Training for a competition like Mr Olympia takes year-round commitment. For Kamal Elgargni, who was crowned Mr Olympia in September 2019, that ceaseless dedication is just a small part of the story behind his victory.

Libyan-born Elgargni made it to the bronze medal spot in last year’s competition, despite suffering an injury. This year, aged 46, he managed to achieve his goal and win the gold medal, making him the first Arab to be crowned Mr Olympia since 1983 and only the second in history. He gifted his gold medal to his home country.

“Bodybuilding has been a way of life for me for 25 years,” says Elgargni. “I didn’t start out wanting to be a bodybuilder, I was keen on martial arts. But back home in Libya there was nowhere to learn, so I joined a bodybuilding gym and in 1994 my coach suggested I compete. Now I feel strange if I don’t eat clean and go to the gym. When I am travelling and can’t work out I feel lost. It’s just a way of living for me.”

Elgargni took over Better Bodies Gym in Northampton five years ago.

The 7,000sq ft site is fully equipped by Precor. He credits Precor with helping him to succeed. “I first trained on Precor kit at a Gold’s Gym in Qatar. It was the full Precor Icarian line and straight away I could feel the difference – it was smoother, more comfortable. For me it’s about the angles – Precor has got them just right. I’ve never felt my joints when I am training on Precor kit; they have the right angle for every single muscle group. I feel really good when I train on their machines; the minute I train on other machines I can see and feel the difference.”

Elgargni has equipped his Northampton gym with Precor as he believes it offers a solution for every exerciser. “Bodybuilding gyms have a bad reputation in the UK, but they’ve got more community spirit than many other gyms,” says Elgargni​. “I have strict rules… no dropping weights, no throwing. All exercisers workout together, we have students, athletes and everyday exercisers and they all get on. It took me time to establish it, but now everyone trains together; the atmosphere is unbelievable and that’s the way it should be.

“Precor’s kit works for every member. I have some who come to my gym having never done weights before and the kit is easy to work with, it’s simple, non-intimidating and not complicated. Everyone gets along with it.”

Elgargni​ also owns two Precor-equipped gyms in Libya, one 2,000sq ft and one 2,400sq ft. “I was one of the first to open big gyms over there,” he says. “We have a mixed membership. On Saturdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays we are open 6am-5pm for women, the rest of the time it’s for men. Since the revolution our female members are really pushing back to ask for women-only training slots open every day.

“The war means business is slower and people aren’t opening new sites but prior to this the gym business was booming. I had planned to open one new site a year, but the war and a very poor exchange rate means it’s just too expensive to buy kit, and spare parts are impossible to come by. There’s very little we can do until the political situation calms down.”

Despite plans to retire, Elgargni​ has agreed to compete once more in a bid to win gold at Mr Olympia 2020. “I spoke to my wife and she agreed, so here we go, one more year. If I win again, great. If not? Well, I’ve won it once! Definitely no more after that!”

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