Dbeautiful muscle, big muscle and, above all, no fat! This is, in very very summary, the theme of the event which took place in Bergerac (Dordogne), Saturday November 9. Indeed, the physical culture association PCA France organized the finals of its championship in the Périgord city thanks to the Youtuber and coach Maître Kal, alias Khaled Hamed, who opened his gym in Bergerac in 2022 before becoming president of PCA France.
Bergerac, a town much better known for its gastronomy based on fatty palmipeds. Where you prefer your pork chop in the loin, because in the fillet it is too dry, unless you accompany it with a sauce made of crème fraîche and mustard, with chanterelles and a little wine white… In short! Light years away from the draconian demands imposed by physical culture at such a level.
Around a hundred participants appeared before the jury.
Loic Mazalrey
Fortunately, the event did not count on Périgord athletes to occupy the stage of the cultural center. The hundred or so competitors flocked from all over France and even beyond (Switzerland, Italy, Spain, England, Poland, etc.) to compete in around twenty categories, based on their weight, height, body shape, etc. .
Thomas Jonckeau
For women, great care is also taken with makeup. Julie, from Clermont-Ferrand, competed in the Wellness category.
The stakes were high, because in addition to a – very large – medal, five participants were able to obtain a professional PCA card, which gives access to sponsorship and prize-winning competitions. They also came to get their tickets for the PCA World Championships, which will be held on November 17 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Daily asceticism
The culmination of years of work and daily asceticism for these athletes. “I do two hours of weight training and an hour and a half of cardio and abdominals per day, six days per week,” says Julie, who came from Clermont-Ferrand to compete in the Wellness category. “And when it comes to food, we pay attention 365 days a year, allowing ourselves a little pleasure, one or two days a year. »
Loic Mazalrey
Bergerac resident Khaled Hamed, president of PCA France, both jury and master of ceremonies.
Théo Quersin, 29, an auto mechanic in Hérault, recently started competing, after ten years of bodybuilding. He won his place for Amsterdam. “It’s 365 days of work a year for just fifteen minutes of fame, but the enjoyment is indescribable,” he says. We have the adrenaline pumping and we are here to finally show the work of a whole year to the public and especially to judges who are interested in it, so it’s gratifying. »
Loic Mazalrey
The bodies are completely covered in tan, which makes the skin matte and highlights the muscles.
“Today, I do five training sessions a week,” continues Théo. To gain mass, I went up to 4,000 calories per day [NDLR : l’équivalent d’environ quatre menus Big Mac] then dropped to 950. But you also need a lot of sleep and avoid stress, which creates a hormone, cortisol, which increases fat mass. And on stage, you have to pay attention to everything by contracting all the muscles, staying as strong as possible, controlling your breathing… all of that has to be worked on. »
Results
Around forty athletes won their tickets for the PCA world championships on November 17 in Amsterdam. Four “champion of champions” (or “over all”) swords were awarded to Benjamin Mermoz (bodybuilding category), Tahua Charlemagne (Men’s Physique category), Marion Pinet (Bikini category) and Cindy Calmels (Figures category).
(1) Physical Culture Association
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