Sylvester Mwila, The New Mr Ironman 2012

Sylvester Mwila was on Saturday night crowned Mr Ironman 2012 after he out-muscled over 40 other contestants that took part in the highly-contested competition sponsored by Mad Max at Taj Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka.

Mwila, from Kabwata Gymnasium and the reigning Mr Zambia, flexed his well-built muscles before a capacity crowd that cheered every move he made to win the judges’ favour to scoop the title and go home K5 million richer.

Apart from pocketing K5 million cash, Mwila also got a trophy, gold medal, bag of mealie-meal and a certificate after beating two-time champion Moses Mwape from TnT Gymnasium who lost his crown after finishing second to get K2 million, trophy, silver medal and a bag of mealie-meal.

In third position was Nduba Shanabwato from Matero who walked away with K1 million cash, a trophy, a bronze medal, a bag of mealie-meal and a certificate.

Joseph Tembo from Kabwata finished fourth in the senior category to get K800,000 cash, a trophy, mealie-meal and a certificate.

Benny Chama of Mufulira, and Brian Kaswela and Nawa Shantumwa, both of Kanyama, pocketed K500,000, trophies and certificates after settling for the fifth, sixth and seventh positions, respectively.

In the Mr Ironman Novice category, honours went to Luca Banda from Matero, who beat nine other contestants to win the top prize of K2 million cash, gold medal, trophy, bag of mealie-meal and certificate.

Gift Kalunga finished second to get K1 million cash, trophy, silver medal, a certificate and mealie-meal while third-placed David Kabonso from Matero walked away with K800,000 cash, a trophy, bronze medal, mealie-meal and a certificate.

Funwell Musumali from Nchanga Gymnasium was awarded a special Mr Novice prize for being the only differently-abled person in the tournament.

He went home with K1 million cash and a three-year sponsorship contract, courtesy of Mad Max Autospares.

Speaking during the prize presentation, Mad Max marketing manager Nyambe Maboshe called on the bodybuilders to put in more efforts in the sport for it continue competing against other sports disciplines.

Nyambe said in the past bodybuilding was regarded as a minor sport, but now the sport had received massive response from the public.

And Merit Assets Guard marketing manager said the company was impressed with the turnout at the competition.

He said although the company was new on the market, it would not be the first and last it was sponsoring such a tournament.

Meanwhile, Sports Council of Zambia board member Mwamba Kalenga urged the bodybuilders to maintain discipline if they were to excel in their careers.

Sponsors that made the Mr Ironman possible included Mad Max Autospares, Manzi Valley, Pamodzi Hotel, Bic Pic, Juldan Motors, Merit Assets Guard, Phil Number plates, NOWSPAR, and OD General Dealers.