Sibusiso Kotelo

In 2018 I became the youngest (at that time) and the very first Black South African to ever win an IFBB Pro League Pro card. In a single moment, a young boy raised in the Tonwships of Lamontville realised his dreams, and proved to hundreds of thousands of young children, of all creeds, colours and dispositions, that with nothing but blinkered, single-minded sacrifice and relentless discipline the once seemingly impossible, was actually…within reach. My story, along with my coach Jack Lotter, who I adorned the name, ‘Themba’ which means “hope”, is a journey that truly embodies the Proudly South African story. Two people, of vastly different socioeconomic backgrounds and upbringings, raised in the dark shadow of Apartheid South Africa, shook hands one sunny day in Morningside Johannesburg, looked each other in the eye like gentleman and made an ironclad commitment, cast in stone, that no matter what, they would never let the other down. Never compromise, relent, nor backdown, ever, until they had realised their dream of getting to the highest echelons of competitive bodybuilding. Thousands of South Africans have watched this story materialise since it’s very inception, watched from the sidelines as I have grown and matured up the ranks with my musculature swelling on par with my ambition to reach the top, and have in no small part, felt as if they are connected, and intertwined to mine and Themba’s story and the journey thereof. This year, I came within arm’s reach of acquiring my Mr Olympia qualification - a show considered by all to be the “Super Bowl” of Bodybuilding accolade and success - by presenting a Herculean physique many international commentators, top judges, athletes and supporters alike believed would have taken the Arnold Classic Brazil, which sadly I was disqualified from for not meeting prejudging time requirements, and then once again when I came 3rd in South Korea in the MonsterZym Official. Despite the set-backs, and the naysayers and detractors that attempt to thwart my confidence, overall the words of support and encouragement have been enormous, and people continue to enquire as to how they can help, or support me, as my and Themba’s journey unfolds.

Achievements

• IFBB PRO
• Shawn Rhoden Classic Overall Winner
• Monsterzym Pro Show 3rd place
• Chicago Pro Debut 9th place