Bodybuilding: IFBB Elite Pro Bodybuilding – Arnold Classics 2023 |09 February 2023

Professional poser Mekdachi during one of his training sessions

Big man Mekdachi gears up for Arnold Classics

After almost three years off the stage, local professional bodybuilder Ziad Mekdachi is in full preparation, getting ready for the 2023 International Federation of Bodybuilding Elite Pro Bodybuilding – Arnold Classics, scheduled to take place at the Ruimsig Stadium, Roodepoort, Johannesburg, South Africa, from May 19-21.

Named the Arnold Classic Africa Multi Sport Festival and Lifestyle Expo, the contest is South Africa's biggest international multi-sport festival and health, fitness and lifestyle expo.

After a good off-season period, Mekdachi noted that his preparation started at the perfect moment where he has put the perfect amount of mass, allowing him to compete in a heavier category than his usual class.

In his second week of training, Mekdachi, the first professional bodybuilder from the Indian Ocean region, noted that the coming 14 weeks leading to the competition will be the perfect amount of time needed to compete at such level.

He explained that even if he was off the stage for the past three years, he never abandoned his training routine, and this, he said, is a plus in him getting ready and in good form and shape for the upcoming challenge.

“I will gain my peak level in 14 weeks,” Mekdachi told Sports NATION.

Mekdachi became the first professional bodybuilder from the Indian Ocean region after getting his IFBB elite pro card in May 2019 at the age of 39.

He received his card after winning the 100kg category and the overall prize at the 4th Arnold Classic Africa 2019 IFBB pro qualifier organised by the IFBB Europe inside the Sandton Convention Centre in Gauteng, Johannesburg, South Africa.

On the local scene, Mekdachi has never been defeated on stage throughout his amateur career, having won every single competition in which he registered.

He has won the Mr Seychelles title – the most prestigious title in local bodybuilding – a record six times, precisely in 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 and 2018.

Roland Duval