A father of five has been crowned a British bodybuilding champion.
Ant Shepherd, 36, from Falmouth, took home the overall title at the IBFA British Bodybuilding Finals on October 25, 2026, after winning his height class (Class 2) earlier in the competition.
Ant said: “After everything I’d put into the preparation, I was genuinely speechless.
“I was crowned the overall IBFA British Bodybuilding Champion.”
Ant works as a cleaning manager, overseeing operations at the Falmouth and Penryn university campuses.
He also runs an online fitness and bodybuilding coaching business, ShepherdFitness.
He began his bodybuilding journey in the Men’s Physique category before moving into traditional bodybuilding, all while managing full-time work, family life, and a chronic health condition.
Ant lives with ankylosing spondylitis, a long-term inflammatory condition that affects the spine and joints.
He said: “There are days when simply getting through work and normal daily responsibilities can be a challenge, never mind finding the energy to train afterwards.
“I don’t want my condition to define what I’m capable of achieving.”
In 2025, he won both the Novice Bodybuilding and Class 2 categories at the WFF Hulk Classic in Exeter, earning his WFF Professional Card.
Despite surgery in May 2026, Ant returned to competition and placed second in the Professional Bodybuilding category at the WFF British Grand Prix.
He went on to win his class at the IBFA Teesside Championships, securing a second professional card and qualifying for the IBFA British Finals.
Ant said: “I’ve also been documenting my preparation and competition journey through social media, sharing both the positive moments and the difficult days.
“Sometimes it’s about making the most of what you have available, being consistent and finding ways to keep progressing despite the challenges you face.”
