For Dolores resident Rob Robson, Nov. 22 marks the 31st time he will be on stage for a bodybuilding competition. Robson will be attending the 25th Musclemania World Championship in Las Vegas.
Robson qualified for the Musclemania World Championships upon winning the Musclemania Natural Rocky Mountain Bodybuilding Championships on April 13 in Broomfield.
“I’m in good company,” Robson said. “All the guys there are competitive.”
Musclemania is the largest natural bodybuilding organization. Contestants found using steroids are disqualified from competitions and are unable to compete for any Musclemania titles for a minimum of two years.
Robson is no stranger to the bodybuilding stage. He placed fourth at Mr. Universe 2011 in Miami, finishing as the only American in the top five there. He also placed third at Musclemania Mr. America 2013.
Competitors at the World Championships will be judged on muscle mass, symmetry, and conditioning, which totals 90 percent of a competitor’s score. The top five will then be judged on posing, which counts toward 10 percent of their final score. Robson hopes he will hear his name among the top five, as he has always placed fifth or better.
After multiple football injuries, Robson got into bodybuilding at age 18. His first competition was Mr. Rocky Mountain Bodybuilding Championships, and he placed fifth in the teen division.
“I knew that this was what I wanted to do,” Robson said. He also said as a child, he remembers wanting to look like the gymnasts, as his 7-year-old self did not know about bodybuilding yet.
A rigorous diet of eggs and oatmeal for breakfast, broccoli and fish fillets for lunch, chicken breast and green beans for dinner, and protein shakes in between will help prepare Robson for competition. Tack on two or three hours of cardio, plus an hour and a half of lifting, and he will be set for the stage.
“You really put your body through stress when you do competitions,” Robson said. “When you do it right, it really pays off.”
The competition will be live-broadcast online. Visit www.fitnessamerica.com for more information about event times and contestants.
