Sixteen years after watching the National Bodybuilding Championships in Atlanta, Ron Wedgeworth found himself back at the same contest, in the same place, only this time as a competitor.
“In 1986, I never even imagined I’d be in it,” said Ron, owner of BodyTech gym in Northport, and proud father of 15-week old son Willie. “I could not be happier with my placing. Just to be compared to some of those guys is amazing to me.”
Ron placed 13th in the middleweight class, men between 154 and 176 pounds. At 5’ 6”, he cuts an imposing figure onstage. The months of dieting and daily cardiovascular training paid off for the Mr. Alabama.
“My goal was to make the top 15 and to get looked at by the judges. This is only my fourth contest, so I’m not ready to think about winning yet,” Ron said.
Few competitors at the national level have so little experience actually competing. In 1998 Ron took 2nd at the Mr. Alabama contest, which he came back to win in 2000. This October he placed 3rd at the Mr. Southeastern USA in Orlando. Then came the Nationals (formerly the Mr. America).
Ron had to fit his grueling daily workouts into his job as gym owner and personal trainer of ten clients, and still meet his responsibilities as husband and new father. It was a tough fit, Ron said.
“When you diet down like this, you get a little cranky,” Ron explained. “When your wife is about to have a baby around the same time, it gets interesting around the house.”
His training partner, Todd Elder, said that Ron should be proud of his placing.
“He looked fantastic. To crack the top 15 at the Nationals on the first try was phenomenal,” said Todd, the 1994 Mr. Alabama. “Look for great things from Ron in the future.”
Those who win their weight class at the Nationals become professional bodybuilders. This is the top amateur bodybuilding event in the world, with 290 competitors this year, and was held in the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta on November 16-17. |
