Blessing has faith in his own body
MEET the young Castlebar man who has just won the Arnold Classic Europe competition. Twenty-three-year-old Blessing Awodibu travelled to the competition in Madrid with a group of friends from Castlebar to represent Ireland, and emerged victorious in the Junior (Under 23) category.
The former Breaffy National School and St. Gerald’s College student is an inspiration to us all, showing that dedication, hard work and belief can lead you to achieving your goals. Blessing trains 12 times a week, putting in hours of graft to get to where he wants to be, and at 23 will only get bigger and better.
Reporter Nigel Naughton asked Blessing a few questions:
How much of an honour was it for you to win the competition?
“Wow, I mean it was a huge honour. Winning the Arnold Classic means absolutely everything to me. The Arnold Classic Sport Festival is the biggest bodybuilding and fitness competition in Europe, so it’s a huge honour for me to be on that stage representing Ireland. Winning is like a dream come true. I love bodybuilding, it’s everything to me. Sometimes I do feel like I was born to be a bodybuilder, but some of the time I do doubt myself, maybe I will never be good enough. But I tried to stay positive at all times, and after winning the Arnold I feel like I can go places and be better, and believe in myself. It gives me hope and makes me feel like the world is mine and there is nothing I cannot do.”
Describe that feeling when you were announced as the winner?
“It felt amazing to be the last one standing on the stage having photos taken with my gold medal and trophy. Last year I didn’t place and I stood back thinking, ‘Wow, how good must that feeling be to have the whole stage to yourself and show everyone all your hard work?’ This year I came with the goal to place top six but I was totally blown back when they called my name last and I realised I had taken the title. That feeling I had imagined the previous year was coming true and that is something that there are no words for. I was blessed to have all my friends up there with me, so after my big win we all went for a lovely dinner.”
You’re still very young in bodybuilding terms. What are your long-term ambitions and what’s next for you?
“Yes, I am still competing as a junior and hoping to make it to the pro ranks in the next two years. My dreams and goals are to inspire and motivate as many people as I can, especially young people, to chase their dreams, that it is possible - if I can do it they can do it too. Just be yourself, follow your heart and just live your life. I have two big competitions in 2015, and by 2016 hopefully I will have my pro card and maybe one day I will make it to the Mr. Olympia stage.”
What inspired you to take part in bodybuilding?
“Bodybuilding has always been part of me. Even when I was very young I was always lifting. I didn’t realise it could be everything until I finished my Leaving Certificate, when I had no money to put myself through college, so I turned to bodybuilding. ‘Blessing in disguise’ they said. People like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Kai Greene inspired me to chase my dream, to believe and achieve.”
What is your daily routine, regarding food, gym work etcetera?
“I train twice a day, with each body part done twice a week. On Mondays I take in legs - quads, glutes, hamstrings and calves. Tuesdays I will hit chest and shoulders. On Wednesdays I will do back, traps, biceps and triceps. Thursday is chest and shoulders again, and on Friday I go back to legs. Saturday is back and arms, and I have my rest day on Sunday.
“Regarding food, I have seven meals a day. I will have oats and three whole eggs early on, then I will take on steak, chicken, rice, fish, broccoli, peanut butter and protein shakes through the day.”
How difficult is it to stay disciplined, especially with the food and dedication to the gym?
“For me it’s not that difficult. It’s what I do, it’s what I love, it’s what makes me happy, it’s my lifestyle. For a beginner this can be very difficult, especially the diet part, but once you stick to it, before you know it, it becomes your lifestyle and there is no lifestyle better than a healthy lifestyle. I am very blessed to have great friends around me - they always want the best for me.”