The first homegrown Filipino bodybuilder wins right to compete in Olympia 2022
When Musclecontest Philippines staged its very first competition in Subic last September 2018, the campaign was always to be a “road to Olympia.”
Last Oct. 8, on its third annual show (they skipped two years due to the global pandemic) also in Subic, the first homegrown bodybuilding athlete was crowned IFBB Men’s Physique winner, a straight ticket to the Olympia.
If the organizers and local crowd were ecstatic about the historical win, the athlete himself, Joven Sagabain, was emotional because Musclecontest Philippines in Subic last 2018 was where he got an IFBB Pro Card. Four years later, he earned the right to compete on the Olympia stage this December in Las Vegas.
The 2022 Olympia finals will be held at the Zappos Theater in Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. The total purse is $1.6 million for all 11 events. The winner of Mr. Olympia will receive $400,000. The Men’s Physique Showdown winner pockets $20,000 (a whopping P1.2 million if Sagabain gets lucky).
Still basking in his euphoric win, we asked him some quick questions:
THE PHILIPPINE STAR: How long did you compete to get your IFBB Pro Card in 2018?
JOVEN SAGABAIN: Persistence and hard work pays. I started competing for a Pro Card in 2016. I had eight attempts before getting one in the Musclecontest 2018 in Subic.
You placed second in the IFBB event in Thailand last May; did this boost your confidence to clinch the right to be the first homegrown Filipino bodybuilder to step on the Olympia stage? Did you prepare differently for Musclecontest 2022?
My confidence level was extremely high because they announced that the first-place winner only had a one-point advantage over me. There were also less than 30 Pro Athletes in that event last May. My team and I changed our approach to prepare for Musclecontest. I had to lose weight and focus on my weak points. We worked on perfecting my physique. Those who follow me for sure noticed that I had a more sharp and proportioned definition.
What are the three most important factors for your recent win?
Faith in God, discipline and full trust in my coach as my sole guide in my preparation for every event I join.
How do you plan to prepare physically, mentally and emotionally for Olympia?
Since I got my Pro Card in 2018, I realized that a Filipino can definitely compete and win on the international stage. It was a confidence boost to be declared a winner against other foreign athletes. I focus and prepare well for each and every event I join. We keep on building on the intensity of my preparation. That’s the reason for my continuous improvement each time I step on the stage.
What tips can you give aspiring kids who want to excel in bodybuilding?
The best advice I can give to the youth is to be disciplined. This is one sport where you can never cheat. You reap what you sow. Your body will reflect the depth of your preparation. They should also fully trust their coach. He is the person who understands the right strategy for every contest you will join.
Musclecontest Philippines was held at the Subic Bay Convention and Exhibition Center last Oct. 8 with 140 athletes from 23 countries, including Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Tunisia, Yemen, Iran, Australia, Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia, Guam, Hong Kong, India, Russia, Nigeria, Myanmar, Malaysia, Kuwait, USA and Indonesia. Almost half or 66 athletes are from the Philippines. This is around 70 percent of the total number who joined in 2019.
With the growing awareness and following for the sport and art of bodybuilding, Musclecontest Philippines plans to create regional events before the main event for 2023. Until then, let’s hope that more Filipinos inspired by Sagabain will shine on the international stage.
Terrick El Guindy, an Olympia judge and the COO of Musclecontest, joined the event as head judge for the first time. The first two events in 2018 and 2019 were judged by his brother, Tamer “The Razor” El Guindy, who is the CEO of Musclecontest and the executive producer of Olympia.
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