Jim Georgiou Q&A: “Without routine, I would fall apart”

Jim Georgiou talks bodybuilding injuries, mentality, routines, sacrifices, social media pressure and why he still trains with the same intensity decades into the sport

By Gary Chappell

JIM GEORGIOU has built a reputation as one of the most recognisable physiques on the UK bodybuilding scene.

The PCA Pro recently added a NABBA Pro Card to his collection and continues to compete at a high level despite injuries, wear and tear and decades in the sport.

In this FrontDouble Q&A, Georgiou discusses bodybuilding, discipline, grief, routines, injuries, social media pressure and why he believes routine is essential to keeping him grounded, ahead of his participation in the PCA Universe this weekend [May 23/24, 2026].

1: What first drew you to bodybuilding?

As a kid I use to watch WWF and seeing the likes of The Ultimate Warrior, Hulk Hogan, Legion of Doom and others like The Warlord, I wanted to be massive and strong like them.
Therefore that naturally made me interested in weight training and bodybuilding. Soon after this, I came across a VHS video of eight-time Mr Olympia Lee Haney – and after watching it I was totally hooked. So I started buying more and than came across Pumping Iron which is the GOAT of all bodybuilding movies.
The Flex mags too. I never missed a copy. I used to read them over and over to learn as much as I could!

2: What’s your 'why'? What keeps you pushing through hard preps and off-seasons?

Pure self satisfaction. I absolutely love the hard work and discipline that goes into it. I need routine. Without routine I would fall apart.

3: How would you describe your relationship with your body today?

Hit and miss. I’m older now. I have lots of wear and tear. It’s not so easy now. I suffer from Carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis in the knees, cartilage damage, which is irreversible. Both my lower pecs have huge muscle deterioration, which in a lot of front shots ruins my look.
Three ruptured discs on the back but I manage all these very well to the point where I’m still able to keep going.
The good points are I’m far more balanced now compared to before and I have some very good attributes, particularly when it comes to muscle mutuality, density and conditioning – especially from the rear.

4: Was there a turning point where you started to see yourself as an athlete, not just a gym-goer?

I’ve been an athlete since I was six years old. I used to play football and was very good at it. I was semi-pro level but was never good enough to be a pro footballer. I used to do track and field and participated in the 100m, 200m and 400m. I broke every record in Southgate School in those events.
All these sports certainly contributed to weight training and bodybuilding, as my strength and conditioning was at a good level and only got better and better through lifting weights.

5: What’s something people often misunderstand about you, or about bodybuilding in general?

I’m pretty intimidating to look at and most people are scared to approach me. But when they do they are always surprised to see that I’m actually not like that – but only after training that is.
I absolutely hate people coming up to me when I’m training – and especially in prep. These people genuinely have no idea about competitive bodybuilding. When you see someone like that just let them be and let them do their thing.

6: How do you mentally handle show-day nerves or physique comparisons?

Absolutely never phases me. I never get nervous for a show. I’m so relaxed and chilled.
Also, I don’t look at this person or that person. My only focus was and will always be the best me on stage. You win some, you lose some. That’s bodybuilding.

7: What does your ideal off-season look like, mentally and physically?

Back in the day, I use to get up to 320-330lbs. That is absolutely not optimal now for me. I stay a little under 300lbs now and that gives me a decent-ish look with blood markers in a decent position and blood pressure at a nice stable level.

8: What sacrifices have you had to make to chase this goal?

Missed a ton of family events and gatherings through my life. A lot of failed relationships. Silly amount of money spent. But on the flip side I’ve made a huge living doing this too and I'm now settled down with someone, as she shares the same passions as I do.

9: If you weren’t bodybuilding, where do you think your focus would be?

I still do security but I would have probably put everything into owning and running my own security firm.

10: Is there a quote, book, or philosophy you live by – inside or outside of bodybuilding?

Lee Haney
“If you don't train, you won't gain and your body will remain the same.”

11: What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever overcome, in life or in sport?

We’ve all had some tough moments in sports but compared to life that means nothing. I’ve dealt with a lot of grief in life, over the last two years especially.

12: How do you unwind or reset when you’re not training or dieting?

Even in off-season I have a structured diet and eat the same food everyday. I may have an off-plan meal once or twice a week if that. I don’t miss workouts ever so can’t answer that one!

13: How has bodybuilding changed your view of confidence, discipline, or self-worth?

Doing bodybuilding gives you no option other than to be confident and disciplined. I mean, to go on stage with trunks on posing to hundreds of people watching, as well with everything being shared online, you just have to be confident to put it out there. If not then you shouldn’t do this sport. Without discipline you will absolutely never get your best look, because those who fail will most likely fail the diet and cheat most of time. Then wonder why they look how they do on stage – and blame the coach!

14: What is your current training split and why?

Bro split. I’ve done every training split there is a d I get on the best with this one. I like to annihilate each body from all angles and rep ranges.

15: Do you feel pressure to always look a certain way outside of prep?

Absolutely not. Because of instagram, most people want to stay super lean year round and ultimately that hinders you from progressing. I’d rather do what’s needed outside prep to improve for the competitive season, rather than staying super lean year round just to get extra likes on social media.

16: Have your relationships (friends, family, dating) changed because of your lifestyle?

A little. When you are so busy in life you do tend to see, or message friends and family a lot less. However ,they mostly do the same anyway so goes both ways!

17: Can you give us one of your favourite prep meals and one of your favourite off-season meals?

Easy one, favourite prep meal is steak and eggs. Favourite off-season meal is steak & eggs!

18: What’s next for you; as an athlete, as a person, or both?

As an athlete I’ve got a few shows I will doing in the near future, the last show which has been planned from day one is the NPC Italy pro qualifier [European Masters] in November.
I’m also fixing up my new house and it’s a big project. It will take several months before it’s fully finished.
As a person it’s simple, be better than I was yesterday!

19: Who inspires you and why? Could be in bodybuilding or beyond.

Oleksandr Usyk. He’s the GOAT. The way he conducts himself in life. Just everything he does, will never be anyone like him!

20: If you could send one message to your younger self, what would it be?

You are going to fail a lot. It’s not a sign to stop, just learn from it and be better.

ALL official NABBA South East images are the copyright of James Lineham Media. These and other images can be purchased by contacting James here: JAMES LINEHAM MEDIA

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NABBA South East 2026 Report: Georgiou dominates but federation still needs wake-up call

From Jim Georgiou’s pro-level dominance to Rita Trotter’s inspiring battle against adversity, NABBA South East 2026 had plenty of highlights – but organisational issues again highlighted the federation’s ongoing struggle to modernise

By Gary Chappell

OVER the past two years, NABBA has been very public about wanting to bring its federation into the 21st century. But regardless of the improvements it has made – and there have been improvements – the machine still needs more oil to run as slick as its rivals.

This was never more evident than at the NABBA South-East on Sunday, May 17.

Nigel Gordon-Rae, below, brings 40 years of experience to the role, but his style can feel somewhat old-school. Communication issues surfaced several times. He repeatedly failed to deliver the key photography instruction ("winner on his own"), forcing snapper James Lineham to scramble to prevent athletes exiting prematurely. He also overlooked posedowns for initial classes and later called for them while two athletes were still off-stage.

Gordon-Rae was, to his credit, at least on top of the misfiring DJ. It is one thing not playing the right track for athletes' routines, but Shaggy's Massive Roadshow appeared not to have a Scooby-Doo when to play background music, or when to play music at all.

That was not all. Some judges even missed the start of the Men's Physique Open class after the break, having taken too long to return. Surely somebody should be making sure every person involved is ready to reconvene. Gordon-Rae, perhaps? Who knows...

Tommy Broomfield impresses in junior classes

Still, the athletes come to NABBA regardless. Junior and Teenage winner Tommy Broomfield will be happy with his two trophies after just four years' training. Arguably the hardest thing for any competitor is bringing condition and Broomfield nailed it here.

Karl Lette, below, appeared confused and surprised when his name was called for second of two in the First Timers. But despite clearly winning on mass, his condition was simply not there, especially in the lower body. Very little quad separation or detail cost him heavily here and he was slightly soft in some upper-body poses. Nail this and he will be a threat.

His rival Chris Anderson, below, however, was razor sharp. He did not match Lette for size, but his condition could not be denied; detail all over. He could do well to bring up his legs and work on his posing, as he came across a little jittery at times, but there was no confusion from this viewer on class placings here. Very well deserved.

Masters Over 45 saw veteran Rafal Kwiatkowski cruise to victory. Plenty of muscle, decent quads – a rarity at this show – maybe a little distension but not enough to nudge him out of first place.

Local hero Phil Parsons is a proper showman. Great routine, likes to get the crowd going during judging, very confident. Condition, particularly in the lower body, would certainly see him place higher.

The Over 60s produced some vocal crowd reaction. John Swaby won clearly in strong shape, but when Nick Pappa placed third, heckles of "Judges, you need your eyes tested" and "absolute rubbish" rang out. Paid spectators are entitled to their opinions, even if strongly expressed.

Robert Fraser dominates the Novice category

Robert Fraser stole the Novice category from the get-go. Fraser boasts great shape and structure, had striated glutes – pretty much the sharpest on show on the day – and excellent condition.

Joe Bourne, below, won a tough Men's Classic. Great shape, lots of tissue, sharp condition. Not a lot wrong. Runner-up went to Nick Smith; superb classic shape, tiny waist and arguably the best posing of the day. What let him down was lower-body condition – so often the case here. Quads separated but not sharp enough to be awarded victory. He did, however, beat Fraser, who could count himself slightly unlucky to place third, although he was far less a Classic shape than Smith.

James Morris, who went on to win Class 3, was unlucky to miss out on placing here. He had good legs, great, deep insertions, strong condition – could perhaps flex the glutes more in his rear shots – but had no obvious weak points and had a good overall physique.

The wardrobe malfunction in the Men's Physique Over 45 saw Over 60s winner Swaby return to the stage in his posing trunks – and not in the required shorts associated with this class. How do you judge someone in Men's Physique without the correct stagewear? Just don't look at their quads, perhaps?

As lean and conditioned as Swaby was to win the 60s, he did not have the beating of Gareth Jones. Jones carries a load of muscle for a Physique guy and is tall with it. Presence was good, condition strong – so much so that he won both this and the Men's Physique Open.

Female numbers were low, but several of the athletes who did compete stood out. Holly Planson, above, deserves a special mention. A regular at the NABBA South East and training out of Evolve Fitness in Eastwood near Southend, Planson's stage presence is electric. Her opponent here, Jade Costen, probably edged her in some rear shots, with Costen's upper back more detailed, but she looked nervous and only smiled a few times, which was a shame. She can take confidence, however, that this was her first show and that she will undoubtedly grow more confident from here.

Planson had confidence in spades, edged the whole package and looked more accomplished.

BEHEMOTH: The impressive Jim Georgiou

Jim Georgiou looks every inch a professional

Rita Trotter, below, was show-stopping despite being the only competitor in the Miss Trained Figure. Lots of muscle, fabulous definition, great structure – all with no feeling whatsoever from the knee down following a serious illness. That she was not awarded a Pro Card there and then despite taking the overall was a mystery – but fortunately one that was quickly solved when she revealed that later, at dinner, she received a phone call from NABBA officials saying she had in fact been awarded one.

As for Jim Georgiou, what is there to say that has not already been said over the past few years. The guy looks like a pro bodybuilder. Already a PCA Pro, he is now a NABBA Pro and is packed with beef from top to bottom. He had fabulous hamstring definition, bowling-ball shoulders and triceps with their own postcode. Georgiou is, for all intents and purposes, insane.

In fairness, he was pushed by Bourne in the overall. Bourne's shape and midsection was certainly tighter than Georgiou's. But there was to be no Bourne supremacy. He couldn't beat Georgiou on sheer size - but then again, there are not many who can.

As for NABBA itself, given its history, the vibe one gets is of a sleeping giant.

It just needs someone to give it a damn good shake and wake it up.

Pictures by James Lineham. Visit his website HERE

Jim Georgiou Q&A: “Without routine, I would fall apart”

Jim Georgiou talks bodybuilding injuries, mentality, routines, sacrifices, social media pressure and why he still trains with the same intensity decades into the sport

1: What first drew you to bodybuilding?

2: What’s your 'why'? What keeps you pushing through hard preps and off-seasons?

3: How would you describe your relationship with your body today?

4: Was there a turning point where you started to see yourself as an athlete, not just a gym-goer?

5: What’s something people often misunderstand about you, or about bodybuilding in general?

6: How do you mentally handle show-day nerves or physique comparisons?

7: What does your ideal off-season look like, mentally and physically?

8: What sacrifices have you had to make to chase this goal?

9: If you weren’t bodybuilding, where do you think your focus would be?

10: Is there a quote, book, or philosophy you live by – inside or outside of bodybuilding?

11: What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever overcome, in life or in sport?

12: How do you unwind or reset when you’re not training or dieting?

13: How has bodybuilding changed your view of confidence, discipline, or self-worth?

14: What is your current training split and why?

15: Do you feel pressure to always look a certain way outside of prep?

16: Have your relationships (friends, family, dating) changed because of your lifestyle?

17: Can you give us one of your favourite prep meals and one of your favourite off-season meals?

18: What’s next for you; as an athlete, as a person, or both?

19: Who inspires you and why? Could be in bodybuilding or beyond.

20: If you could send one message to your younger self, what would it be?

MORE FROM FRONTDOUBLE:

NABBA South East 2026 Report: Georgiou dominates but federation still needs wake-up call

UK bodybuilding results

The complete guide to peptides in bodybuilding

"I had to save myself”: Former Olympia competitor, 52, shares full prep and comeback from mental health crisis

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NABBA South East 2026 Report: Georgiou dominates but federation still needs wake-up call

From Jim Georgiou’s pro-level dominance to Rita Trotter’s inspiring battle against adversity, NABBA South East 2026 had plenty of highlights – but organisational issues again highlighted the federation’s ongoing struggle to modernise

Tommy Broomfield impresses in junior classes

Robert Fraser dominates the Novice category

Jim Georgiou looks every inch a professional

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