Big winners at ICN Tasmanian Championship

ICN Tasmania president Bridget Freeman said the event had been well received by competitors and spectators.

"There's been a great crowd and a fantastic standard of competitors," she said.

"The standard has just been incredible."

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The competition is the longest-established natural bodybuilding and fitness federation in Australia, running more than 50 events each year across the country, culminating in the Australian Championships.

Ms Freeman said the Tasmanian ICN community was tightknit and continuously growing larger.

"A lot of the competitors have said their teams and their coaches have become like family," she said.

Sam McCall has been competing for three years and was rewarded with his PRO Card in the men's physique open.

"A PRO Card is the highest honour you can get at the ICN," Ms Freeman said.

"It's the first time that's happened at the state show so we're really excited and very proud."

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After receiving his PRO Card, Mr McCall will be able to compete in PRO level competitions and hopes to make his mark at the national level.

"It [the win] still feels pretty surreal," he said.

"It's a step up, the stakes are a lot higher and there's a lot of work to do to match the standard of the PRO comp."

"I would love to focus all my attention on winning a national title and go from there."

Coming from a background of martial arts and gymnastics coaching, Mr McCall said bodybuilding had quickly become a passion despite the strict demands of the sport

"To be successful in bodybuilding you've got to enjoy the process and the lifestyle that is demanded of you," he said.

"If you love what you're doing, it's not that as much as a problem to make the right decisions and be consistent and put in the effort."

According to Mr McCall, the sport blends science, physicality and art.

"You've got the scientific parts such as your nutrition, your training and tracking of progress," he said

"And the artistic side is the stage day, in the classic physique division, it's a throwback to the golden era of bodybuilding in the 1970s and '80s.

"There's a lot more flamboyance and it's very much a display of the human body in art form."

Despite entering his first competition "just to give it a go," Mr McCall said he would encourage anyone with a curiosity for the sport to consider next year's competition.

"There's an entry point for a broad range of people, it's just about finding the division that suits you best and that you enjoy and can see yourself growing into," he said.

"Going through prep for a bodybuilding competition is something you can't really understand until you experience it for yourself."

"You don't know if you're going to like it unless you give it a go yourself."

After this weekend's competition, Mr McCall is looking forward to a sleep in and a celebratory dinner.

"I'm still in my season so won't be doing anything too crazy," he said.

"Probably a nice dinner with some friends, but as soon as the celebration is out of the way I'm going to focus on getting back on track for my next competition."

"I've got a month where I can tidy things up and train some of the carbs off that I'll be enjoying this weekend."

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