Age Doesn't Stop Winkler Bodybuilder

Winkler Bodybuilder Kevin Friesen has come away from his first competition with two gold medals.

Friesen took the top honours in two categories in the provincial qualifiers in Winnipeg recently, including the Master and Heavyweight divisions.

The placement qualifies Friesen to compete at the Provincial Bodybuilding competition this June.

Friesen only decided to start competing in October of last year.

"I figured if I don't do it now, I'm never going to do it," the 41 year old bodybuilder says. "It's now or never."

Coming into the sport as an amateur never having been at a bodybuilding show, he says it was gratifying to come home with two gold medals.

Being on stage in front of a crowd was another challenge.

"I was scared of being on-stage," he says. "The reason I did this was to get rid of my fear, and it worked. When I was up there it all went away."

Between the strict diet and gruelling training regimen, he says his family has been a great support.

"It's 80 percent eating and 20 percent gym," he says. "You just have to make sure you give it your all, you can't give up. It doesn't matter what your age is... it's all in your head."