At the end of June, Li Fat (born in 1999, also known as Brian) won 3 gold medals at the Natural Muscle Mayhem bodybuilding competition, held in Los Angeles (USA).
He stepped onto the top podium in the Classic Debut, Classic Novice, and Open Classic Physique Short categories. Notably, this was also the first bodybuilding competition Phát participated in after a period of non-professional training.
“My feelings at that time were hard to describe in words. When I registered, I didn’t have high expectations and just wanted to experience it. Winning the top prize was a huge surprise, like a dream,” Phat told Tri Thuc – Znews .
Following his success at Natural Muscle Mayhem, Ly Phat became a highly searched name on Vietnamese social media when information about him being the son of legendary bodybuilder Ly Duc was shared.
I go to the gym because I love playing football.
For many generations of Vietnamese viewers, including those who don’t follow bodybuilding, Ly Duc has become a familiar name. The bodybuilder, born in 1965, was one of the outstanding athletes in the bodybuilding scene in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
He has won numerous titles in regional and continental competitions, including 7 Asian Championships between 1997 and 2003, gold medals at the Southeast Asian Championships, a gold medal at the 2002 Asian Games, a gold medal at the 2003 SEA Games, and a world ranking of 4th in 1999…
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Ly Phat is the eldest son of bodybuilding legend Ly Duc. |
Before retiring in 2006, the name Ly Duc had become part of the everyday language of many Vietnamese people with common expressions such as: “As strong as Ly Duc”.
As a child, Li Fa didn’t have many impressions of his father’s work or the awards he won. He only knew that his father was famous and well-liked by many people.
“There were a few times I went to the airport to pick up my father, and I saw many people giving him gifts. That’s something that really impressed me,” Phat recounted.
Contrary to popular belief, Li Fa did not dream of following in his father’s footsteps as a child. He only started weightlifting in 2017. At that time, Fa simply wanted to improve his physical fitness to play football , so he began going to the gym. Before that, Fa’s training knowledge was limited to a few basic exercises like push-ups, taught by his father.
But the more he trained, the more Phát loved the gym, and he continued to train regularly. In the last few years, he started thinking about trying his hand at competition, but he still mainly views bodybuilding as a hobby and a way to improve himself.
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This is Li Fat’s physique at the Natural Muscle Mayhem competition in June. |
With his achievements at Natural Muscle Mayhem, Ly Phat also earned the Pro Card title from the World Natural Bodybuilding Federation (WNBF). This is a dream milestone for many amateur competitors like him.
This card propelled Phat into the ranks of professional athletes, and also qualified him to compete in tournaments within the WNBF system. On social media, many people commented on Phat’s videos with praise like “Like father, like son,” and “A child of the same lineage will always be like his parents.”
Notably, the Lý Phát competition arena belongs to the Natural Bodybuilding system, meaning athletes must adhere to strict regulations regarding stimulants and doping. Participants must build their physique through nutrition and disciplined training, not relying on substances that promote rapid muscle growth.
“I compete in the Classic category because I enjoy posing and want to see what kinds of poses I can perform,” he said.
Marriage and family counseling work
In contrast to his muscular stage persona, Li Fat is a master’s degree holder in marriage and family counseling. This will be his main job starting in 2025 after graduating from California State University, Dominguez-Hills.
“I chose psychology because I find it quite interesting. I also want to help people psychologically because not everyone pays attention to this topic,” he said.
In this job, Phat mainly works office hours during the week, focusing on counseling families with psychological issues. At times, he is also busy balancing his professional work with internal meetings and participating in additional training programs.
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Li Fat currently works as a marriage and family therapist in the United States. |
When Phát decided to participate in bodybuilding competitions, he faced a lot of pressure in balancing his training time with work. He tried to train before or after work hours so as not to affect his job.
In particular, the strict diet is also something that Phát struggles with. Unlike his previous “exercising for health and fun” routine, to achieve a sharp physique on stage, he has to limit eating out, research and prepare his own meals because his diet is different from that of his family members.
“Especially with 6-8 weeks left before the competition, I felt very tired trying to balance work and training. There were times when I doubted whether I should continue, but because of my passion and self-belief, I persevered until the very end,” he said, adding that he will try to balance both hobbies.
Ly Phat’s current goal is to improve his weaknesses and gain more experience so he can try his hand at the Pro league next year. In this process, he receives much advice and support from his experienced father.
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Li Fa considered the title “son of Li De” to be something to be proud of. |
Speaking about being compared to his father when entering competition, Li Fa said that it was unavoidable.
“No matter what achievements I attain, my father is a legend I can never surpass. What he achieved is also a motivation for me to keep striving. For me, the title ‘son of Ly Duc’ is also something to be very proud of, and it also motivates me to find my own path,” he said.
Sharing his thoughts about his talented son, the legendary Ly Duc praised the early achievements he had made in his bodybuilding journey.
“Phat’s recent achievement surprised and surprised me. I hope Phat will strive and work harder in future competitions,” he expressed.
Source: https://lifestyle.zingnews.vn/con-trai-luc-si-ly-duc-cha-la-huyen-thoai-ma-toi-khong-the-vuot-qua-post1678451.html
