M.E EDITOR’S LETTER
BEAT THE ODDS
I
called up Shanti Mitchell from my
cellphone while walking to the car about
three weeks before the IFBB SAs. I said:
“Shanti, I would like to do a workout shoot
with you in two weeks.” He was amazed that
I had called him, but obviously he made
himself available for the shoot.
Two weeks passed and he pitched up at the
venue. A shy guy, clearly in incredible shape,
and quite uncertain about what was about
to unfold. I told him to relax and believe in
himself, and that the photographer and I would
guide him and that he would be great. Then
he went to go get changed and walked back
topless toward the weight rack where we were
standing. I looked at him and said: “Shanti, you
are going to win at the IFBB SAs.”
About an hour into the photo shoot and after
he was sweating, his skin-ripping pump getting
stares from the whole gym, I got a phone call
from another bodybuilder – someone who
would also be standing on the IFBB stage the
following week. Although not in the same
division, this other guy asked: “So, how does
he look?”
I responded: “Bro, Shanti is looking amazing
and his symmetry and proportions are going to
make everyone stop and take notice.” I am by
no means a wizard who predicts the future, but
one thing was abundantly clear - standing in
front of me was a very gifted bodybuilder, who
a week later would be named the best in SA.
As you’ll see in the cover feature we did
with him, it has been a very long journey for
Shanti. And that is precisely why I’m spending
so much of this editor’s letter talking about
him – because when he was told he would
make the cover this issue he was shocked and
humbled, he never expected it. He literally had
to take a few moments to gather himself as he
was so overwhelmed. A few years ago he was
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considering stopping, contemplating packing it
all up. Imagine that?
How relevant is that to all of us? Sometimes
the odds are stacked so highly against us
that no matter what we do or how hard we
try, it seems like we just never succeed. It is
disheartening and depressing. Shanti was told
show after show that he had potential, but he
had to dial in his condition. He was justifiably
plagued with the thought: “But what else am I
supposed to do!”
It was then that he put his head down,
hired Marius Dohne, and gave it everything,
once more – but this time he did absolutely
everything he needed to do, while listening to,
and putting faith into, one expert voice that
he trusted. Even so, it’s not easy. Results don’t
always come and one can become frustrated,
but as South Africans like to say: “vasbyt”. The
rest is history.
Let’s all take a leaf out of Shanti’s book. Set
a goal. Believe in it. Then remember this: how
great you become depends on how much you’re
prepared to fail. You can only stand up if you
have fallen down, and if you stay down then this
wasn’t meant for you. Winners stand back up,
learn from their mistakes, and continue to fight
for what they believe is truly theirs – just do it
with dignity and respect for others. Arrogance is
the surest way to make people line up and wait
for you to fail.
Looking abroad, Phil Heath made it number 4.
Is anyone brave enough to predict Phil losing in
the next two years? Email me if you are: devlin@
muscleevolution.co.za.
The man is truly remarkable and deserves all
the plaudits he receives. Even when he was not
on his A-game physically he was still the king.
He truly is ‘The Gift’. Kai remains a phenomenal
athlete and Shawn Rhoden will be the one
knocking hardest on the door in a few years if
nothing else changes drastically. Then there’s
Dennis Wolf – the guy was so cut he should
have got a Band Aid endorsement! And Dexter –
come on! Surely that guy is superhuman to stay
up there for so many years! The Mr Olympia was
onc e again so exciting for everyone who loves
this sport, and we’re very excited to run a report
on this year’s 50th edition.
In addition, we’ve packed the mag with
muscle-building, skin-splitting content for the
serious bodybuilding fan. Until next time, keep
on keeping on... every rep counts.
Devlin
PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Andrew Carruthers
EDITOR
Devlin Brown
MANAGING EDITOR
Pedro van Gaalen
ART DIRECTION & DESIGN
Tanja Schmitz
Christian Nel
ADMINISTRATION
Kate Rodney
ONLINE EDITOR & FEATURES WRITER
Melanie Heyns
ADVERTISING
Vinesh Nair
[email protected]
011 791 3646
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Gary Phillips, Soulby Jackson, Michael
Palmer, Richard Cook, Robynne Fitzpatrick,
Slade @ Pure Studio, Cindy Ellis, Cadmus
Photography, Isaac Hinds
CONTRIBUTORS & ADVISORY
Anthony Roberts, Mario van Biljon,
Chris Fitzpatrick, Marius Dohne, John
Leslie, Hennie Kotze, Johan Boshoff,
Gareth Israel, Tammy Jackson, Marlene
Koekemoer, Shelby Starnes, HJ Lombard,
Shameen Adams, Andrew Hudson,
Louis Bessinger, Jack Lotter, Warren
Germishuizen
THE PUBLISHER
@MuscleEvoMag
Muscle Evolution
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Editor
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