing for a competition the devil is in the detail and Marcel van Niekerk rarely goes into one without proper planning, months of dedicated training and thorough research.
For Marcel van Niekerk, body-building is much more than a sport; it is an art form. He has spent past few years hard at work perfecting his craft and establishing himself as one of the most talented athletes in South African body-building circles.
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In September this year Marcel competed in the National Amateur Body-Builders’ Association (NABBA) Provincial Competition in Durban, where he secured himself a spot in the finals. His dedication paid off and he ended the year as the third best NABBA body-builder in the country.
Even though he is extremely proud of his achievements, he explained he will still work hard to become the best of the best.
“After placing third in the SA finals I am extremely motivated. I want to be the best. I think when you love something as much as I love body-building, you will always be good at it,” he says.
He advises that proper planning prevents poor performance.
“When I prepare for competitions I am focused. There is so much that goes into it and I have to plan everything from my diet to my exercise regime. When I’m in ‘competition mode’, I rarely have time to focus on my friends or family. I am really blessed to be surrounded by people who understand and support me no matter what. When you walk onto the stage and get to present your ‘painting’ to the crowd it all becomes worth it.”
Four years ago, the 23-year-old Newcastillian started on his road to fitness. Even though he admits the road was lonely at times, Marcel explained he would not trade the friendships and experiences he gained for anything in the world.
“When I returned to Newcastle after my studies many of my friends have already left Newcastle. I met one of my best friends, Nico-Jan Chowles, who introduced me to the gym. I would not have been here today if it was not for the love and support I received from him.”
As a teacher and soccer coach at Huttenpark Primary School and an avid sport supporter, Marcel recalls how sport has played a big role in his life, but it was only after he competed in his first body-building competition a few years ago, that he really discovered his passion.
Now he is well on his way to becoming the best NABBA body-builder in SA.
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“When it comes to body-building finding a balance is extremely difficult: You have to put 100% of your effort into it and that comes at a price.
“That is why I am extremely grateful to my friends and family because they balance my life. They are the people who taught me about love, hard work and being a better person.”
With everything in life one should ask the question ‘is this going to make me better?’
For Marcel this is the way to live life; when you put your heart and soul into something, you will always reach the top.
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