About Me

Name:  Heinrich Vos

Age:  33

Height:  5'8.9"  (1.75m)

Off-Season Weight:  290.4lbs  (132kg):  As at 27 May 09

Competition Weight:  222.86lbs  (101.kg):  As at 14 November 09

Years Training:  11 Years

Years Competing:  7 Years

From:  Kraaifontein,  Cape Town,  South Africa

Favourite Body Part:  Legs

Favourite Training:  Squats

Vital Stats as at 13 July 2008 (Off-Season)

Arms:  21.5ince  (54.61cm)

Chest:  52 ince  (132.08cm)

Waist:  38 ince  (96.52cm)

Legs:  29.5ince  (74.93cm)

Calves:  19 ince  (48.26cm)

Neck:  19 ince  (48.26cm)

I am now currently 13 years in the bodybuilding industry.  It is truly my passion and it feels everyday to me that I am living my dream.

Prior to bodybuilding I was only going to gym to keep myself fit and to tone my body. I was 22 years old and weighed about 159lbs (72kg). when I started to do weight training. In school I played hockey and I was quite small then.

I continued to train, but during 1998 I started to train with new guys that were very much in bodybuilding. I never thought of myself as a bodybuilder, but I gave it a try.

They tought me the basic principles of bodybuilding. They taught me how to feel the muscle work and not just to move the weight. They also taught me the fundamental rep schemes and workout variations such as training splits. Not only did they learn me about training, but they also learned me about past mistakes that they made. They taught me how to avoid injury in the gym, proper nutrition and about the tremendous sacrifices one has to accept to make it to the top in this sport.

I immediately started to see the results. I rear a lot about training techniques and listening to bodybuilders about weight training and discipline. I started to eat more meals and also to eat the correct food. My friends noticed the progression and started to encourage me to take part in a competition. They could see the tremendous changes and the effects of the weight training and how positive my body responded to it.

I gave it a thought and decided to do my first competition in 2000. It was the IFBB Club Mykonos Bodybuilding Championships. I competed as a Middleweight and ended up 2nd. It wasn't to bad for my first competition.

I made amazing gains after that. I entered Provincials as a Light Heavyweight and won the line-up. I qualified to go to the Souht African Championships and I got a good 4th place. I took off in 2001 and competed again in 2002. From here I made a drastic upward curve.

I won the South African Heavyweight Title in 2005 and I also went to Worlds. I got a 14th place, but I learned a lot. I can still remember standing next to Dennis Wolf on stage. He went on to win the overall title and turning pro. It just made me to work harder than ever.

All the hard work paid off when I won the Overall Title at the Muscle Evolution Grand Prix in 2007. This was the first year the event was held and it was the biggest bodybuilding event ever staged in South Africa. It also carried the biggest prize money ever. What the event basically does is that all the different federations come together and all their best bodybuilders compete in the IFBB staged event. The best competitors from the IFBB, NABBA and WPF compete for the top prize.

One of the other highlights during 2007 was when I had the oppertunity to train with, IFBB Pro Branch Warren.  It was really great to see the intensity that he trains with. No games, just 100% hardcore bodybuilding.

In 2008 I was fortunate enough to meet Flex Wheeler. He came out to South Africa to attend the Muscle Evolution Grand Prix and also to meet some off the local South African athletes.

2008 was a year that I would actually want to forget. I carried a shoulder injury from 2007 which also kept me from going to the 2007 IFBB World Championships, into 2008 and I couldn't really focus seriously on training. As soon as the shoulder injury was healed and I could really train hard and start focussing on competing I picked up a tear in my calve.

Over was the dream of a IFBB SA Champs and a IFBB Worlds. I had to re-think my strategy and I decided to concentrate on the IFBB Muscle Evolution Champs and The Ultimate Showdown. I wasn't really at my best to compete at these shows, but I still thought that I owe it to my supporters and sponsors to compete at these shows.

2009 was my most successful year ever. After a real slow start to the competition season I really got my act together and ended up as WPF Mr Universe. Out of 6 shows I won 4 overall titles. I really came back well and I am looking forward with new found confidence to 2010.

I listened a lot to my fellow athletes and supporters on what I need to do to better my physique. I am going to work hard and make it my priority to better my weaknesses during the off-season and I am looking forward to compete in 2010. I will be keen to show the judges the big improvements that I have made.

My ultimate goal for 2010 is obviously to capture the overall title at the IFBB South African Championships and also to go to IFBB Worlds and do well there. I am looking for a minimum top 6 place at IFBB Worlds.

I would like to do some shows overseas during 2010. I have received some invitations to do some shows in America and I would like to take up the opportunity to compete there.

My biggest dream is ultimately to become an IFBB Pro, but for me to achieve that I need to compete overseas.