ADVERTISEMENT:

 

Local strongman Leon le Roux, pictured at the national championships the past weekend in Bloemfontein. He finished seventh overall in the country. Photo supplied.

Le Roux 7th strongest in SA

 

The Soutpansberg can boast about being home to one of South Africa’s top 10 strongest men.

The 43-year-old Leon le Roux, a warrant officer at AFB Makhado, came up against the strongest men in South Africa on 30 April during the national strongman championships in Bloemfontein. Competing in the under 105kg category, he managed to secure a seventh overall position. His items included a 260kg dead lift for repetitions, a 450kg tyre flip for time, farmers walk of 140kg per hand and 380kg yoke walk over 20m for best time. There was also a log press of 135kg, a 110kg atlas stone carry for 20m, and the last event was the atlas stone load from a 110kg to a 160kg stone.

It was tough going for Le Roux. Not only was he the oldest contestant (the second-oldest being eight years his junior), he also came up twice against Frikkie Page. Page is currently ranked first in the southern hemisphere worldwide. “Although physically demanding, it was an honour to participate against the country’s best. Some events came as a bit of a surprise as the weights advertised became much heavier – set at international standards. Yet it was an unbelievable experience,” said Le Roux.

Le Roux’s interest in sport started way back in 2009. He recalls when his former colleague and friend, Flight Sergeant Andries de Beer, “bullied” him into the sport that year. After first competing in local strongman competitions, his interest in the sport grew with each competition. In 2011, Le Roux participated in his first national championships and finished eighth overall. Since then, his national ranking has varied from third to sixth overall.

There are three divisions in which strongmen can compete, namely under 90kg, under 105kg and the open class (above 105kg). The sport basically entails that a competitor pick up heavy objects and moving them. They are then scored in terms of time, repetitions and, of course, the maximum weight lifted. It is, however, not a sport that only involves strength but also requires a great deal of athleticism, skills and mental toughness. This sport is open to all, young and old.

Between 2012 and 2014, Le Roux continued to gain valuable experience by taking part in more friendly local competitions. He started competing in other provinces, such as Gauteng, between 2013 and 2015.

In April 2015, he competed at the Rand Easter show in a national competition and was placed sixth. In July 2015, Leon competed in a two-man national championship where he, together with his partner, obtained position eight out of nine teams.

According to Le Roux, his programme allows him to exercise for almost two to three-and-a-half hours per day, except on Saturdays and Sundays. He does not follow a specific diet but admits that he uses supplements such as proteins and creatine from time to time. “Should I use supplements with my diet, it would cost me between R6 000 and R7 000 a month,” he said.

The sport requires additional funding from sponsors/donors in order for him to attend competitions and trips all over the country. “Unfortunately, this sport is not registered as a sporting code in the South African National Defence Force, so at the moment, I have to fund myself from my own pocket. But, because of my love of the sport, I do it with a smile. The sport keeps me fit and it is great to see yourself grow and advance in performance and strength with each competition,” said Le Roux. Le Roux thanked Paul's Body Shop, as well as Ampie Mentjies for his unconditional efforts to get sponsors for him.

Sport - Date: 06 May 2016

Recent Articles

Search for a story:

 

Le Roux is all concentration as he competes in the 260kg dead-lift event to complete as many repetitions as possible. Photo supplied.

Le Roux lifts the first of five atlas stones in the atlas-stone-load event. The five stones increase in weight from 110kg to 160kg. Photo supplied.

 

ADVERTISEMENT

 

Andries van Zyl

Andries joined the Zoutpansberger and Limpopo Mirror in April 1993 as a darkroom assistant. Within a couple of months he moved over to the production side of the newspaper and eventually doubled as a reporter. In 1995 he left the newspaper group and travelled overseas for a couple of months. In 1996, Andries rejoined the Zoutpansberger as a reporter. In August 2002, he was appointed as News Editor of the Zoutpansberger, a position he holds until today.

Email: [email protected]

ADVERTISEMENT: