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VICTOR Hungwe wrote his own piece of history as the first Zimbabwean body-builder to earn a professional card after emerging the overall winner at the International Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (Africa) contest on Saturday.

Hungwe, who is one of Zimbabwe’s top musclemen, returned home yesterday to a hero’s welcome following his success in Midrand, South Africa, at the weekend.

On his way to glory, Hungwe first won from the medium division before he beat the competition to win the short and tall divisions in the overall round.

“I am happy to have earned my pro-card after wining in the IBFF Africa show in Midrand. I think there were over 30 senior athletes in all the divisions and I came first.

“Unlike in most bodybuilding events, where divisions are made by weigh-in, like lightweight, middleweight and heavyweight, we were categorised according to height.

“I am standing at 1.7m and was in the medium class while the other group had shorter guys and the other had tall athletes,” said Hungwe.

The top athlete in each section progressed to the final round where Hungwe emerged as the finest athletes.

“Now that I have been given a pro-card, this will enable me to compete in most of the (IBFF) big shows without going through the qualifiers.

“As a professional body-builder, it has always been my aim to secure the pro-card and be entitled to try at the big money shows around the world,” he said.

Already Hungwe, who pumps iron from Body Active at Borrowdale Racecourse, has set his sights on the IBFF contest in Slovenia.

“I am going to Slovenia on June 18 for a pro-league contest and I will no longer be aiming for the amateur events,” said Hungwe.

Hungwe, said he is now done with participating in local events like the Iron Man, Mr Zimbabwe and Musclemania.

“Now I have moved one step forward but I will continue to play a part in our local sport as a trainer and hosting competition,” said Hungwe.

In December 2013, Hungwe also scored a first for a Zimbabwean athlete when he came first in the Under-90 kg at the World Physique Federation Mr Universe in Italy.

As Hungwe basks in the glory of earning the pro-card, the National Federation of Zimbabwe Bodybuilding and Fitness have heaped praise on the hulk.

NFZBB executive member, Quiet Shangai, said Hungwe’s success has become a source of inspiration for Zimbabwe. “It’s good for Zimbabwe bodybuilding to have one of our own getting a pro-card and the more our athletes compete beyond our borders, it opens opportunities for the fitness industry,” said Shangai.

Other Zimbabwean athletes like Bible Mhizha, Tapiwa Two boy, Innocent Choga and Nyadzia Kays Rushika tried without success to earn pro-card at International Federation of Bodybuilding sanctioned events in the past. — Sportszone