crowned IFBB Men’s Physique Pro Ryan Hughes and after just a few minutes into our discussion it was quite obvious that he is a True Champion! Sure he just came off of an impressive win in the exciting new Men’s Physique Division, but there is MUCH more to being a True Champion than just the actual winning of an event and that is exactly why Ryan is a True Champion, for the things you don’t see…
While chatting with Ryan I kept having this weird feeling of Déjà Vu; like he and I had talked before, like I had experienced what he was saying, like it had already happened! When we got off the phone and I went through the notes that I had jotted down, it hit me;
“Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even.” –Muhammad Ali
Words spoken by one of the Greatest Champions of all time kept repeating in my mind, these words spoken by Muhammad Ali have depth, they have meaning, you can FEEL them! You know why? Because they are REAL, they are TRUE! You see True Champions all have a lot in common and Ryan certainly is no exception! Did you know that Ryan placed 4th in a Local Level Show only 5 Weeks prior to stepping on stage at a National Level Show stacked deep with High Quality Competitors? That’s right! Was Ryan defeated, NO! In fact he used this to fuel his drive that much more and that is exactly what True Champions do, they GET BACK UP! Ask anyone who is successful and they will tell you that they have tasted defeat, that they have faced adversity, that they have felt like giving in… But, they didn’t! They used it to fuel them, they used it to overcome, and they GOT BACK UP!
When I asked Ryan what one quality he has that he feels sets himself apart from others, he told me, “I move on, I keep pushing! I know I will get knocked down, but I don’t dwell on it, I GET BACK UP!” This sent chills down my spine when he said it, just as it is doing as I write this… Why? Because the quality that Ryan embodies not only sets him apart from the masses, but it also unites him with all of the TRUE CHAMPIONS everywhere and that is something special to witness!
When I think of the type of people that embody what a Physique Athlete is all about and who should be representing the Sport, someone like Ryan comes to my mind and that makes me Proud… It makes me want to KEEP PUSHING!
-Stay Strong; It’s more than Physical-
Derek M. Trombetta
Professional Firefighter, Fitness Coach, and Physique Athlete!
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