Online Reporter
Tendai Chara
Zimpapers Sports Hub
LIFE loses its spark when you are not doing what you love. For Mark “Big Mark” Vassilatos, that was a pull too strong to resist.
He stepped away from competitive bodybuilding in 2023 after establishing himself as one of the sport’s leading names in Zimbabwe.
Away from competition, Vassilatos devoted his time to his family and training others.
But he continued training and, eventually, the urge to compete returned.
“I was busy with the personal training of my clients and spending time with my family,” he said.
“Mostly, I was training and preparing for the Alex Classics.”
His return ended with being crowned champion at the Alex Classics Open.
“Yes, I retired in 2023,” he said. “But life becomes boring when you are not doing what you love most. I decided to give it a shot to see if I still had it, and it paid off.”
The victory came after 16 weeks of preparation and against a field that included challengers from Zambia.
“It was very stiff and competitive, especially with our brothers from Zambia,” Vassilatos said. “They were looking big and dense, but we managed to scoop the victory.”
The title confirmed that his time away had not dulled his competitive edge.
It also rewarded a demanding preparation programme that required discipline at home and in the gym.
For Vassilatos, bodybuilding takes more than physical strength.
The long hours of training and strict preparation also affect those closest to the athlete.
“Bodybuilding is a very self-demanding sport,” he said.
“A 16-week preparation schedule takes you away from spending time with your family and that matters.”
That sacrifice will influence how he uses his US$6 000 prize money. Some of it will fund the next stage of his bodybuilding journey, but his family comes first.
“I will reinvest the purse money back into bodybuilding,” he said.
“I’ll get the supplements needed to give the body what it needs. But, mostly, I will put it into my family.”
Vassilatos’ victory also prompted debate because leading bodybuilders Noah Dzvokora and Gedion Teguru did not enter the main competition.
Their absence raised questions about whether the outcome might have been different had they competed.
Vassilatos had little interest in entertaining that discussion.
“This is the reason I refuse to do interviews,” he said. “The show was held. Those who wanted to compete came and competed. Some of the top bodybuilders did not compete, and I’m not sure what they were going to bring to the stage.
“As an athlete, I firmly believe everyone is a threat until the job is done.”
The job is done and the Alex Classics title belongs to him.
Vassilatos plans to rest for two weeks before returning to the gym to prepare for Mr Zimbabwe.
He already knows which areas require attention if he is to challenge for the national title.
“I must tighten the glutes and achieve deeper striations in the hamstrings,” he said.
His ambitions stretch beyond one appearance at Mr Zimbabwe.
“God willing, I will win the Mr Zimbabwe title for the next two years,” he said.
