July 31st, 2016: Canadian University Dubai (CUD) student, Ali Omar, is preparing to take on an international field of leading competitors when he participates in the physique contest of the ultimate bodybuilding challenge, the Arnold Classic.
Ali, a Bachelor of Business Administration in e-Business student, took first place in the UK Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation ZKK Classic Championship earlier this month, qualifying him for the upcoming European event, which is due to take place in Barcelona in September.
The Arnold Classic, named after renowned bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger, is an annual multi-sport event and a flagship contest among the bodybuilding community. Representing the British team, Ali will go up against athletes from 160 countries, in the hope of repeating his recent competition success.
Having originally taken up training as a way to lose weight, Ali has now firmly established himself on the international bodybuilding scene, with eight rankings from his ten competition appearances. He has also secured sponsorship from a range of organizations allied with the sport, including nutrition manufacturers and clothing suppliers.
In preparation for the upcoming competition, Ali will be spending his summer on an intensive 16-week training regime. He revealed, “I’m in the gym for four hours each day; two hours cardio training and two hours weights, combined with a low-carb, high-fat and protein-rich diet, to help develop the right physique.”
However, for Ali, his competition success isn’t only about his intensive training regime. He continued, “The competition is not just based upon body shape. The judges also consider your pose, confidence and stage presence, so it also requires a lot of personality.”
At just 19 years old, Ali will see himself up against experienced competitors from around the world, but is keeping his eyes firmly focused on the ultimate prize. He concluded, “This competition offers the opportunity to qualify for a bodybuilding Pro Card, which is the gateway to competing in the professional arena and my ultimate ambition in the sport.”
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