th best body on Earth
Knysna's very own Clayton Kiewitz has done not only his hometown but his country proud by earning himself an impressive fourth place at the recent IFBB World Junior Championships. The International Federation of BodyBuilding and Fitness' (IFBB) World Junior Championships took place at the University of Physical Education in Budapest, Hungary from 22 to 24 November, with Kiewitz one of five South African athletes who took part. Participating in the junior men's physique division for the age group 21-23 years, up to 174 cm, Kiewitz managed to finish in an impressive fourth place out of 13 athletes representing 11 countries from all over the world.
The Knysna born-and-raised Kiewitz (23) qualified to take part in the world champs after he managed to finish second at the IFBB SA National Championships having won the Western Cape competition in August this year.
Kiewitz took up bodybuilding thanks to his older brother Maxwell, who is beaming with pride about his younger brother's achievement.
"I can not even begin to describe how proud I am of Clayton," Maxwell said of his brother who is now MaxFITT's very first world athlete. "Clayton has always wanted to be the top MaxFITT athlete, and now he has finally done it, I am so proud of him."
Kiewitz himself is remaining humble after securing the biggest accolade of his fledgling bodybuilding career. "The fourth place really means a lot to me," he said. "I have worked hard all year to prepare myself, but even then, without the support I've received from everyone I would never have been able to get this far. Thank you to everyone, especially those who have supported me financially."
Kiewitz was the second-best performing South African athlete at the championships, with only Mandisi Majova one-upping the Knysna boy, having finished third in the junior men's bodybuilding division for ages 16-23 years, up to 75kg division.
Dave Tshose also proved his mettle, finishing fifth in the junior men's physique category for ages 21-23 years, up to 178cm. Majova, Tshose, and Kiewitz' efforts helped South Africa to 19th place at the championships out of the
33 countries that took part.
“Without the support from everyone I would never have been able to get this far. Thank you to everyone, especially those who have supported me financially.”