Secunda teenager takes gold for bodybuilding

Local lad, Xander Bezuidenhout (15), competed in the IFBB Body Building Sunfest that was held in Durban on December 4 and walked away with his first-ever gold medal in bodybuilding.

Xander was the youngest contestant to compete in the U/23 Classic Body Building category and surpassed all other contestants who had been doing this for many years.

He is also a qualifier for the Arnold Sports Festival Africa that will take place next year.

Xander is a Grade 9 learner at Höerskool Secunda and would fit in gym practices at the Moove Motion Fitness Club first thing in the morning and again after school hours.

“At first I had no interest in bodybuilding. It was something that never appealed to me and I was never built for it, but I began seeing progress and that is where I took the chance and tried it out,” said Xander.

Xander was never intimidated by fellow bodybuilding athletes and motivated himself to reach his goal.

“I had to motivate myself and push myself to the gymnasium every day which I enjoy doing.”

It was through his parents, Mr Allan and Ms Nicolene Bezuidenhout, that Xander came to learn of the Arnold Classics qualifier and had as little as two weeks to prepare for the IFBB Body Building Sunfest.

“Prepping for the event consisted of healthy eating and working out,” said Xander.

His father said that the gym work took months and months of prep, however, the eating plan was tough in the sense that he could only consume certain foods in certain amounts.

His main diet consisted of fish.

Coached by professional bodybuilding athlete, Lourens Smidt from Nelspruit, Xander had to also master his posing positions with only two weeks at hand.

“Xander has been prepping his body for some time now and we have been seeing a lot of improvement and progress. I took some photos, posted them on Facebook and this is how we came in contact with the professionals who said that they see a lot of potential in Xander,” said Mr Bezuidenhout.

Coach Smidt kept in contact daily with Xander and every morning before the main event, Xander had to submit photos to his coach on his daily progress.

“The day before the event coach Smidt said Xander is in superb condition and not to be intimidated by any other contestant,” said Mr Bezuidenhout.

His father said that if anyone was intimated at the event, it would have been the older men who competed against Xander.

The event was live-streamed and also had an audience who had to maintain a social distance.

“My chest swell when they called out Xander’s contestant number and to hear the audience shouting and chanting “214” (which was Xander’s number). He made quite the impression,” said Mr Bezuidenhout.

Xander said he went up on the stage with confidence and a huge smile.

“There were 12 compulsory posses that I had to do. Posing alone is much harder work than one would think. You have to show every definition of every muscle in your body,” said Xander.

Even the movements of hands and shoulders are judged.

With Xander still being in school and having to study and write exams, he only had two weeks to master all moves and posses for this event.

Judges said for his progress and confidence, seeing him on stage, one would have thought he was someone who had been doing this for a very long time.

“He is a natural-born bodybuilder,” said Mr Bezuidenhout.

Xander said it was an exciting experience and a boost in confidence for him.

After the event, Xander was contacted by three coaches who want to help him with coaching.

Xander is now preparing himself for the TBTF Classic, which is an IFBB/BBSA Sanctioned show and Arnold’s Africa qualifier that will be held in Nelspruit on April 9, 2022.

After this event, there is a possibility that Xander will tour overseas should he qualify.

He is also aiming for his Protea colours.