Calum Mackay, who grew up in Wootton and still lives there today, is now the World Natural Bodybuilding Middleweight Champion under the Drug Free Athletes Coalition (DFAC).
He gained his champion status at a glamorous world finals event in Miami, Florida, on October 26.
See also: CCTV released after wallet theft at O2 Academy in Oxford
The 29-year-old said: “Becoming world champion was pretty insane and was very surreal at the time.
“Some people go just to be on the stage, whereas I went there to win.
“Bodybuilding has a very supportive environment though and I’ve made some great friends.”
To prepare for the finals, Mr Mackay endured a rigorous ten-month programme.
He would eat eight times a day – a meal every two-and-a-half hours.
Mr Mackay explained: “I followed a high-carb diet to retain muscle. I ate a lot of sweet potato, chicken, broccoli, and porridge, which is a big favourite amongst bodybuilders.”
Read more: Thousands comment on Connecting Oxford transport plans
As well as a strict diet plan, Mr Mackay also put the hours in at the gym to create his figure.
He said: “I trained hard at Unique Bodies Gym (in Oxford) which is owned by Mike Sheridan, a Mr Olympia competitor himself.”
Mr Mackay is a former pupil at Dry Sandford Primary School and Larkmead School in Abingdon, where he played rugby, football and athletics.
He said: “I really started to pursue my bodybuilding passion in 2010 and that came from the people I was surrounded by in the gym.”
One of those was future wife, Beckie, 26, who herself takes part in the Miss Figure championships.
This year, she finished fifth in the British finals.
Mrs Mackay, an account manager for Airbnb in Oxford, said: “It was a great feeling when Calum won.
“When he was in the Marines, we didn’t get to spend that much time together so I used to go to the gym so I could spend time with him.”
The couple married four years ago.
Growing up, Mr and Mrs Mackay’s fathers were best friends and Mr Mackay’s dad was even Mrs Mackay’s best man.
Mr Mackay said his mother, Sarah, 59 was a ‘huge help’ to the pair and helped prepare her son’s meals.
Read also: Police want to speak to these nine people about a murder investigation in Oxford
Unfortunately, due to the cost, she was unable to fly to Miami, but Mrs Mackay created a live feed video for her to watch back home at 1am UK time.
Mrs Mackay said it brought a tear to her mother-in-law’s eyes when he won.
The bodybuilding duo moved back to Wootton to support Calum’s mother following the death of his father, Ron, in July.
Mr Mackay said: “My dad pushed me to be the best I can be and he’d push me that bit harder in the gym and go to all my competitions so winning was special for him.”
Mr Mackay works in Oxford as a lead personal trainer for Nuffield Health, specialising in weight loss, muscle building, strength training and injury rehabilitation.
