Bodybuilding is a whānau sport for Wiremu Anaru of Te Arawa and Ngāti Tūwharetoa. Inspired by his cousins, Wiremu decided to take up the challenge and compete in a bodybuilding competition, where he recently won a bronze medal.

“I decided to take the next step and compete after I watched my cousins Edward Hill and Delaney Brown compete in Germany at the NABBA Universe Competition in 2005,” says Wiremu. “My cousins both finished in the top 20 at that competition and are true role models for me,” he says.

Wiremu was competing in the New Zealand Federation of Bodybuilders (NZFBB) Coromandel Classic during Labour Weekend. He came third in the Novice Men’s 70kgs-80kgs division to win the bronze medal. “I was stoked to have at least won a medal. It’s recognition that all my hard work is paying off,” says Wiremu.

More than 300 people gathered in Thames for the competition to watch 55 bodybuilders compete for top honours.

In only his second bodybuilding competition, Wiremu has his sights firmly on competing in next year’s national bodybuilding championships to be held in October.