Ten athletes from the North-West University's (NWU) Mahikeng Campus bodybuilding team competed in the South African International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation (IFBB) Championships from 1 to 3 August 2024 in KwaZulu-Natal.

The championships saw impressive performances from the NWU athletes, with six out of the 10 participants securing top six finishes in their respective categories.

Rusmore Verah emerged as a standout, clinching first place and the overall title in the Men's Physique Over 178 cm category. This is a significant achievement in his bodybuilding career.

Other notable placements included Kevin Pandeka, who finished fifth in the Men's Physique Over 178 cm category, and Simon Maloka, who secured sixth place in the Men's Physique Under 178 cm category.

In the Classic Bodybuilding Under 175 cm division, Xolile Kota achieved third place, while Learny Mokgalaka placed fourth in the Classic Physique Under 175 cm category. Learny also competed in the Junior Bodybuilding Under 20 years category, finishing in fourth place.

The Junior Bikini Under 23 years category saw strong performances from Nomthandazo Galate and Trish Mudzingwa, who finished third and fourth respectively.

Coach Tshepo Baloyi is proud of the team's performance, noting the dedication and hard work that led to their success. "Now it's time to rest, reset and recover before we start training for the University Sports South Africa (USSA) Championships. We know our strengths and weaknesses, and we plan to work on both after we rest because rest is just as important as training," he says.

The USSA championship is the flagship bodybuilding competition of the year in South Africa, with participating athletes selected from regional and provincial levels. The outcome of the championships will determine the South African team that will compete in the IFBB Men’s International World Championships in Kish Islands, the Women’s World Championships in Tokyo, and the IFBB Fitness Challenge World Championships in Spain later this year.

The NWU team’s achievements at the national championships highlight the athletes' commitment and the effective guidance of their coach. The NWU looks forward to seeing the team build on their success as they prepare for future competitions.

The NWU bodybuilding team shone bright at the recent IFBB National Championships.

Rusmore Verah clinched first place and the overall title in the Men's Physique Over 178 cm category.