Local man crowned country’s strongest man
"My father played a significant role in my life although i lost him at a very young age his imprint was already made on me."
FROM being a former Sharks U21 player to becoming South Africa’s strongest man, the journey to the top for Dean Shelley has been nothing but hard work and more hard work. Originally from Bela-Bela in Limpopo, Shelley moved to Durban after being signed up by the Sharks Academy where he made it to the Sharks U21. Having a father who was a top bodybuilder and power-lifter for Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), strength runs in his blood.
“My father played a significant role in my life. Although I lost him at a very young age, his imprint was already made on me. I came to Durban to play rugby but I think after some time my heart wasn’t in it anymore. I started personal training and I think by 2013 I was probably the strongest athlete in the country, but there was no national competition we could compete in. Going through life, the hardships Ihave experienced have turned me into who I am. If you are not hard or have not had a hard life, this sport is not for you,” said Shelley.
The concept behind The World’s Strongest Men, as it was originally named, was developed in 1977 for CBS by Langstar Inc. David Webster, a Scot who later received an OBE for his services to sport, was the head coordinator of the competition from its inception. Dr Douglas Edmunds, seven-times Scottish shot and discus champion and twice world caber champion worked with Webster and when Webster retired Edmunds took over. These two men were responsible for inviting the competitors and choosing the events. In South Africa it was introduced in 1989, and is held annually and features primarily South African strength athletes. Gerrit Badenhorst and Ettiene Smit have now won the title eight times.
Since 2010 Shelley has competed all over SA and in America where he got invited to compete at the Arnolds Classic’s 2013, but it was two weeks ago in Boksburg Johannesburg, that he claimed the title of SA’s Strongest Heavyweight, despite being one of the lightest heavyweight athletes to win the title.
“I will be competing at Africa’s Strongest man at the end of November, followed by a charity event that I will be doing in Cape Town against child abuse. Thereafter, I will compete in the official Strongman Games 2017 in North Carolina USA. I have already started training for Africa’s strongest man. I train with the team 6 out of 7 days in the week, be it in the gym or at a warehouse we use to train for all the events. We are a very strong team of athletes that support and drive each other every day,” he said.
Asked what the future holds for him, 30-year-old Shelley said he is looking at doing talks in the near future to share some of the knowledge that he has gained over the years.
“I want to do motivation talks in the future but currently am looking for sponsorship to support my career,” he added.
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