LAST SET
THE PROPHECY
BY NATHAN DE ASHA
UNDER PRESSURE
MY REFLECTIONS ON
FINISHING SEVENTH
AT THE MR. OLYMPIA—
AND WHAT I WILL DO
TO BREAK INTO THE
TOP FIVE.
THIS WAS MY SECOND
Olympia, and it felt totally different
from my first. Last year, nobody
cared about me. I was unknown,
so I could just enjoy it. This time
there was pressure. Some people
were rooting for me to do well;
others wanted to see me fail.
I had done a guest spot in
Northern Ireland a few weeks
earlier, and a few people told me
I wasn’t in shape and was too far
behind. I also put pressure on
myself to do better.
When I arrived in Las Vegas,
I was pleased with my progress.
I had made the gains I wanted
in my quads, hams, and back.
People noticed them. Coming
into the show, I was dry—but I
wanted to bring that full look
because it was the Olympia,
where size counts.
When I got the second callout
during pre-judging, I knew I could
have been anywhere from fourth
to 10th. I was nervous at first, but
as they moved us around during
the comparisons, I saw others
fade while I got stronger. I always
seem to get stronger during
contests. At the finals on Saturday,
I relaxed and took things in stride.
To finish seventh at the Olympia
is amazing. A lot of people told me
I should have gotten top five, but
I proved I could hang with the
best, and I’m moving in the right
direction. Every time you see me,
I’ve improved. Last year I was
12th. All I have to do to get into the
top four or five is to bring 10%
more. Last year I think I improved
by 30%, so I don’t see why I can’t
bring another 10%. Everything is
balanced now. Maybe I need a
little more back thickness. If I can
do that, I’ll be in the top five.
There was some talk about
whether Phil Heath should have
won. As far as I’m concerned, Phil
is a worthy champion. It was
lights-out. Nobody could stand
near him.
A week after the Olympia I
came in fifth at the Arnold Classic
Europe. It was my first Arnold,
and I was sharp. I believe I should
have been third. Shawn Rhoden’s
chest and back weren’t there,
and my front lat spread and front
double biceps took him out. I also
felt I beat Roelly Winklaar on
condition. Still, fifth in the Arnold
is good, so I’m happy.
Prague the week after was the
best package I have brought in
my life. The cuts in my legs
were so deep, you could put
your fingers in them. After three
shows in three weeks, a few guys
were fading. Not me. I’m young
and fresh. Some guys are there
for the paycheck, but I’m still
excited about it all, and I think
you could see that onstage.
The plan now is to qualify early
for the 2018 Olympia. Once you
break the top 10 at the Olympia,
you owe it to the fans to be seen.
If you’re not accessible, you’re
worthless. So I’ll probably spend
three months in Texas, Florida,
and Vegas. My long-term goal is
to become a U.S. citizen. (De Asha
currently lives in Liverpool)
JANUARY 2018 | FLEX
127