Online Reporter
Tendai Chara
Zimpapers Sports Hub
MARK “Big Mark” Vassilatos was crowned the Alex Classics Senior Men Bodybuilding champion at 7 Arts Theatre in Harare on Saturday night.
Vassilatos impressed throughout the competition, beating a strong line-up that featured some of the best bodybuilders from the Southern African region.
A determined Zambian team, including the reigning Mr Zambia, Nelson Chabota, posed a serious threat to Vassilatos’s ambitions.
The vastly-experienced bodybuilder won US$6,000.
The prize was originally pegged at US$5,000 but was increased on the eve of the competition.
Zambia’s William “The Machine” Sichone finished second and took home US$4,000.
Vassilatos was overjoyed after winning the prestigious title.
“Hard work finally paid off. Competition was tight but I am happy that I managed to impress the judges and win,” he said.
However, the absence of some of Zimbabwe’s top bodybuilders — among them Gedion Teguru and Noah Dzvokora —raised unanswered questions.
Although both were present, they did not take part in the main competition.
Instead, they opted for an exhibition presentation.
Sources within the bodybuilding community allege that local bodybuilders are divided and that this may have influenced some athletes’ absence in the main championships.
Both Dzvokora and Teguru could not provide clear explanations for their decisions.
Henry Hakulandaba, one of the tournament organisers, said he was impressed by the high turnout.
“This is our third edition and the number of people that are attending is increasing every year,” he said.
“This tournament has evolved into one of the biggest in the Southern African region. We had about 15 foreign participants, and to us this means a lot,” Hakulandaba added.
