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First place in the 2021 PCA competition is no small feat. And it was won by our long-time ambassador, Artur Haras. We invite you to an interview in which you will learn about the dark and bright sides of bodybuilding, as well as preparations for the competition
You won first place in the PCA 2021 competition. This made you the Polish Champion of the PCA federation. How do you feel about it?
The PCA Federation is a very strong international federation, famous for organizing very important events throughout Europe and beyond. In this competition, there were probably 18 competitors in my category, which, considering the pandemic, is a really great result. The result exceeded my wildest dreams. This is such a crown of this season, although I still have one more start in a week.
Tell us about your preparations for the competition
The preparations themselves were the hardest in my sports career. Basically, apart from exceptions and gyms like O2 Wieliczka or Strong Body Kraków, you had to wander around the basements and train like that. I am mega grateful to the owners of both gyms for helping me start. This season was also mega expensive due to the additional travel to the gym throughout Kraków. However, I am all the more glad that I persevered. Additionally, my coaches, Maciej Kiełtyka and Andrzej Wilczek, helped me a lot, basically motivating me all the time and giving a mega positive kick. The coach is also the brains of the operation.
What are your plans for the near future? Rest or continue working?
As I said, in a week I have a very prestigious competition of the strongest federation in the world: the American NPC, and specifically the Polish Cup. Keep your fingers crossed! Then a break, probably until November and the 1st PCA finals in Birnigham, to which I gained a ticket thanks to the Polish Championship
Who was your greatest support in achieving your goal?
The greatest support comes from the children I work with every day at ZSS No. 4 in Krakow and the teaching staff who support me in pursuing my dreams. The children, although it is hard to believe, follow my preparations, help, motivate and practice as much as they can. Obviously, I am involved in preparations in various forms, so I would like to thank my colleagues for putting up with me. The greatest thanks go to the school management: the principal and the vice-principal. They gave me the chance to work with these beloved children. They supported me so that I would not give up on my dreams and passions when I myself began to doubt them. As you can see, they were right.
How do you combine bodybuilding with your daily work?
As I said above: you have to have such protégés and such people at the forefront, including management at work. Someone will say that I'm exaggerating, but think about how many people, seeing a tough guy coming to a job interview, write him off from the start, not giving him a chance at work? But I simply have a debt here, which I try to pay off every day.
What are the biggest myths about bodybuilding in your opinion?
The biggest? There are a few, but the biggest is that a bodybuilder is a stupid muscleman who only knows how to flex muscles. In this sport, which requires a huge knowledge of one's own body and dietetics, there are more and more people with huge knowledge and horizons. You just have to give them a chance, and not judge them by their cover.
How did your adventure with bodybuilding begin?
It started with a wrist injury, specifically a fracture of the scaphoid bone, when I was still a young tennis player at the age of 17. My hand was in a cast after surgery, and the long rehabilitation forced me to visit the gym often. As you can see after years, I loved it and now it's hard to imagine life without it.
The dark side of bodybuilding?
The darkest side is the health of the athlete. We see a beautiful figure, nice skin. However, preparation for competitions means dehydration of the body, and hydration beforehand. This is probably the only sport in the world in which the athlete on stage is in terrible physical shape
I'm talking about strength, speed, endurance. In most sports, you prepare your life form for a specific start. In our sport, it's the appearance that really tells you about your form.
Thank you very much for the interview and keep your fingers crossed!
