tawandamusarurwa
Deputy Sports Editor
FOR the past 15 years or so, Milton Zawe has been a permanent fixture in every other bodybuilding contest in the country.
In between these competitions, the 29-year-old, who recently won the 2023 Trysupp Novice Zimbabwe, scoured the internet to read about the sport and study the work ethic, as well as training regimes of some of the bodybuilding greats. He was, however, late to the sport.
“I started bodybuilding back in 2008, as I was a football player prior to that.
“I still occasionally play football.
“Competing professionally is something that I have always thought about, but resources stopped me.
“ I have always followed the sport, both locally and internationally, and often look at myself and think that I can do it, too,” Zawe said.
Financial demands of the sport were behind the delayed start.
“This delay was largely due to things like finances, as a lot goes into the preparations of these events.
“This year, however, I decided to give it a go and had a couple of people help me out,” he said.
Both Zawe and body building, as a sport, owe a debt of gratitude to these unnamed well-wishers.
The 29-year-old stole the show at last weekend’s Trysupp Novice Zimbabwe at the Zimbabwe College of Music, where he emerged victorious in the senior men’s bodybuilding category.
“I was happy when I heard my name being called out as the winner.
“While it didn’t show at the time, I was ecstatic inside.
“After the event, I even hosted a small gathering or party to celebrate the win with a few close friends and family.”
Zawe described his preparations as intense.
“The preparations were hard and I dedicated an hour every day for intense gym work.
“Dieting was another difficult thing, as there were certain foods I had to eat and those that I had to stay away from.
“I had to stay away from sugar and survived on things like egg whites, chicken breasts and plenty of water mostly.
“After the contest, I remember that the first thing I wanted to do was eat, as we had been told to stay away from water and any salt two days before the contest,” he said.
Zawe is already plotting his next move.
He has prioritised competing in every event he can on the National Federation of Zimbabwe Bodybuilding and Fitness calendar.
He also wants to emulate some of his local and international idols and role models, who include Noah Dzvokora, Gideon Teguru, Mark Anthony Vassilatos and Ronnie Coleman.
Online Reporter