After 30 years of producing world-class bodybuilders, some of who have gone on to win World Championships abroad, Elwin Pretorius is finally hanging up his training gear in style on Saturday.
Pretorius, 57, from Alphendale, will host the 30th annual “Mr and Miss Physique Bodybuilding Championships” at the Billy Francis Hall in Buffalo Flats in East London – before signing off. He is expecting more than 30 bodybuilders to compete in the event.
Pretorius, who started bodybuilding more than three decades ago, said his dream while growing up was to see young people headed in the right direction in life.
He saw a gap in the sport of bodybuilding and grabbed the opportunity to make a difference in others’ lives, with both hands.
“When I started I saw that I needed to open my own gym in Vergenoeg, because there were no other training facilities available in the area. The only place kids had for extramural activities was the gym I started, and it was to keep them off the streets.
“Sometimes you just have to listen to someone, and I became that person to the guys at my gym for 30 years,” said Pretorius.
He said after he lost his father, who took his own life at a very young age, he had to learn some important life-skills all on his own.
Therefore, this motivated him to work with young people, so he could provide them with the guidance he could not receive from a father figure.
“I used to be a soccer player then, but nobody came to watch me play and you would know how that feels when you are a young boy. But then I joined a gym in Parkside and I fell in love with bodybuilding,” he said. “I decided to educate myself on how to build muscle and how the conditioning works, plus the management of fitness training.”
He said this last show would be a special one after the numerous competitions he’s hosted and organised for his community.
“We are going to celebrate after the event. My family, together with the Helping Those In Need Foundation, want to share this day as I leave this game. Because I’m leaving behind champions like Alfred Bathani and others who’ve won world champs.
“I even had one guy in my gym who was part of the show Gladiators that was on TV years ago, Lelethu Ndyoko from King William’s Town, who hails from this gym.
“And I even have dancers in the gym – The Buffalo City Breakers, who’ll be featuring in the show’s programme.
“Rappers as well, Tony – T-80, he’s got his album out and he’s also training here and Born Hill rappers,” said the gym trainer.
Pretorius, who is an asthma sufferer, said the younger members in the gym would now take over gym operations, but he would be helping out where he can.
Mario Korsten, 39, who’s been training at the gym since the age of 16, said people should come in their numbers to the show and see what an extraordinary man Pretorius is.
“It’s been downhill and uphill for 24 years, but today I’m not sorry I stuck with my coach, because we are like father and son – we are together all the time,” said Korsten.
“And even in 2010 when my father died he was the first person I called on, and he gave me words that made me stronger.
“So people must come to the show and celebrate this man who’s helped so many of us be better people,” he said.
For tickets to the show call Pretorius on 083-584 -601 or get them at the door for R50 – food is included in the entrance fee...