Gerald Woodend was far and away the best at the Mr Novice Zimbabwe 2018.

On Saturday, Gerald Woodend was crowned the Mr Novice Zimbabwe 2018 in a competition held at Zimbabwe College of Music.

Woodend trains at Empire Gym in Harare. He defeated many top athletes including Francis Chideme, Melton Chikumbu, Gilbert Jura Gift Firijori and Martin Chinyama, to win the title. After the show, he told, News Day:

“I can’t describe the feeling, all I can say is I’m happy and I want to thank friends and my family for the support because without them I couldn’t have scooped the title.”

Seven total categories were contested at the show: Wheelchair Men’s Bodybuilding, Junior Men’s Bodybuilding, Women’s Fitness, Men’s Fitness, Men’s Physique and Senior Men’s Bodybuilding.

Quiet Shangai, Secretary-General of the Federation of Zimbabwe Bodybuilding and Fitness, said the event was a rousing success.

“I am delighted by the level of performance shown by all the athletes, it was a tough competition but we had a winner at the end of the day. The event was a developmental event meant to educate, capacitate and equip potential athletes, potential judges, potential administrators and potential fitness industry players at large.”

Keith Chimanzi, the NFZBBF National Development Secretary, was especially excited at the precedent for Women’s competition set at this show.

“I am very happy with the direction bodybuilding and fitness has taken. It has come full circle now and having developed the grassroots and I’m encouraged by women participation and that of disabled athletes, our next stage is to make a very big impression on the international stage. The next stop is Arnold classics in May in South Africa followed by the world championships, if resources permit we will attend.”

The event garnered support from many excellent sponsors, including Café Nush and Confectioners, Muscle Rage, Gs Fitness Academy, Muscle Exclusive, Fitness V Series, Beast Finesse and Generation Shop Fitters.

Here is a complete list of the category winners:
Men’s Fitness Division – Petros Mazhata (Harare),
Junior Men Bodybuilding – Gerald Woodend (Harare),
Wheelchair Men Bodybuilding- Tendai Muzavazi (Midlands),
Women Bikini Model – Kylie Macdonald (Bulawayo),
Men’s Physique – Lewis Tembo (Harare)

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