@billmaeda: My Only Bodybuilding Competition - age 24, September 28, 1993 In this video I was so terrified that my mind went blank, and watching this after all these years is like watching someone else. A few months ago my friend sent me this super grainy, low resolution video that he found on an old hard drive and I was blown away because all my VHS originals had died long ago. This was the 1993 NPC Gold’s Classic Natural Bodybuilding show held at the old Pacific Beach hotel, now the Alohilani Resort. I was working part-time with Marcus at the old Gold‘s Gym on Kapiolani Boulevard where 24 hour Fitness is now located, and he and some guys at the Gym thought it would be funny for me to enter the show on short notice. I was way too self conscious to consider competing in bodybuilding, but Marcus and the guys at the gym felt I could win the show in the shape I was currently in. We only had three weeks until the show, but Marcus and my wife Leslie worked day and night to get me ready. I knew nothing about posing or how to diet, but Marcus brought me up to speed FAST, and he also choreographed and taught me my routine. Because I was in the Heavyweight division, Marcus, Leslie and I were able to practice my routine, but I was so nervous I kept screwing it up. The more we drilled, the worse it got so we caught our losses and sat down while Leslie rubbed my hand and arm. After an endless wait, it was finally my turn, and what you see here is the only time I ever did the routine the way Marcus planned. When it was over, I just about ran off the stage, but I won the heavyweight division and came in second overall. Even though I had a good reason to be nervous, I have always struggled with anxiety, and on this day I learned that Leslie had some magical ability to soothe and calm me down, so I married her. These were some great times, and I’d like to thank Marcus for having my back, then and now. Aloha

Bill Maeda

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Wednesday 30 September 2026 08:23:31 GMT