Otago students Chris Brodie (left and right) and Aanakyn Williams-Harris (centre) both embarked on demanding journeys in preparation for the I Compete Natural (ICN) South Island Bodybuilding Championship in August.
The adage that excellence is not an act but a habit is personified by two rural-raised students who are not only pursuing careers in health and science but competitive bodybuilding as well.
Sharpening the body alongside the mind takes discipline according to Aanakyn Williams-Harris and Chris Brodie, who both competed in the I Compete Natural (ICN) South Island Bodybuilding Championship in August.
Both embarked on demanding journeys in preparation for the competition but, alongside their shining new medals, they found rewards in their personal growth.
Aanakyn’s lifestyle change reaps rewards
First year Health Sciences student Aanakyn says he was “in a rough place” when he first began bodybuilding.
“I heard the idea that setting yourself an ambitious goal could be a powerful way to create change and so I decided my goal would be competing in a bodybuilding show,” Aanakyn says.
“At the time, I wasn't happy with the person I was and decided, rather than waiting for motivation to magically appear, I would pour everything I had into improving myself, and bodybuilding gave me the platform to do that.”
Finding the time to prepare for the competition meant Aanakyn had to make some hard choices about what he did with his time over the course of this year. Balancing his studies alongside an intense fitness regime meant adhering to a strictly organised lifestyle, which wasn't always easy, but made for a memorable journey.
Being both self-taught and one of the youngest competitors there, Aanakyn went into the ICN Championships – his first competition – unsure how he would compare to the other entrants in the Classic Physique divisions.
As it turns out he compared extremely well, placing first in the Under-23 division, second in the Novice category, and third in the First Timer category, making him the ICN South Island U23 Classic Physique champion.
Aanakyn describes coming away with a medal from every division as “pretty surreal”.
However, by the time he stepped off the competition stage he knew his greatest achievement wasn't the medals, or even his physical transformation, but the committed and resilient person he had grown into.
Aanakyn Williams-Harris was unsure how his first body building competition would go being both self-taught and one of the youngest competitors there, and so he was elated to place first in the Under-23 division, second in the Novice category, and third in the First Timer category, making him the ICN South Island U23 Classic Physique champion.
Having a fascination for health and the human body, Aanakyn plans to continue bodybuilding alongside his studies as it gives him a personal appreciation “for how training, nutrition and recovery affect both physical health and mental wellbeing”.
“Bodybuilding has become something I genuinely enjoy so I'd love to compete again and continue improving over the coming years. I'm also looking forward to returning to underwater hockey as I stepped away from that for a while to fully commit to this. Much has happened since moving from rural Oropi to Dunedin a year ago, and so it’s exciting to think about what might come next.”
Chris’ bucket-list goal turned lifetime passion
Like Aanakyn, Chris first got into the sport to improve his mental health.
He says it gave him a place to channel his hyperactivity and disconnect from the demands of everyday.
The hobby soon turned into a routine for Chris. He learnt from the best bodybuilders in the world and was inspired by their dedication to keep challenging his own limits.
Having been coaxed by friends and family to compete in the ICN Championship after years of training, Chris says he was happy to check it off his bucket list.
“Getting to see older and more experienced bodybuilders at the competition was awesome as it showed me what amazing results can come from having decades worth of commitment to the sport,” Chris says.
“It fired me up to push even harder and, now having done my first competition, I realise how things aren’t as scary as they might initially seem. I’m already looking forward to the next one.”
Along with a renewed sense of enthusiasm, Chris also took home three medals – first place in an U23 bodybuilding category and second places in the over 75kg and junior classic categories.
Chris’ passion for fitness translates to his studies at Otago, where he’s currently in his second year at the School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Science majoring in physical education, activity and health.
This marriage of his personal and professional passions didn’t always exist, as Chris initially pursued studies in software engineering. Though, after a year of growing his knowledge in that space, he realised he could use his bodybuilding and wider fitness skills as a tool to help people.
“I always loved the idea of being able to help people through teaching. Basing this around physical activity just seemed perfect for me, so it was a no-brainer changing my study pathway.”
Chris currently plans to finish his degree and possibly get a master’s in teaching while continuing to improve his bodybuilding so he might be able to compete professionally one day.
“Growing up in Levin, there weren’t many others who did bodybuilding. I’m grateful it’s become more mainstream over the years and I’m looking forward to achieving my next goal and competing again, perhaps as soon as this October. One thing’s for sure, I won’t be stopping anytime soon.”
-Kōrero by Communications Advisers Kelsey Swart and Kathryn van Beek