{"id":1991,"date":"2026-01-03T12:07:23","date_gmt":"2026-01-03T12:07:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=1991"},"modified":"2026-01-03T12:07:23","modified_gmt":"2026-01-03T12:07:23","slug":"i-didnt-know-anyone-else-who-did-this-now-im-a-champion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=1991","title":{"rendered":"I didn&#8217;t know anyone else who did this, now I&#8217;m a champion"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_5d9e5a\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Dan said his hobby wasn\u2019t shared by anyone he knew at school<\/h2>\n<p><button class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"32738802\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/article32738802.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Dan-Burke-Mr-Universe-pic-1.jpg\" alt=\"Dan Burke with his dad Bernard Burke\" loading=\"eager\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/article32738802.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_Dan-Burke-Mr-Universe-pic-1.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/article32738802.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_Dan-Burke-Mr-Universe-pic-1.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/article32738802.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Dan-Burke-Mr-Universe-pic-1.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageEmbed_fig-caption__qotOK\"><span class=\"ImageEmbed_camera-style__Qjeby\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewbox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\"><g clip-path=\"url(#clip0_209_94274)\"><path opacity=\"0.16\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M14 4H2V10.6667C2 11.403 2.59695 12 3.33333 12H12.6667C13.403 12 14 11.403 14 10.6667V4ZM8 10C9.10457 10 10 9.10457 10 8C10 6.89543 9.10457 6 8 6C6.89543 6 6 6.89543 6 8C6 9.10457 6.89543 10 8 10Z\" fill=\"var(--color-sem-icon-primary-default)\"\/><path d=\"M2 3.33331H14V11.3333C14 12.0697 13.403 12.6666 12.6667 12.6666H3.33333C2.59695 12.6666 2 12.0697 2 11.3333V3.33331Z\" stroke=\"var(--color-sem-icon-primary-default)\" stroke-width=\"1.33333\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/><circle cx=\"8\" cy=\"8\" r=\"2\" stroke=\"var(--color-sem-icon-primary-default)\" stroke-width=\"1.33333\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/><path d=\"M11.3332 1.33331L12.6665 1.33331\" stroke=\"var(--color-sem-icon-primary-default)\" stroke-width=\"1.33333\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/><\/g><defs><clippath id=\"clip0_209_94274\"><rect width=\"16\" height=\"16\" fill=\"white\"\/><\/clippath><\/defs><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"ImageEmbed_caption-title__FSINC\">Dan Burke with his dad Bernard Burke<\/span><span class=\"ImageEmbed_caption-credit__uNiU6\">(Image: Supplied)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A man unexpectedly achieved his dreams last month. Dan Burke, 32, from Old Swan, is the newly crowned winner of this year\u2019s NABBA <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/news\/health\/\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\"><u>Mr Universe competition<\/u><\/a>, held last month in October.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The event describes itself as the \u201cpinnacle of the bodybuilding world\u201d which \u201cbrings together elite athletes to compete for the most prestigious title in the sport\u201d. Dan, who is also the owner of local personal training company <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/health-and-fitness\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\"><u>Muscle Performance<\/u><\/a>, has been training for this moment for years. He was inspired to take up this hobby when watching the legendary Arnold Schwarzenegger both in bodybuilding competitions and <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/whats-on\/film-news\/\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\"><u>films<\/u><\/a> such as Conan the Barbarian.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Speaking to the <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\"><u>ECHO<\/u><\/a>, Dan said: \u201dIt started obviously when I was young. My dad used to watch Arnold Schwarzenegger films. I loved it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cThey were good memories with my dad. I just started to think, oh, that&#8217;s what a man should look like! So I started training quite early, when I was about 14 or 15.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Dan admitted his hobby wasn\u2019t shared by anyone he knew at school, but he relished this. He said: \u201cI think part of me really enjoyed that, I can\u2019t lie.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cWhen everyone in school would be saying, can we play football in PE, I&#8217;d just say to the teachers, oh, do you mind if I just go to the gym?<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-32738803\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"32738803\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/article32738803.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Dan-Burke-Mr-Universe-pic-2.jpg\" alt=\"Dan Burke with his girlfriend Nikitha Philip\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/article32738803.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_Dan-Burke-Mr-Universe-pic-2.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/article32738803.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Dan-Burke-Mr-Universe-pic-2.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/article32738803.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Dan-Burke-Mr-Universe-pic-2.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageEmbed_fig-caption__qotOK\"><span class=\"ImageEmbed_camera-style__Qjeby\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewbox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\"><g clip-path=\"url(#clip0_209_94274)\"><path opacity=\"0.16\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M14 4H2V10.6667C2 11.403 2.59695 12 3.33333 12H12.6667C13.403 12 14 11.403 14 10.6667V4ZM8 10C9.10457 10 10 9.10457 10 8C10 6.89543 9.10457 6 8 6C6.89543 6 6 6.89543 6 8C6 9.10457 6.89543 10 8 10Z\" fill=\"var(--color-sem-icon-primary-default)\"\/><path d=\"M2 3.33331H14V11.3333C14 12.0697 13.403 12.6666 12.6667 12.6666H3.33333C2.59695 12.6666 2 12.0697 2 11.3333V3.33331Z\" stroke=\"var(--color-sem-icon-primary-default)\" stroke-width=\"1.33333\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/><circle cx=\"8\" cy=\"8\" r=\"2\" stroke=\"var(--color-sem-icon-primary-default)\" stroke-width=\"1.33333\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/><path d=\"M11.3332 1.33331L12.6665 1.33331\" stroke=\"var(--color-sem-icon-primary-default)\" stroke-width=\"1.33333\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/><\/g><defs><clippath id=\"clip0_209_94274\"><rect width=\"16\" height=\"16\" fill=\"white\"\/><\/clippath><\/defs><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"ImageEmbed_caption-title__FSINC\">Dan Burke with his girlfriend Nikitha Philip<\/span><span class=\"ImageEmbed_caption-credit__uNiU6\">(Image: Supplied)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cI went to Cardinal Heenan which had a really good gym at the time. I feel like it&#8217;s way more common now for 16 and 17 year-olds to be in the gym and smashing it, but at that time it was almost unheard of.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cI didn&#8217;t know anyone else who was going to the gym, so I quite liked that no-one else really had any muscles, if that makes sense. When I was getting them little compliments from having muscles, no one else was. It was my little thing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Dan was eventually noticed by the rugby team, who thought his strength could be useful. It was a chance encounter in a gym which then sparked its interest in bodybuilding.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He said: \u201cI got into rugby and then through that I was going to the gym regularly. Then someone just spotted me and said, you should get into bodybuilding.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cI said, when&#8217;s the next show? This was when I was about 22. I did the show in <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/st-helens\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\">St Helens<\/a> and then the next year won a show in Miami. It just kept going and after that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Dan was fairly confident as he headed to the show, but he still wasn&#8217;t sure that he would win. He said: \u201cYou obviously feel a bit confident when you go down, but bodybuilding&#8217;s so subjective that you can&#8217;t really say, yeah, I&#8217;m going to win.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cIf you knew you were the fastest person in the world, you know you&#8217;re going to win the race. But bodybuilding is so subjective. The judges might like a smaller, more ripped guy or a bigger, more muscly guy.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-32738804\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"32738804\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.78\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/article32738804.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Dan-Burke-Mr-Universe-pic-3jpeg.jpg\" alt=\"Dan Burke was crowned this year's NABBA Mr Universe winner\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/article32738804.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_Dan-Burke-Mr-Universe-pic-3jpeg.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/article32738804.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Dan-Burke-Mr-Universe-pic-3jpeg.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/article32738804.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Dan-Burke-Mr-Universe-pic-3jpeg.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageEmbed_fig-caption__qotOK\"><span class=\"ImageEmbed_camera-style__Qjeby\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewbox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\"><g clip-path=\"url(#clip0_209_94274)\"><path opacity=\"0.16\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M14 4H2V10.6667C2 11.403 2.59695 12 3.33333 12H12.6667C13.403 12 14 11.403 14 10.6667V4ZM8 10C9.10457 10 10 9.10457 10 8C10 6.89543 9.10457 6 8 6C6.89543 6 6 6.89543 6 8C6 9.10457 6.89543 10 8 10Z\" fill=\"var(--color-sem-icon-primary-default)\"\/><path d=\"M2 3.33331H14V11.3333C14 12.0697 13.403 12.6666 12.6667 12.6666H3.33333C2.59695 12.6666 2 12.0697 2 11.3333V3.33331Z\" stroke=\"var(--color-sem-icon-primary-default)\" stroke-width=\"1.33333\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/><circle cx=\"8\" cy=\"8\" r=\"2\" stroke=\"var(--color-sem-icon-primary-default)\" stroke-width=\"1.33333\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/><path d=\"M11.3332 1.33331L12.6665 1.33331\" stroke=\"var(--color-sem-icon-primary-default)\" stroke-width=\"1.33333\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/><\/g><defs><clippath id=\"clip0_209_94274\"><rect width=\"16\" height=\"16\" fill=\"white\"\/><\/clippath><\/defs><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"ImageEmbed_caption-title__FSINC\">Dan Burke was crowned this year&#8217;s NABBA Mr Universe winner<\/span><span class=\"ImageEmbed_caption-credit__uNiU6\">(Image: Supplied)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cYou don&#8217;t really know what the judge is going to pick on the day, so you&#8217;ve got to come in as good as you can and just hope for the best.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Thankfully for Dan, the show focussed on the \u201cclassic bodybuilding\u201d of the 1970s and Schwarzenegger, which he prefers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Talking through the moment he won, Dan said: \u201cYou can see on my face &#8211; I\u2019m thinking, what is going on?<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cI&#8217;m in a bit of a daze. But I always try and think to myself when I&#8217;m on stage, try to be present and enjoy the moment because it doesn&#8217;t last that long.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cSomeone threw up him a Union Jack flag when I won. That was a nice touch side, the Union Jack flag on. But half of me was wishing it was a Liverpool flag.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Dan got \u00a31,000 for winning and is now a professional bodybuilder. He ended up coming third in his third competition, which was held shortly afterwards.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Dan is keen to continue his personal training business and showcase what it\u2019s actually like being a bodybuilder. He said: \u201cDon&#8217;t be a person who&#8217;s just a little gym head and doesn&#8217;t do anything else.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cI went to Budapest three weeks ago while I was still on prep. You can still travel and enjoy yourself. I like being with my family and friends. You don&#8217;t have to live this isolated life to be a bodybuilder. It shows in your body when you&#8217;re enjoying your life.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/news\/liverpool-news\/didnt-know-anyone-who-this-32738771\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dan said his hobby wasn\u2019t shared by anyone he knew at school Dan Burke with his dad Bernard Burke(Image: Supplied) A man unexpectedly achieved his dreams last month. Dan Burke, 32, from Old Swan, is the newly crowned winner of this year\u2019s NABBA Mr Universe competition, held last month in October. The event describes itself [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":1992,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[270],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-1991","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-international-news"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>I didn&#039;t know anyone else who did this, now I&#039;m a champion - World Bodybuilding News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=1991\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"I didn&#039;t know anyone else who did this, now I&#039;m a champion - World Bodybuilding News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Dan said his hobby wasn\u2019t shared by anyone he knew at school Dan Burke with his dad Bernard Burke(Image: Supplied) A man unexpectedly achieved his dreams last month. Dan Burke, 32, from Old Swan, is the newly crowned winner of this year\u2019s NABBA Mr Universe competition, held last month in October. 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