Novice bodybuilder to flex muscles at national bodybuilding championships
Philile Gumede is still processing her achievement of winning gold in her first competition.
Nkobongo female bodybuilder Philile Gumede will represent KwaZulu-Natal at the national bodybuilding championships in Durban this weekend.
This follows her victory in the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) KZN Open bodybuilding and fitness championships recently held in Durban North.
The 34-year-old is still processing her achievement of winning gold in the body physique category, as this was her first competition.
Despite being new to the sport, she is eager to give her best and make an impact at the nationals.
Gumede’s life has always been centered around sport.
She first started out in soccer in primary school and later transitioned to basketball in which she earned a spot on the 2017 All-Star South African team which competed in Las Vegas.
“Owing to unforeseen circumstances, I had to abandon my basketball career and found a job as a waiter in Ballito. That was when I met colleague Mavet Mguni who was into bodybuilding and I asked if I could join him. He got me signed up at the gym and he has been my trainer ever since.
“My training soon improved my physique, and people began complimenting the body transformation,” said Gumede.
Encouraged by Mguni and coach Maxwell “Bulldozer” Nxumalo, Gumede decided to take the plunge and entered the weekend’s championships.
She now dreams of competing internationally and hopes to secure a sponsor as bodybuilding is an expensive sport.
Gumede expressed her gratitude to everyone who has supported her and shared a light-hearted story about her mother’s concerns.
“There are certain times when I would be eating a lot – bodybuilding requirement – and she would be complaining about that. But when it is time for me to be strict on my diet for competitions, she would be very worried, thinking I am sick. Now that I won gold and she understands my eating habits, she is happy,” said Gumede.
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