A 14-YEAR-OLD bodybuilder says he\u2019s \u201caddicted\u201d to the gym, having been on strict diets and weight routines for YEARS.<\/p>\n
George Holland<\/span> was the youngest entrant at his first competition in the summer, just three weeks after his birthday \u2013 but cake was an absolute no no amid his preparation.<\/p>\n The teen finished third at the National Amateur Body-Building Association (NABBA) British Finals in May \u2013 and he and mum Vicki say they ignore the trolls who tell them it\u2019s unhealthy at his age.<\/p>\n Vicki, 39, said she was proud of George\u2019s determination ahead of the competition and when he finally made it to the stage \u201che was just in his element\u201d.<\/p>\n The schoolboy began regularly working out aged 11.<\/p>\n He was too young for a regular gym so his dad Andrew, 40, took him to the local leisure centre near their home in Teesside.<\/p>\n ONE HUNDRED AND WEIGHTY<\/p>\n Price reveals amazing body transformation after lifestyle change<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \t\t\t\t\t<\/a> BEAR NECESSITIES <\/p>\n Arslanbek Makhmudov is the scary 6’6 ‘Bond villain’ who wrestles BEARS <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Initially, George was interested in boxing<\/a> \u2013 until he moved to a more bodybuilding<\/a>-focused gym. <\/p>\n He told The Sun: \u201cI started taking training more seriously and wanted to get bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n Boxing<\/a> soon faded away \u2013 it was hard to find opponents as a 65 kilogram 11 year-old, with George\u2019s dedication to growing muscle rising alongside his social media<\/a> presence.<\/p>\n Three years later and \u201cevery aspect of our life from morning to night is focused around bodybuilding<\/a>\u201d, says Vicki.<\/p>\n George now has over 60,000 followers on both Instagram<\/a> and TikTok<\/a> as fans watch him document his gym journey.<\/p>\n The Holland<\/span> family life revolves around bodybuilding. It is on TV in the mornings and the family of three will attend local bodybuilding events on the weekend.<\/p>\n \t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \u201cI could see just watching him, he was itching, he wanted to be up there,\u201d Vicki said about a recent event they attended as spectators.<\/p>\n George admits that fitness<\/a> has become an addiction for him. <\/p>\n Despite comments saying he is \u201ctoo big\u201d for his age or that weight lifting has stunted his growth, George believes there isn\u2019t such a thing as too big.<\/p>\n \u201cIt just depends on how big you want to get. I don\u2019t think anyone can be too big if they don\u2019t think they are,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n Whilst it might be an addiction, George does not feel chained to the gym and he has a simple ethos of: \u201cIf I didn\u2019t enjoy it, I wouldn\u2019t do it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI just think going to the gym and smashing a muscle group is really really fun,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n His favourite workout is squats.<\/p>\n When he reaches a personal best George said it\u2019s always exciting and he feels \u201ca lot of adrenaline and just an amazing feeling because you know you\u2019re getting stronger\u201d.<\/p>\n On his competition debut, George said nerves didn\u2019t really hinder him. <\/p>\n He said: \u201cI was just more excited because I was quite confident as I just knew I\u2019d tried my best.\u201d<\/p>\n He placed third in the teen category<\/a> \u2013 and was the youngest competitor by a couple of years.<\/p>\n He only started to think he might place when the judges started reading names out and he didn\u2019t hear his own. <\/p>\n As to whether he feels strange posing on stage in front of strangers in blue speedos, he says: \u201cIt\u2019s the sport at the end of the day.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s what people are there to watch, it\u2019s not that weird if you don\u2019t make it weird.\u201d<\/p>\n He does not see his dedication to bodybuilding as a barrier to being a typical teenager. <\/p>\n He still hangs out with his friends and only feels conflicted heading into competition season.<\/p>\n Vicki adds that George will still go but with a few compromises: \u201cHe would go out for a pizza and he would take his chicken and rice.<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n Despite a big social media presence and with it a growing number of people commenting on his body, George never feels body dysmorphia. <\/p>\n He said: \u201cSome people do, that\u2019s not me\u201d.<\/p>\n Mum<\/a> Vicki admits she works hard behind the scenes to keep social media a safe place for her son.<\/p>\n \u201cShowing his physique at his age, it does attract some unwanted attention, and I try and steer him away from either not seeing it in the first place or not even opening those messages.\u201d<\/p>\n Vicki praises how laid back her son is and she adds that \u201che\u2019s never mentioned anything about not looking great or not looking good enough or having to push himself, he just takes it day by day\u201d.<\/p>\n The other area of concern is how lifting such heavy weights can impact George\u2019s body.<\/p>\n The teen says he\u2019s never had a major injury, but mentions his back has been a recurring issue since he hurt it last year dead lifting.<\/p>\n Vicki adds: \u201cHe\u2019s got friends who are breaking collarbones and arms in rugby.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s had none of those day-to-day injuries that you would get through a sport.\u201d<\/p>\n Professor Hannah Campbell, lecturer in Applied Physiology at the University of Leeds, warns against extreme bodybuilding as a adolescent as it can be a \u201cslippery slope’\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cBodybuilding in general isn\u2019t brilliant for your health but particularly when developing such a singular focus,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n The professor says: \u201cmuscle building and weight training is beneficial for adolescents, however, extreme bodybuilding is not something that I would prescribe or suggest to a 14 year-old.\u201d<\/p>\n She explains that under 18s haven\u2019t developed physiologically or neurologically and the use of \u201csimple single muscle focused exercises\u201d aren\u2019t beneficial for growth and development.<\/p>\n One area of concern is what comes alongside bodybuilding such as taking unregulated supplements.<\/p>\n She adds, \u201cbodybuilding is a precursor to dieting and a precursor to steroid use, it is a slippery slope.\u201d<\/p>\n Vicki confesses that the relationship between bodybuilding and steroids is in the back of her mind, but she says that\u2019s hopefully further down the line when George is out of his teens.<\/p>\n She adds that her son has some of the top people in the industry warning him about the effects of dosing so she isn\u2019t concerned at the moment.<\/p>\n For now, George hopes to enter more\u00a0<\/span>competitions\u00a0<\/span>in the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>summer<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>after this year\u2019s success, so he will likely be giving Easter eggs a miss again.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up for the Sport<\/span> newsletter\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThank you!\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/HB-SPORT-PREVIEW-PRICE.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=360&h=240&crop=1\"\/)
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/HB-SPORT-PREVIEW-MAKHMUDOV.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=360&h=240&crop=1\"\/)
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\nMost read in Other Sports<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n