CALGARY – After a year of grinding in the gym, Canmore's Andy Mabidi wasn’t going to let anything stand in the way of entering a bodybuilding competition – not even a car crash.
Setting out for a drive the night before the competition to shake out his legs before he was set to flex on stage, he was struck from behind in a hit-and-run incident and was tended to by paramedics.
Mabidi didn’t want to give up his hard work so he told the paramedics “if I can still walk, that means I can still compete.”
“Both airbags deployed and they kind of hit my face and for a minute I thought I was dead because it was so painful,” said Mabidi. “I had to pinch myself a couple of times to make sure I'm not dreaming or anything.”
With a stiff back and swollen hand in the morning, the muscle man was ready to put on a show at the 2024 Alberta Naturals bodybuilding competition in Calgary on July 20.
“I don't usually focus on what is troubling me. I focus on what I want to achieve, what I want to accomplish, and this competition means a lot to me. So I sacrificed everything,” said Mabidi.
His determination paid off when he clinched the gold medal for the men’s master classic physique class over 50 years old, while also placing fifth in the men’s classic physique open class.
“Every time I go compete and win, it gives me more courage and more energy to train harder,” said Mabidi. “Mentally, I'm feeling rejuvenated. I feel happy and I’m so proud of myself, and feel like I'm getting better and better each year.”
Mabidi came to Canmore as a refugee from Zimbabwe and found solace in bodybuilding which improved not only his physical health, but his mental health as well.
“I get the motivation from who I was a couple of years ago. Coming here as a refugee I went through a severe depression, which is why I started bodybuilding,” said Mabidi.
“One day I want to see my family again. If I want to see my family again, I have to look after myself, which means I have to stay healthy.”
The gym community welcomed Mabidi and now he wants to give back to them.
“I help a lot of people; I help people for free. I am who I am today because of the community,” said Mabidi. “They accepted me, they helped me to heal, so now I'm just trying to give back to my community.”
In his bulk, Mabidi’s weight hit 188 pounds which he cut to 171 on the week of the competition before losing another six pounds on the day of the flex off.
“When I'm preparing for my competition, I stick to one particular diet,” said Mabidi, who ate only chicken and rice. “It's really hard, but when you have a goal, you have a mission and you know on the other side there is growth, so just keep going.”
A large cheesy pizza was on Mabidi’s mind during the competition to rejuvenate his taste buds, but knowing this competition was the stiffest compared to previous years, he sacrificed the bad carbs.
“People are getting better and better each year and every year, man. The competition was so stiff,” he said. “I didn't have to worry too much because I've been training harder and harder every day and I can see myself improving and every year and my diet is getting better.”
This recent win has qualified Mabidi for the Natural Canada Pro Qualifier in Toronto set in August; however, the car crash has forced him to drop out.
“For this thing to happen to me it's the saddest thing but it's life; life goes on,” said Mabidi. “Sometimes you have to listen to your body, so that's what I'm gonna do.”
Although, a competition in early November will help keep his head high while he recovers and pumps iron.
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