As HomeTeamNS celebrates the 10th edition of Fitness Ironman, its champions share stories that reveal bodybuilding is more than lifting weights.
A beautiful body is not a flawless body. It is a map of lived experiences, where setbacks, discipline, and the steady decision to keep showing up are what make you stronger. In October 2025, HomeTeamNS celebrated a decade of bringing together some of the most dedicated athletes at Fitness Ironman, each carrying an inspiring story of perseverance in their pursuit of bodybuilding excellence.
For competitors like Samuel Ng, Fadzhairi Bin Abdul Rashid, and Magesh Das, bodybuilding is a celebration of one’s authenticity and strength. Their journeys remind us that the sport, beyond lifting weights, is really about uplifting one another too.
SAMUEL NG QI XUAN: STRENGTH BEGINS WITH PURPOSE
At just 26, Men’s Classic Physique champion Samuel Ng carries himself with the confidence of someone who has learned to push through storms that few ever see. A Fitness Workz member since 2023, Samuel trains at Fitness Workz Premium located at HomeTeamNS Khatib. This was where his Fitness Ironman journey first began.
Fitness Ironman was the very first bodybuilding show he competed in and it offered something personal – a chance to challenge himself at the place where he first learned to love the sport. So when his motivation started to fade, returning to that stage felt like the perfect way to reignite the spark that first set him on this journey.
The win that followed left him feeling accomplished, but its impact went beyond a trophy. “The win was significant to me not just as a bodybuilder, but as a person,” he explains. Preparing for the show revealed how he responded under pressure and helped him better understand himself. The journey reaffirmed his conviction that he was on the right path, steadily sculpting a Pro-level physique.
His bodybuilding journey saw many challenges. “Physically, the body takes a toll, and mentally, self-doubt creeps in. But I kept reminding myself that tomorrow will be better, and that kept me going,” he says.
Samuel’s story is also a reminder that bodybuilding is built on community. “People think bodybuilding is a solo sport, but what many don’t see is the strong bond between competitors,” he says.
To Samuel, bodybuilding is a way of presenting the discipline and effort that happens long before show day. His family has come to understand this and now supports the meaning behind his commitment. The sport hasn’t just strengthened him physically, it has reshaped his entire household. His dedication has influenced daily habits, even inspiring his family to make smarter and healthier food choices.
An advice from Samuel to aspiring bodybuilders is to “always remember the goal and keep moving towards it at your own pace.”
FADZHAIRI BIN ABDUL RASHID: REBUILDING AFTER THE FALL
At 38, Fadzhairi, known affectionately as “Ghost,” carries muscle and memory. Years of training as a serviceman had pushed his body to its limits, but the true turning point came after a devastating motorcycle accident in 2011, a moment that would redefine his journey.
It was during recovery that he first stepped into the gym and used training as a form of self-rehab. As his natural physique began to change, motivation returned. Encouragement from friends kept him going, and over time, he found his way to Fitness Ironman in 2018, drawn by the strong field of local athletes. He joined not to prove anything to others, but to himself.
This year, he became the Men’s Physique (Class A) Champion — a win that reaffirmed his place in the sport even as he grows older. Still, he remains honest about the journey. He had been aiming for the overall title and missed it by a step, a humility that makes his story even more compelling.
The preparation was intense. “12–16 weeks of hard training and diet, mood swings, both mental and emotional breakdowns, and missing family social gatherings. It was really hard.” But bodybuilding has also taught him the value of intentional living. He has learned that even small adjustments can change the entire outcome — a discipline that mirrors how he approaches life beyond the gym. At its core, the sport comes down to trust and faith.
His toughest battle, however, has been internal. Body dysmorphia set in after the imbalances caused by his accident. “I had to tailor my training individually to symmetrically balance my physique. But I managed to overcome it by consistent training and believing in myself,” he shares.
His advice for those interested in bodybuilding: “If you want to make a change in your physique and life, get started into whatever form of fitness you are in. It doesn’t have to be bodybuilding but most importantly, be consistent and enjoy it!”
MAGESH DAS: MASTERING THE CRAFT
For 47-year-old Magesh, the Men’s Physique (Masters) Champion, bodybuilding is a craft honed with precision and passion. The values he learned during National Service — structure, accountability, and the habit of showing up even when it is uncomfortable — naturally flowed into his approach to the sport, shaping the discipline and mindset behind every rep. “I fell in love with the process. One session became a routine, the routine became a standard, and the standard built a champion.”
What drew him to Fitness Ironman was its clarity of standards. “Fitness Ironman rewards consistency, grit, and the ability to execute under pressure,” he says. “That speaks to how I live and work.” Winning left him feeling grateful and a sense of pride, but he sees trophies differently. To him, trophies are just one part of the prize. The real prize is the person you become in the process of earning them.
For Magesh, bodybuilding is a discipline of complete ownership, a sport where nothing can be hidden and every choice, from meals to sleep to training, eventually shows on stage. The structure he built in the gym naturally shaped how he approached work, relationships, and daily life, bringing clarity across all areas.
Magesh’s advice for bodybuilding beginners: “Get a coach, learn form, build habits around sleep and nutrition, then let the intensity grow slowly. Maintaining a routine may be boring, but if you can be consistent, the results will be spectacular.”
LIFTING ONE ANOTHER UP
Bodybuilding, as these athletes have shown, is a celebration of discipline, of reclaiming strength, and of having the courage to be seen. It is also a sport built on support through every season of struggle.
As Fitness Ironman marks a decade of championing grit, these athletes remind us of what real strength looks like — showing up, again and again, for the person you aspire to become.
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