Pro/Am Contests Blog

Well, I am finally back from the IFBB Amateur World Championships in Korea. I can tell you it was a great and eye opening experience. Let me start of first by saying "Thank you!" to the NPC and Jim Manion for funding and sending a team to Korea to compete.

Secondly, "Thank you!" to Chris Faildo’s family and friends that came from everywhere as far as Chicago and Hawaii to lend us support. Third, "Thank you!" to my teammates, Paul Coats, Shiloe Steinmetz,  Kelli Pettiford and Chris Faildo, as there were no egos on who was the best from the U.S. We all got along really well, from helping each other backstage to just hanging out at Baskin Robbins and Dunkin Donuts (of course that was after everything was over!) This was truly a great experience.

I can tell you now that this wasn’t at all what I expected, however. Going into the World Championships, my expectations were very high as well as those, I’m sure, of my teammates… until we got there and saw what we were up against! Now when I say we, the U.S. team, are all natural - trust me, we are. So unless 90% of the countries came up with some scientifically-engineered protein or something that shuttles the amount of carbs directly into the muscle, something that we don’t know about yet naturally… I don’t think so people.

I can tell you we saw our fair share of growth guts. I personally talked to two athletes that were on GH and insulin. They told me it can’t be tested so they won’t get caught. I thought for a moment this was supposed to be a drug-tested show, a natural to say. Yeah, right!! When you have athletes eating loaves of bread, 12 potatos, bacon and other crap in one sitting right before your eyes and putting it down within minutes, I don’t know about you, but it would make me very bloated for days. But not these guys - it made them harder!!  I guess you would have to see it to believe it.

I guess now I believe that an organization will have their fair share of drug users whether 1 or 30, they will be there. My placing wasn’t what I had expected. I have no one to blame but myself. Now, does that mean I will start using everything in the book? Or even anything close? Hell, no! My satisfaction comes from beating people that are on something. So back to the drawing board I go. With almost a year off and time to grow and reassess myself, I will be back bigger, stronger, and harder in 2008 for the Team Universe.

This experience has taught me a lot. On handling adversity and disappointment. And I have a new mentor. His name is Chris Faildo. This man is a true champion. Watching him conduct himself was very inspiring. Going into the night show, we were all certain he was in the top 6 for the finals, but when we all got to the arena his name was not on the list. Were there tears shed? Of course, not just for him, but I guess we shed tears in our own way for not even placing in the top 6.

After a few moments, however, I witnessed something that I will never forget from this day. Chris wiped the tears, lifted his head up, and went around and shook all of his competitors hands to wish them luck with a smile on his face. Now that’s a true champion!!

After we got back to the hotel and changed and ate, we were all down in the lobby and the competitors were just coming back from the competition with their trophies in hands, and even then Chris congratulated and shook their hands with a smile on his face. That was very inspiring. He could have easily turned the other cheek and blew them off. True champion.

Also to his family and friends, I say “Thank you” for a wonderful week. The people that he surrounds himself with are a true blessing. If you are ever in Hawaii, look him up at Gold’s Gym in Oahu. I know I am, as I am heading there in March and April!! Thank you for everyone’s encouraging words and a special “Thank you!” to Chris Faildo for the talk, and Big E you da man!! I am still laughing bro!!!

See more photos on my MySpace profile.

I received this awesome email just now from NPC champion bodybuilder Shiloe Steinmetz, who just helped represent the United States of America this past weekend at the IFBB World Championships in South Korea.  I’m posting his experience and photos here, with permission, for your reading pleasure!

“Overall it was a great experience and a wonderful opportunity to see a different culture and opposite part of the world.  Jeju Island in South Korea is a wonderful sight to see.  The food there is quite different and seemed to be very healthy.  A bulk of their diet is seafood and vegetables and that may be a reason I saw very few overweight people there.

As far as the contest goes, it did not turn out like I expected.  Because of the travel and time difference and the difficulty of maintaining a contest diet, I felt I “spilled” over and had a filmy appearence on stage.  I was just not as crisp as I usually get and obviously missed my peak for this show.

Another factor that I feel played a role was being American.  I thought the judges may have a prejudice against us to start.  Not one American on the team placed, and 3 of them missed the cut.  It is possible due to jealousy as I think we have the best bodybuilders in the world here in the States, just look at Ronnie and Jay, for example.

In all honesty, even if I were in my best shape I would not have placed much better, as I was the smallest super heavyweight on stage!  These guys come in “stacked” and do not mess around.  In fairness, we may not be comparing apples to apples, though, as the U.S. team is drug-tested, while other countries are not to qualify.  I did see many “growth guts” and other obvious signs of other athletes being chemically enhanced beyond a doubt.

In spite of how the members of the team did as well as I, I am proud to say I was on the team and proud of my teammates.  It was an honor to represent the NPC and USA and every member of the team looked great.  I thank God for the opportunity to compete in the World Championships and have every intention on competing again next year and improving and getting better all the time!”

Shiloe Steinmetz, R.Ph., CPT
www.ShiloeSteinmetz.com

I received this email from new IFBB Pro Chris Faildo today, who represented the USA at the IFBB World Championships this past weekend in South Korea.  I’m reposting it here with his permission for your viewing pleasure!

"Aloha -

I had a great time in Korea, but unfortunately the judges did not like my look of my physique.  I did not place in the top 6 after getting into the first call out.  I do not understand as I thought I was in the running for a medal.

Anyway, the USA should be very proud of the USA Team as we did it the natural way.  We are not playing on an even playing field, if you know what I mean…  I did my best and am very proud to have accomplished my goals."

Chris Faildo
www.faildo.com

Update from Team Universe winner Chris Faildo. Chris was called out in the first and again in the 3rd call outs. Only the top 6 guys will compete in the next round and he’ll find out who made the cut at the finals.

He’s capturing everything on video and it will be edited in with his video that Mitsuru took of him two weeks ago in Hawaii. I believe Chris is the only one from the USA team who will make the cut.

Sweet photo of Faildo on this blog post.