Like his idol, the 21-year-old BA student in Public Administration and Governance at the Vanderbijlpark Campus not only shines in competitive bodybuilding, but also has his sights set on becoming a politician after graduating next year.
“My love for bodybuilding started at the age of 14. I was inspired by Arnold Schwarzenegger while growing up, and my dream was to be as fit and toned as he is one day. In 2018 the campus bodybuilding coach saw me on campus and said that I should join him at the gym. The rest is, as they say, history.”
To date, Avuyile is the first NWU student to win two divisions during the same competition.
“My long-term goal is to obtain my IFBB pro card by the age of 25, and to obtain a sponsor to help me turn my bodybuilding dreams into reality,” says Avuyile.
Despite having a genetic predisposition for bodybuilding, he is adamant that the right mindset and a dedicated work ethic are non-negotiable if you want to excel not only in sport, but also in life. “The mind is probably the strongest muscle you have and you have to train it consistently. Strong mental fitness allows you to get more out of yourself in every workout, and it allows you to break plateaus.”
His dream to meet his childhood hero, Arnold Schwarzenegger, almost came true when he was invited to participate in the 2020 Arnold Classic Africa tournament. Due to the global Covid-19 outbreak, the event was unfortunately cancelled.
Before competitions he spends four hours per day, six times a week in the gym.
Avuyile Ndzimela
