Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Bronzed Brian took third place at contest
A Dundee supermarket manager spoke of his joy today after bagging the title of third-best bodybuilder in the world.
Brian Soutar, 39, who works as an assistant manager at Aldi on Arbroath Road, flew to Rome last week to battle it out for the title of Mr World at the International Bodybuilding and Fitness Championship.
Brian, who represented Scotland, had previously insisted all he wanted to do was beat Mr England but, when his rival didn’t turn up, he nearly ended up winning the whole competition.
He said: “I must have scared Mr England off saying I wanted to beat him!
“Even though it was my first time at the competition, we were all champions of our own countries so I had just as much chance as the next person.
“Although I didn’t win, Martyn YatesBrown — the British President of the International Fitness Bodybuilding Association, who has both won and judged competitions — said he had me down for first place. It’s nice to hear that from someone as respected as him.”
Brian, who lives in Ballumbie with wife Jennifer, 39, and has four children — Gareth, 20; Nicole, 18; Cara, 10, and Sophie, five — has been invited to enter the Mr Universe competition next year.
‘My tan raised some eyebrows at airport’
But, to do so, he’ll need to stock up on his fake tan — after splashing out on two bottles just for the weekend’s competition, which was watched by more than 1,000 people.
He said: “You’ve got to put layers of tan on in the days before the event as it helps your muscles stand out and look more defined.
“It certainly raised a few eyebrows going through Customs on the way home!
“But it’s not just the tan. I have to thank the Ardler Complex for sponsoring me, but particularly Bill Duthie — he’s 72 and he coached me superbly through 12 weeks of preparation.”
wlyon@eveningtelegraph.co.uk