Sundaymail Editor
Online Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S bodybuilding community will be hoping to put the Covid-19 pandemic behind it, and start 2022 on a high note.
Bodybuilding remains one of the most affected by the pandemic, with National Federation of Zimbabwe Bodybuilding and Fitness secretary-general, Quiet Shangai, calling this period arguably “one of the most difficult periods of the sport”.
“2021, and by extension 2020, has been one of the toughest periods for the sport.
“If you look at the key stakeholders of the sport – gyms, athletes, and sponsors – they were all affected immensely by the pandemic.
“Gyms, for example, provide training facilities for bodybuilders, and there were closed for the longest time during the pandemic,” said Shangai.
“When you look at a sponsor, it’s an organisation that is needed to run properly for said business, or individual, to be able to fund our competitions and operations.
“The year 2021 was a bit difficult for some sectors, with the pandemic being the major cause of the varying disruptions. The athlete was the biggest casualty.”
It was, however, not all gloom and doom for the sport, as the NFZBF did manage to run at least two competitions – the Manicaland Open and the Harare Classic – and managed to send at least two athletes to the 2021 edition of the Arnold Classic.
The two competitions managed to run without too many glitches, while Ryan Gumbo and Blessing Sithole did manage to bring gold from the Arnold Classic.
The duo won triumphed in the Muscular Physique (179cm) and Men’s Physique Division respectively.
“As highs for the year (2021), we managed to host two shows namely the Harare Classic and the Manicaland Open, while we were only able to send two athletes to the Arnold Classic,” said Shangai.
“Fortunate us, the two (Gumbo and Sithole) did well, and managed to win gold medals in their divisions.”
Buoyed by the exploits of the medal-winning athletes, the local bodybuilding community can look to the new year with hope and optimism.
For their part, the National Federation of Zimbabwe Bodybuilding and Fitness has released its events calendar for the year, which comprises 14 local and international events.
Barring any developments with the latest Covid-19 variant, festivities kick-off as early as March, when Novice Zimbabwe returns on March 26 in the capital.
The ZITF Open will then follow on April 30 in Bulawayo.
While The Muscle and Fitness competition has been confirmed for Gweru soon after, but no official date is yet to be released.
Among the international contest on the calendar are the likes of the Arnold Classic Africa (May 20-22), IFBB World Children Championships in Serbia (June 10-12), IFBB World Fit Model Championships in Ukraine (September 3-4) and the IFBB World Fitness Championships in the Republic of Korea (October 2-4).
On the local front, the Ironman Zimbabwe will headline this year’s events, and it will be held in Kadoma on June 4.
The Manicaland Classic (August 27), Marume Classic (September 3), and the Harare Classic (October 22) are some of the high profile events to look out for.
Online Reporter