Over 40 bodybuilding is no longer a secondary category. Across the UK, Masters athletes are raising the standard, bringing size, condition and experience that often rivals – and sometimes surpasses – open competitors.
By Gary Chappell
FOR years, Masters bodybuilding was treated as an afterthought. A place for older competitors to dust off the trunks, show they had still “got it” and then quietly make way for the younger lads in the Open. That view is finished. The truth is this: Masters Bodybuilding is now one of the strongest, most competitive divisions in the UK.
Go to any PCA, NABBA or 2Bros show and the evidence is there. The Over-40s are turning up fuller, harder and sharper than many half their age. Far from being a second-tier class, Masters has become the proving ground for dense, mature muscle and serious condition.
Why? Experience, for one. By 40, the average competitor has spent two decades under the bar. Mistakes have been made, lessons learned and physiques built layer by layer. That maturity shows. Where juniors and first-timers often bring nice lines but lack thickness, Masters physiques carry the granite look only years of training can produce.
Take competitors such as Neil Andrews and Jay Davies, both of whom are in their early 40s but who routinely compete and win Open bodybuilding classes. Indeed, Andrews is a PCA Pro, won that federation's Masters Pro British title last season and defends it on Sunday, October 19.
And that is to name just two. You can include in that list the likes of 2025 NABBA Masters Mr Britain Ricky Moore, 2024 NABBA Masters Mr England Nader Zareinoor and 2023 PCA Britain Over 40s winner Alan Carson.
The simple fact is that many of Over 40 Masters bodybuilding competitors are stepping on stage every bit as ready as the so-called young guns. You can even stretch this to the Over 50s, with Sunday's PCA British Finals having to split that class into Over 50 short and Over 50 tall due to the sheer numbers competing.
And it is not just size. Conditioning is often better in Masters. There is less chasing of social media “fullness” and more attention to detail. Glutes, hamstrings, abs – the cuts are there, the stage presence is polished, the professionalism obvious.
This isn’t to say Opens are weak. Far from it. But the stereotype that Masters is the warm-up act simply does not hold any more. Classes are routinely stacked – and stacked with great physiques. You will often find Class 2 bodybuilding categories with far fewer competitors than the Masters. Britain’s bodybuilding backbone is being carried by athletes over 40 who are proving longevity, maturity and discipline still matter.
Federations should take note. If Masters is consistently drawing deep line-ups of high calibre athletes, maybe it deserves more spotlight – not less.
Over 40 is not the end. In UK bodybuilding right now, it is very often the standard.
Cracking article Gary - recently pinged the PCA about o60s - reach that bench mark next year - but they have no plans!! As the standard continues to rise, it is increasingly difficult to be competitive when you are giving 10 years away to the next huge, full rock hard guy stood next to you 🙂
When are you back on stage? Joining the ranks of the PCA Pros?
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