On this page we report the death of Marine Scott Summers, killed serving our country, in Afghanistan. It is impossible to find words that can make up for such a loss — first of his own life but also the loss to his family and friends.  I, along with many others have been critical of the policies of our government on the matters of Iraq and Afghanistan but let there be no doubt, all of us have been proud of the behaviour and performance of all of our armed forces in those blighted countries. Scott’s Commanding Officer has described just what Marine Summers contributed to the efforts of 42 Commando in Afghanistan and his family can be assured that both as a man and as a soldier he will not be forgotten. 

On more mundane matters — ultimately, they all seem of little importance, but we have to carry on — it is the time of the year when it is difficult to say very much about bodybuilding because everything is so very quiet.     The contests are just starting to get going and in the next few weeks there will be plenty to involve bodybuilders everywhere.

In America the first pro contests of the season have taken place — The Ironman and the annual Arnold Classic extravaganza in Columbus, Ohio.  The latter is now the biggest show in the world of bodybuilding and over the years has dragged in lots of other sports to become a big crowd puller over 3 days. The show makes a big contribution to business in Columbus as 170,000 visitors spend their money over the three days.   It would be nice to have such a show in the UK but I suppose the nearest we will get is the Expo in Germany.   The Arnold Classic does, of course, benefit from the involvement of Arnold Schwarzenegger, who, even as Governor of California, still manages to attend the show every year.  See our report on p2.

Arnold on Radio Show

Arnold Schwarzenegger was interviewed on the Pro Bodybuilding Weekly Radio Show on 12 February when he talked about his career in bodybuilding from the time of his going to the USA in 1968. He said how much he had been supported in those early days by Joe Weider.  Joe carried on supporting him later giving money to Governor Schwarzenegger’s campaign funds.   Arnold thought that bodybuilding had come a long way since those days of the 1960s and 1970s.   He recalled that the first time he won the Mr.Olympia the prize money was $1,000.  The winner in 2006 got $155,000 — I think this keeps the winner well ahead of inflation if not quite in the David Beckham class.  Bodybuilding made great progress in the 1970s but Arnold felt that things had stagnated in the 1990s.  The new Mr. Olympia, Jay Cutler, has a chance to take the sport forward again if he promotes himself and bodybuilding via involvement with other sports, in schools, on TV and all kinds of public events. Arnold said that we all know that it’s a great sport but you still have to go out and sell it. Jay Cutler will fit the American image of all American boy with good looks and blond hair, so he has everything going for him.

Top British bodybuilder of the 1950s and 1960s was Reg Park and Arnold praised him for what he achieved.  Reg was his hero and he became a close friend. Reg was one of the old breed of bodybuilder before the age of drugs and won NABBA Mr Universe titles in 1951, 1958 and 1965.  At his best he weighed 230 lbs at 6ft 2in — by today’s standards that seems light but he was a top quality competitor.  Reg lives in South Africa, as he has done for many years and is still in pretty good shape in spite of the fact that he is 80 next year.

Arnold S won six Olympias in a row before coming back, controversially, in 1980 to win a 7th time.  He now concedes that he was probably lucky to win that and coming back was, in hindsight, a mistake.  He dis not need another title and he certainly did not need the money.  Perhaps it was just too much ego — Arnold’s suggestion, not mine.

He thinks modern bodybuilders are fantastic with all the size and condition they manage to achieve. Bodybuilding is for everybody, not just those who compete, because it is such a great sport and can give so much satisfaction from the sense of achievement.

At the end Arnold paid a compliment to all the American forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and the way they were doing their jobs.  Arnold is not the most enthusiastic supporter of George Bush and the things he stands for, but he was right to show his support for the American troops, who, like British forces, are trying to do an impossible job. But the thing that came over more than anything in this interview was the enthusiasm that Arnold still has for bodybuilding and bodybuilders.

Firemen on Steroids

CBS News in the USA has carried out an investigation which alleges that in the Phoenix and Mesa areas of Arizona lots of the firemen are steroid users —”juicing on the job” as they put it.  It was also claimed that those firemen suspected of being steroid users also had domestic violence problems — how this conclusion was reached was not clear.   There were, of course, calls for random testing.  Does a city want its firemen pumped up with steroids.   One suggestion was that firemen on steroids would proabaly be able to do their jobs rather better as a result of being bigger and stronger.  Not a view that will go down all that well with the self-righteous and the fundamentally indignant.

SCOTT SUMMERS KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN

We were all saddened when we heard the terrible news in early February that Marine Scott Summers had been severely injured while serving in Helmand Province in Afghanistan. Following the incident, he received immediate treatment in Afghanistan before being returned to a specialist unit in the UK where he died on 21st February. His funeral took place with full military honours in Crawley on Friday 9th March.

When we first met him, Scott already had a long-term ambition to join the Marines and first came to the gym because he wanted to gain some size and strength to help him achieve his aim. He showed great commitment and dedication when he was training but always managed to be cheerful, helpful and friendly. 

Scott became a marine in 2005 and has been deployed in Afghanistan since October 2006.    He was with the 42 Commando Royal Marines [seen above] and had been involved in over 20 fire-fights with the Taliban.   On 4th February, he volunteered to drive a Pinzgauer 4x4 vehicle in what was described as a routine convoy in Helmand province — if anything in Afghanistan can ever be described as routine — and was involved in a road accident.  We cannot find words to express what we really feel at the loss of someone only 23 years old.   There is no doubt that in serving as a Royal Marine he did all that could have been expected of him and we can do no better than quote the words of his Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Holmes :

"The loss of such a fine young man as Scott Summers is felt across the whole Commando and shows the high regard in which he was held. It was typical of the man that he had volunteered for the task when the accident occurred.  Marine Summers had a great sense of humour and fun, which he used to boost the morale of his friends and colleagues, even at the most difficult moments including when under enemy fire.  He was selfless to the end, always willing to take on extra tasks for the good of his friends and colleagues. Brave, determined and professional in battle, to which he had courageously returned time and time again, he had proved his mettle on operations in Helmand.   I know Marine Summers’ loss is deeply felt amongst his Company and the whole of 42 Commando. His loss is also a loss to the Afghan people whom we are here to help, but right now our thoughts and prayers are very much with his family and friends."

We can say no more. 

May he now rest in Peace.

Food Supplement Companies Must Tell the Truth

We are all used to adverts for food supplements that promise us the earth and support the claims with pictures of clients, who, allegedly, achieved great success with their products.    In fact very often the models are competitive athletes who achieved the gains and/or losses as a result of other factors, including extreme exercise programmes.   Well now, in America several companies have been prosecuted for making claims for slimming products that were wrong, misleading or downright untrue.  Together they were fined $25,000,000, the biggest fine going to Cytodine Technologies suppliers of Xenadrine EFX.   It was decided by the court that they made invalid claims that this product could achieve rapid weight loss and reduced risk of osteoporosis.  In addition to the fines, the company may have to give money back to purchasers — if they don’t go broke.

There are still many products on sale that claim properties that would be difficult to substantiate and it may be that some will take heed of this judgement.  The situation is less extreme in the UK but the problem still exists.

Paul Dillet Starts New Bodybuilding & Fitness Organisation

Paul Dillett has given his name to another new Bodybuilding & Fitness organisation which will be based in Canada.  It will have professional contests and primarily he wants to give professional opportunities for Canadians.    This is all very well but Canada does not have a large population and it is very big — in fact it is bigger than China but has 1/40th of the population. He may seek an affiliation with the PDI being run by Wayne deMilia.   He will not be very popular with the IFBB.