Zimbabwe: Marume Crowned Mr Pro-Fitness

Harare — FORMER Mr Zimbabwe bodybuilding champion Givemore Marume was crowned the overall winner of the inaugural Mr Pro-Fitness Open contest at 7 Arts Theatre on Saturday night.

Saturday's contest catered for juniors from the age of 21 years and below and seniors, who competed in the lightweight (70kg and below), middleweight (70-80kg) and heavyweight (80kg and above) categories.

And Marume won the overall title ahead of lightweight champion George Munyoro and middleweight champion Zumailer Maman of Empire Gym to walk away with US$2 000 cash, a floating trophy and some supplements.

Marume was first crowned the heavyweight champion, beating his major rival, the current Mr Zimbabwe - Tarisayi Chirume.

However, it was not an easy task for the judges, who were led by Danny de Souza, to come up with the winner for the heavyweight category after there was a tie between Marume and Chirume and the two had to return to the stage for more poses.

And it was Marume who finally won the hearts of the judges to become the heavyweight champion.

Marume said it was great to emerge as the overall winner after some stiff competition that he faced from Chirume.

"I feel great and it is through hard work that I have managed to win this title.

"The competition was quite tough and finishing on top was good and the competition also is opening borders for athletes to compete outside the country," said Marume, who will represent Zimbabwe in the Shameen Classics contest to be held in Cape Town, South Africa, in March next year.

Marume also said the competition was encouraging as the winners received some prizes.

In each category, the champion walked away with US$700, a trophy and some supplements while the first runner-up took home US$500, a trophy and some supplements and the second runner-up got US$300 and a trophy.

In the lightweight category, veteran bodybuilder Munyoro was the champion while Blessing Samaringa settled for second place. Third place went to Tapiwa Chibota.

Maman won the middleweight title ahead of Vincent Kandiyero and Michael Puzo.

And in the heavyweight category Chirume was the first runner-up while Victor Hungwe settled for third place.

Visiting South African top bodybuilder Shameen Adams was the guest poser and was impressed by the standard of the competition.

"The standard of the sport is good and the organisation of the event in Zimbabwe was excellent. In South Africa we do not have such competition and it takes hard work and discipline to come up with such a show.

"However, it will take about five to six years for Zimbabwe to compete at world competitions. The bodybuilders need someone to educate them on nutrition and training," Adams said.

Adams conducted a seminar with the contestants on Friday and said the response was good and is looking forward to coming back to Zimbabwe.

"During the seminar we focused on nutrition and training and the response was very good.

"I have represented South Africa in international events and I want to give back to the society. I want to bring Africa on the world map and take bodybuilding to the next level where physique and posing are the most important aspects of the sport," Adams said.

Pro-Fitness Gym were the main sponsors of the competition and the managing director Shamim Hussein said they want to revive the sport through the competition and are looking forward to make it an annual event.

"The sport has been going down the drain and we needed to do something to revive bodybuilding.

"The competition was very successful although we had some minor problems and we will work to rectify on that next year.

"Next year's event will be held in conjunction with Shameen Adams and we will have 10 participants from South Africa taking part," said Hussein.