When One Door Closes, Another One Opens. Usn Ambassador and Poster Boy Jacques Fagan Gives Us a VIP Pass on His Fitness Journey. Starting From a Painful End to a Promising Career in Professional Rugby, to His Now Budding Career as a Business Owner, Men’s Physique Champion and Brand Ambassador. The Humble Athlete Fills Us in on How He Managed to Transform Both His Mindset and Physique and Built a Sustainable Career in the Fitness Industry.
MEN’S FITNESS: WHAT GOT YOU INTO THE GYM? GIVE US SOME DETAILS ON YOUR UPBRINGING, YOUR BACKGROUND AND YOUR TRANSITION INTO FITNESS.
JACQUES FAGAN: I grew up in the Northern Suburbs of Cape Town and from a very young age I’ve been an active person, always doing a variety of sports like rugby, cricket, athletics and tennis. Rugby has always been my favourite sport, but being a skinny guy I lacked a bit of confidence. I knew that if I wanted to make it far in rugby I would need to build a stronger and bigger body, to help improve my confidence levels. I started training in the gym at the age of 14 and began following fitness icons like Greg Plitt and doing research on training and supplements. Coming from a normal family, everything in my life I’ve achieved through hard work - whether it was on the sports field, in school, starting my own business or doing fitness shows. From the age of 16 my rugby career started picking up. I was selected for the WP Under-18 and 21 teams respectively and later on I was selected to be on the senior WP seven-a-side game until my injuries started creeping in.
My fitness journey started in 2009 when I decided to make a positive difference in my own life by stepping out of my comfort zone - taking on new opportunities, believing in myself and following the dream of living a life of success while always remaining humble and true to myself, my morals and values! Due to my rugby injuries, a shoulder operation and hamstring tears I had to take time off from the rugby season to recover. In that period gym training became my primary focus in building up a stronger body. My brother Vivian at that time started training with a lady, Debby Bradfield who was a Personal Trainer. She approached me at the gym and suggested I give the Fitness SA competition a go. I was 6 weeks out of competition at the time.
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