{"id":4027,"date":"2026-01-06T13:42:01","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T13:42:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=4027"},"modified":"2026-01-06T13:42:01","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T13:42:01","slug":"abingdon-man-wins-world-bodybuilding-championships-in-florida","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=4027","title":{"rendered":"Abingdon man wins world bodybuilding championships in Florida"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\n 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).\n<\/p>\n

\n He gained his champion status at a glamorous world finals event in Miami, Florida, on October 26.\n<\/p>\n

\n See also: CCTV released after wallet theft at O2 Academy in Oxford<\/strong><\/a>\n<\/p>\n

\n The 29-year-old said: \u201cBecoming world champion was pretty insane and was very surreal at the time.\n<\/p>\n

\n \u201cSome people go just to be on the stage<\/a>, whereas I went there to win.\n<\/p>\n

\n \u201cBodybuilding has a very supportive environment though and I\u2019ve made some great friends.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n \"Oxford\n<\/p>\n

\n To prepare for the finals, Mr Mackay endured a rigorous ten-month programme.\n<\/p>\n

\n He would eat eight times a day \u2013 a meal every two-and-a-half hours.\n<\/p>\n

\n Mr Mackay explained: \u201cI 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.”\n<\/p>\n

\n Read more: Thousands comment on Connecting Oxford transport plans<\/strong><\/a>\n<\/p>\n

\n As well as a strict diet plan, Mr Mackay also put the hours in at the gym to create his figure.\n<\/p>\n

\n He said: \u201cI trained hard at Unique Bodies Gym (in Oxford) which is owned by Mike Sheridan, a Mr Olympia competitor himself.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n Mr Mackay is a former pupil at Dry Sandford Primary School and Larkmead School in Abingdon, where he played rugby, football and athletics<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n

\n He said: \u201cI really started to pursue my bodybuilding passion in 2010 and that came from the people I was surrounded by in the gym.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n One of those was future wife, Beckie, 26, who herself takes part in the Miss Figure championships.\n<\/p>\n

\n \"Oxford\n<\/p>\n

\n This year, she finished fifth in the British finals.\n<\/p>\n

\n Mrs Mackay, an account manager for Airbnb in Oxford<\/a>, said: \u201cIt was a great feeling when Calum won.\n<\/p>\n

\n \u201cWhen he was in the Marines, we didn\u2019t get to spend that much time together so I used to go to the gym so I could spend time with him.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n The couple married four years ago.\n<\/p>\n

\n Growing up, Mr and Mrs Mackay\u2019s fathers were best friends and Mr Mackay\u2019s dad was even Mrs Mackay\u2019s best man.\n<\/p>\n

\n Mr Mackay said his mother, Sarah, 59 was a \u2018huge help\u2019 to the pair and helped prepare her son\u2019s meals.\n<\/p>\n

\n Read also: Police want to speak to these nine people about a murder investigation in Oxford<\/strong><\/a>\n<\/p>\n

\n 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.\n<\/p>\n

\n Mrs Mackay said it brought a tear to her mother-in-law’s eyes when he won.\n<\/p>\n

\n The bodybuilding duo moved back to Wootton to support Calum\u2019s mother following the death of his father, Ron, in July.\n<\/p>\n

\n Mr Mackay said: \u201cMy dad pushed me to be the best I can be and he\u2019d push me that bit harder in the gym and go to all my competitions so winning was special for him.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n Mr Mackay works in Oxford as a lead personal trainer for Nuffield Health, specialising in weight loss, muscle building, strength training and injury rehabilitation.\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n