Spring quickly came up and I found myself on stage at the 2024 Fouad in Toronto . I confidently walked on stage and let my physique speak , and it did … Loudly ! But sadly my posing was still very lacking . Thankfully I walked away with first place in all the classes I entered . Next step was the Toronto Pro Qualifier . I ’ ve always been someone who has learned quickly from my mistakes . So in the week between the two shows I found a high level posing coach and got in two lengthy posing lessons . That next week I stepped on stage with my newly found posing and a bucket load of confidence . Saturday I stepped on stage with certainty in my mind and walked away with first place and redemption in all of my categories , but sadly fell short of winning the overall and my IFBB Pro Card . Still determined , with new training and still in the best condition of my life , I signed up for the August 31st NPC North American Championships in Pittsburg . I signed up for all four of the Masters divisions believing I could be competitive in all of them .
On show day we arrived early and registered and got my first coat of tan on . I quickly realized the level of competition I was about to face . Not only was the quality of athletes higher than I was used to , but there were a lot more of them . I went to bed that night optimistic but nervous for the next day . in my mind over and over what I had been doing for the 30 weeks leading up to this day . As they called my first Masters class of 50 + I said a small prayer and thanked God for this opportunity and confidently walked into the line as directed . As I stood in line I tried to stay focused but soon found myself looking around and seeing who else was getting in line with me . That was a mistake . I just reminded myself that “ today was our day ” and walked behind the stage and started to warm up . I soon noticed others staring at me . They were as nervous of me as I was of them . As someone who has had the privilege of doing public speaking for years in front of crowds of thousands , I was excited for the stage . My turn came , and I stepped on stage and owned my moment . By the time I had made it through my fourth division , 50 +, 45 +, 40 + and 35 +, I was certain I had achieved my goals . That evening I was overwhelmed to have two North American Championships in 50 + and 40 + and a second and third placing in 45 + and 35 +. Best of all I had two beautiful red cards with the words “ IFBB PRO CARD ”. My boys were over the moon excited and my amazing wife who had endured 30 weeks of prep was thankful it was all over with all of our goals achieved .
Show day … to distract myself I sat and watched the morning show and started to mentally prepare for my turn on stage . When the time came I hugged and kissed my wife and she told me “ You got this , I love you ”, and my coach Braeden gracefully reminded me “ this is what we prepared for … own the stage ”. I don ’ t think I opened my eyes once walking back to the staging area . I just practiced