2 hours ago
The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Afghan bodybuilder Mohammad Ali Azimi, based in Austria, secured first place at the “Benflex” competition in the Netherlands and earned a qualification spot for the prestigious Mr. Olympia bodybuilding contest.
Azimi claimed the top position in the “Classic Physique” category with a standout performance, while Fran Mina Abanez of Spain and Siim Gosens of the Netherlands finished second and third, respectively.
With this achievement, Azimi became the second Afghan athlete to qualify for Mr. Olympia, widely regarded as the pinnacle of professional bodybuilding competitions worldwide.
He has reportedly trained for years under Ali Bilal, a prominent Afghan bodybuilder who previously won the Arnold Classic and secured two runner-up finishes at Mr. Olympia.
Sports experts say Azimi’s success marks an important step for increasing the presence of Afghan athletes in international competitions.
