Andrew
Tinashe Kusema
Deputy Sports Editor
There was something cathartic about Mark Vassilatos’ conquest at last weekend’s Zimbabwe National Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships in Harare.
As fans in the auditorium screamed and shouted his name when he collected his prize, the senior men and overall national champion pointed to the heavens as a way of paying tribute to his late father, George Vassilatos.
While many remember the Covid-19 pandemic for things such as compulsory wearing of face masks, indefinite suspension of sporting activities, Vassilatos remembers it as the time he lost his father.
“It was the worst period of my life,” he said.
“I lost my father during the pandemic and remember that I couldn’t do anything at all during that time.
“I was an emotional wreck and didn’t really care about training, watching my weight or anything at all.
“I lost a lot of weight, coming down from 125kgs to something like 90kgs, and the recovery was slow and painful.”
He took time to recover from his grief.
Nobody took the 36-year-old seriously before the Zimbabwe National Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships, especially after a disastrous performance at the Ironman Festival, which, by his own admission, was a forgettable experience.
“At the Ironman Festival, I remember I made some last-minute mistakes that cost me big time.
“It really hurt that I finished fourth to guys I knew I could beat when at my best, so I had to come to the Mr Zimbabwe to reassert myself.”
After the Ironman Festival, the former Allan Wilson School learner embarked on a gruelling training regime that saw him wake up as early as 5 am to go to the gym.
He ate four meals per day.
And every day, at 7 am, he would return to the gym to work on his cardio.
His last meal would be at 9 pm
He was unsurprisingly the biggest winner at the recent championships, scooping awards in both the senior category (85kg and over) and the overall crown.
Among the other winners were David Weier, who was crowned the Men’s Physique overall winner; and Nomathamsanga Phiri, who won the Women’s Bikini Fitness and the overall winner in the women’s category.
Aaron Musarurwa continued his dominance in the Junior Men’s category, while there were also wins for Demi-Lee Benade (Women’s Beach Bikini), Lesley Gondo (Wheelchair Men’s Bodybuilding) and Paul Bako (Men’s Fitness). Still, the moment belonged to Vassilatos, who, ironically, only started competing professionally in 2018.
He first got into the sport just because he wanted to look good. However, he got hooked once he saw pictures of six-time Mr Olympia Dorian Yates.
His first event was the 2018 National Finals.
“The 2018 National Finals remain my favourite event for many reasons,” he said.
“I managed to implement everything my late coach Vaughn Carl had taught me and finished second behind eventual winner Dumiso Dlodlo.
“It was my first event, and to finish second to someone like Dlodlo, who was already Mr Zimbabwe winner, gave me the confidence that I was in the right sport,” he said.
■ Twitter: @Nashaar
Online Reporter