A Kings Langley bodybuilder who has dedicated most his of life to flexing his pecs has won a worldwide championship title, following an intense competition in Spain.
Neale Cranwell, 34, of Beechfield Rise, muscled in on the action at the prestigious NAC World Championship, defeating countless bronzed male entrants across the globe to win the class two bodybuilding category.
Having competed and won on Sunday, May 30 for the title at the NAC British Championship, Mr Cranwell was selected from dozens of British hopefuls to compete for the world title in Spanish town San Javier, Murcia, on Friday, June 4.
Flushed with success, Mr Cranwell, who won the Mr Universe competition in November last year, said: “I can’t believe I’ve won this title as well - I’m stunned, absolutely amazed.
“I’ve competed before - but only ever come second or third – I’ve always looked at my competitors and wondered if I could ever get to their size and shape.
“For competitions, bodybuilders are split into categories according to their sex and then their height. For height there are three categories and this is to make sure the contest is fair.
“I’m classed as a grade two bodybuilder as I’m 5’10 and I’m required to go on stage and pose, flexing and displaying as much muscle definition as possible in time to music.
“You’re on stage for about 40 minutes in total, although it does seem a lot longer, it’s really hard work.”
In order to prepare his body for the contests, Mr Cranwell, who owns Krunch Gym in Waltham Abbey, would eat up to seven meals a day of white fish and vegetables, as well as exercising and weight training six times a week, for up to three hours a day.
But he said the biggest challenge for him was when he arrived in Spain for the competition.
Mr Cranwell, whose arms each measure 19 inches in circumference, said: “Prior to competing you have to dehydrate your body to ensure you get maximum definition.
“This meant that I couldn’t drink water for two days, so in the baking heat of the Spanish sun, standing on a stage under bright lights in an outdoor marquee –it really was hard.
“It’s not a healthy lifestyle and if I ever had a son, I wouldn’t recommend that he become a bodybuilder. But it is interesting to see what the human body can do.
“I’ve decided to retire from bodybuilding for a year as I’m getting married in December to my fiancée Zoe.
"She’s been a fantastic support to me and my new challenge will be focusing on our wedding.”
