A BODYBUILDER from Solihull is preparing to represent Team United Kingdom at the World Championships in Canada next month.
Sam Williams will head to Calgary, Alberta to compete for his country at the World Natural Bodybuilding Federation (WNBF) World Championships.
He forms part of a 13-strong UK team with the event to take place from November 20 to 21 at the Bella Concert Hall at Mount Royal University.
The natural bodybuilder has just turned 45-years-old and began competing competitively in the sport in 2021.
He developed an interest in bodybuilding during the Covid-19 Pandemic and entered his first competition as a novice natural bodybuilder.
Williams won his first title in 2023 after becoming British Natural Bodybuilding Federation (BNBF) Scottish Masters champion.
Williams underwent surgery to have a kidney removed on New Year’s Eve in 2024 after a scan for an unrelated back injury revealed a congenital condition.
He took two years out of competition but has now made a complete recovery and returned to the gym just 13 days after the kidney procedure.
He won the WNBF UK Masters title, the Natural Physique Association (NPA) Open Heavyweight competition and became BNBF Midlands Masters champion earlier this year.
His success on the national stage has also earned Williams two professional cards with the WNBF and NPA.
This allows Williams to compete as a professional athlete with both federations and qualifies him for the World and European Championships with both organisations.
And the Solihull bodybuilder is now preparing for his next challenge on the world stage with Williams to compete in the pro category.
Williams said: “With a busy work-life balance and a young family at home, I’ve elected to focus on only the WNBF World Championships in Calgary, where I will make my pro debut in the masters (40-plus) class.
“I’m lifetime drug free, which is an important distinction when competing with federations like the NPA.
“No performance enhancing drugs at any point through my life, which includes any testosterone replacement, fat burners or diuretics.
“Preparations for the World Championships and travel to Canada are going well so far. Calgary is already snow covered.
“It’s been a long prep, starting in April of this year, so really I’m just trying to stay in contest condition, and remain as injury free as possible – I’m navigating a few injuries from over the years.
“I’m also working with WNBF UK on finding appropriate gyms in Calgary, planning how to find the right food and cook over there, and importantly prepare for the minus 15 degrees weather we can expect on arrival.
“I can’t lie, I’m also looking into post competition meals in great depth, including a meal out with the UK Team, as I’m really excited about eating some foods I’ve had to avoid for what feels like a lifetime.
“My wife and I are also planning some post show sightseeing around Calgary, the Banff National Park, as well as some time in Montreal.”
The open masters bodybuilding class Williams competes in is judged on four main criteria – muscularity, conditioning, symmetry and presentation.
As part of his training, Williams aims for 12,000-to-17,000 steps a day along with 20 to 40 minutes of cardio training and one-hour weights sessions on training days.
To remain in peak physical condition at 195lbs, he eats around 2,000 calories per day, which he doubles during the off-season, and takes on five litres of water per day.
