From muscleman to scholar: Ryan Gumbo’s quest for the IFBB pro card

RYAN Gumbo is not just a champion bodybuilder, he is also a student.

The Zimbabwe Men’s Physique champion is currently studying to become a personal trainer at the Sports Science Institute of Cape Town, South Africa.

He hopes to use his qualifications to help others achieve their fitness goals, as well as inspire more athletes from his country to pursue their dreams.

But Gumbo has not given up on his own dream: to get the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) pro card, the highest level of recognition in the sport.

The IFBB pro card would allow him to compete in prestigious events such as the Mr Olympia, the ultimate challenge for bodybuilders.

Getting the IFBB pro card is not easy. It requires intense training, consistent performance, and high placement in various competitions. Gumbo has been working hard to achieve this goal for years, and he came close to it last year when he won the Men’s Physique Open Class E category at the Muscle Mulisha Grand Prix Pro Qualifier in Johannesburg. However, he missed out on the overall title and the pro card that came with it.

Gumbo is not discouraged by this setback. He is determined to try again, and he believes he can make history by becoming the first Zimbabwean to get the IFBB pro card. He is confident that his studies will not interfere with his training, and he plans to return to the stage in December for the NPC competition.

He will also aim to participate in the Dubai Pro Qualifier in July and the regional qualifiers in Cape Town in October next year.

“I am doing Personal Training with the Sports Science Institute of Cape Town. This industry is not only about competing but also helping others achieve their goals. So you can only achieve that with the relevant qualifications.

“I’m always trying to inspire a lot of athletes out there that anything is possible. As long as you can believe in yourself with or without sponsorship, you can become what you want in life. I am now a scholar and so far so good,” said Gumbo.

“As I have always alluded to, I’m fighting to become the first Zimbabwean to attain the IFBB pro card and this will obviously unlock doors for me to compete in Europe and eventually earn my qualification for the Mr Olympia. I will continue to pursue this dream till I make it,” said Gumbo.