The Beast From The East

After a two-year break due to an operation on his knee, the 34-year-old TRISTAN VAN AARDE showed true grit when he returned to the stage and reached the top echelons of what is often described as the most competitive sport on the planet. This year the gargantuan Biogen-sponsored Port Elizabethan is taking a 12-month hiatus to pack on even more muscle in his quest for unmatched size and conditioning.

What inspired you to become a bodybuilder?

I wasn’t into sports and since the gym was a 5-minute walk from school my parents felt that I should lift weights to do something constructive with my time when I was not studying. The competitive side of bodybuilding started much later when I was about 19 or 20 years old. For inspiration I always look at athletes who are bigger and better than me. I tell myself that I too can become a better version of myself. In my first few shows I didn’t place anywhere and that just motivated me to train harder and to do better!

How did it feel to win you first show and do you still get that feeling when you do well?