There’s no stopping seasoned muscleman Nolan
I’m happy to receive the worthy mention. It motivates me to work harder and to come back stronger.
KUCHING: Being placed among the top five in any National Amateur Body builders Association ( Nabba) tournament is a feat for any muscleman.
Kuching- born veteran Nolan Chee did just that against an international field at a recent contest in Sydney, Australia.
The 48-year- old body builder came up for worthy mention by the judges during the showdown of the Men’s Athletic Class 3 category in this year’s Nabba/World Fitness Federation ( WFF) Lee Priest Classic Pro/Am championships.
“It was a challenging segment, going-head-to-head-with contenders from Russia, Australia, Korea and France. Everybody was in their top form and the atmosphere was electric.
“I’m happy to receive the worthy mention. It motivates me to work harder and to come back stronger,” he told The Borneo Post here via phone.
Nolan, who is also deputy president of Sarawak Bodybuilding Association (SBBA), explained that the Sydney outi ng se r ve d as a measure of his
Nolan Chee, veteran bodybuilder
readiness to compete in the next Nabba meet.
“I’m eyeing the bigger, more challenging the Nabba championships in Melbourne this May. This year will be a part of my two-year target to be f e atur ed in Nabba Masters Universe 2 0 17. I would be 50 by then. ( It) would be a great outing for me,” he laughed.
Nolan’s sporting career actually began not as a bodybuilder but a swimmer. He only took up bodybuilding in 1986. But he has never looked back since.
He made his international debut during Mr Musclemania held in Las Vegas, Nevada ( USA) in 2010. In 2011, with coaching help from fellow bodybuilder and longtime buddy George Awi, Nolan outshone other contenders to clinch the gold in the Masters category at the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness ( IFBB) meet in Hong Kong. Two years later, he took the Masters title again at the Nabba championship in Australia.
The target set by Nolan and his current coach Mohd Ermi Dzulkif li is indicative of their ambition to take Malaysian bodybuilding into the professional international level.
“The focus for Nolan now is the Melbourne outing and, from there, we both can gauge his level of preparation for the Nabba Universe meet to be hosted by France this November,” the coach said.