Bodybuilding: Mr Seychelles 2016 - Epic night ahead for bodybuilding fans |28 October 2016

The Mr Seychelles contest has been a key part of Seychelles’ bodybuilding throughout the years and tonight the big event returns, this time bigger than ever before.

There will be a total of 25 athletes competing tonight, but not all of them will be flexing their muscles and showing off their bulked up bods. Instead, this year will see the competition divided into five categories and for the first time ever, the Mr Seychelles event will feature women.

The Miss Bikini contest is the latest addition to the bodybuilding family and the chairman of the Seychelles Bodybuilding Association (SBBA), Regis Delorie, has revealed that the international federation has been encouraging them to promote more aspects of fitness and there has also been a demand for it locally.

“This is not something new in bodybuilding as other countries have been doing it and we felt that Seychelles is now ready for such an event,” said Mr Delorie.

The Miss Bikini contest will be the female equivalent of the Men’s physique contest, where it is more concerned about the physique aspect of things, rather that the size of their muscles.

There will be four competitors in the Miss Bikini contest.

Men’s physique will also return this year, with last year’s champion Alain Rosalie aiming to defend his title against five other athletes.

On the main bodybuilding front, there will be three categories – Mr Seychelles Junior competition, which will feature four athletes including last year’s winner Ahmad Moncherry.

The older bodybuilders will compete in the Masters category and this will see three big names competing alongside each other and they are Joe Gabriel, Joelan Valentin and Pierre Servina who is making his return to the sport.

The main event – the senior Mr Seychelles tournament – will see eight competitors and all eyes will probably be on defending champion Ziad Meckdachi and last year’s runner-up Mervin Dugasse, who has shown remarkable improvement in recent years. The big question is: will he be able to dethrone Meckdachi this time?

Well, we will find out tonight at the International Conference Centre of Seychelles (ICCS) as from 9pm and tickets will be on sale at the door at R100.  

Mr Delorie has said the federation is looking to continue to bring new aspects to the local bodybuilding with the aim of bringing more visibility to the sport.

“We are trying to introduce new things to bodybuilding and one that I can say will be coming soon, is the classic bodybuilding competition which local fans will get to see for the first time in the upcoming international tournament,” added Mr Delorie.

The Eric Favre Classic will be hosted by Seychelles for the very first time this year and is expected to take place on November 18.

Mr Delorie said he will reveal more details on the tournament later on, but has revealed that fans can already look forward to one of the biggest bodybuilders in the world, Frenchman Morgan Aste.

Aged 33, Aste is a two-time France’s strongest man winner.

“I want to encourage everyone to come and see the Mr Seychelles tournament as this will be the biggest Mr Seychelles ever and we must keep encouraging our athletes to be better, especially with the international competition coming up,” said Mr Delorie.

The best performers at the Mr Seychelles tournament tonight will be chosen to compete in the international tournament.

S. N.