Awesome foursome ripped and ready

VANDERBIJLPARK. Four of Sedibeng’s finest are jetting off to represent South Africa on the world stage. If anything, the names DJ Slater (33),
Jacob Seate (51), Mark Wheelan (27) and Vicky Sethabela (28) commands respect in bodybuilding and fitness circles.
Vicky, a former student of the Hoërskool Drie Riviere in Vereeniging, has officially turned pro earlier this year. She will be representing our rainbow nation from 1-3 November in Spain at the IFBB Elite Pro Championships in the body and wellness division. She qualified for the Championships after placing second at an event in Greece.
“I am not looking forward to it. I just want pizza. The dieting is really hectic,” she chuckled. Born and raised in Sebokeng Vicky made her pro debut at Arnold Classic this year. In 2017 and 2018 she represented South Africa in France at the World Champs and International Bodybuilding Competition in Poland.
She is also the first black woman to win the South African Bikini title. Fifty-one year-old Seate is a legend in his own right having carved his name in
stone in the history books.
With five Sedibeng Overall titles under his belt he is arguably the greatest local bodybuilder to date. From 6 to 8 December he will be strutting his stuff at the Masters Worlds in Spain. “I am confident that I will place in the top six,” says Seate. His best previous best performance was also at the Worlds in El Salvador where he finished in third place.
At 33 years of age DJ Slater is one of only five judges in South Africa to have Elite Pro Judge Status. He has judged over 200 competitions in a career spanning 16 years which includes judging at the men’s-, junior- and masters Worlds competition.
The one that has eluded him so far is the women’s worlds, but this will be ticket off his bucket list in December in Slovakia. And last but not least is 27-year-old Mark Wheelan, owner of Muscle Meds in Vanderbijlpark. He came out of retirement this year after being challenged by a competitor.
“I said I will never compete again. I wanted to concentrate on my business and look at me now,” he says with ironic grin. After very little preparation Mark won the IFBB SA’s classic physique division and will travel to the United Arab Emirates early in November to compete at the Men’s Worlds.
“We are very proud of our athletes achievements,” says DJ who was recently re-elected as the chairperson of Sedibeng Bodybuilding.