Talented bodybuilder wins British title

A DEVOTED and hard working bodybuilder is celebrating after a landslide victory in this year's British Championships - and he is also fluent in seven languages.

Bobby Khan won the 'Classic Bodybuilding Class' in the championships on Sunday (18) after training for three hours a day seven days a week at Panthers Gym, in Packet Boat Lane, Cowley.

The 28-year-old, of Zealand Avenue, Harmondsworth, said: "I was over the moon. It was just so surreal and I'm still trying to come back to reality now.

"After the show I was approached by the president of the UK's Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (UKBFF) who asked me if I wanted to represent the UK in the world championships in December next year.

"The British Championships were tough but that is going to be really tough. I am very positive though and I believe in myself and the people behind me."

Mr Khan was born and raised in Denmark and entered his first competition when he was just 18, coming third out of 18 competitors.

He said: "When I was a little kid I saw a Rocky film and after watching Sylvester Stallone and seeing his physique I was hooked.

"I used to do martial arts when I was younger and from there I went into weight training to get a bodybuilders body.

"People told me I had potential and that I should enter competitions."

In 2002 Mr Khan moved to the UK where he entered two more competitions, the second of which he won, but then people started telling him he would have to move up in weight.

He said: "I wasn't going to sacrifice my health to get bigger so I went back to doing mixed martial arts (MMA) to work on my stamina and I also did mountain biking.

"However, earlier this year I was sitting with my friend at a show called classic bodybuilding and my friend explained what it was to me."

This class was introduced by the UKBFF in 2006 to bring back the classic physique of a bodybuilder, with wide shoulders, narrow waist, aesthetic symmetry and proportions.

Mr Khan thought it would be a good idea to try this out and started training for the British Championships, which he went on to win.

As well as being a bodybuilding champion, he also has a natural flair for languages, being fluent in Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Spanish, Hindi, Urdu and English.

Mr Khan would like to say a big thank you to Sean and Helen O'Reilly (owners of Panthers Gym), his training partner, Wade Stafford, and his parents.