Richard Gozdecki
About Rich
Home and Family
Lives in Leamington Spa, UK with wife Rebecca and son Henry.
Personal Stats
Age 33
Competition weight 106kg
Off season weight 120kg
WNBF Qualifying Show
UKDFBA Championships
2011
Describe your path to the pro ranks.
I had never really thought about being pro, or even considered what it meant. I just wanted to win shows in the UK and get the chance to travel to compete as well. 2011 was only my third year of competing in the sport, I’d only competed in 7 shows before turning pro and 3 of them were for National titles. As a pro I won the Worlds on my debut, which to this day is still the pinnacle of my career.
Which WNBF pro shows have you competed in?
I’ve competed in the WNBF Worlds 3 times now. I’ve competed at the WNBF Europeans in Switzerland twice, which is absolutely the best show I have been to, they really know how to put on a spectacle with packed crowds and roaring atmosphere. I’ve also been to Seattle for the Emerald Cup in 2015 which was also a great show.
What does being a WNBF pro mean to you?
I’m proud to be called a WNBF Pro bodybuilder. It has opened so many door for me away from the stage as well as allowing me to compete for some of the most prestigious titles in the World. For as long as I am able I will always be a WNBF athlete and always do my upmost to support the federation.
Are you involved in any other aspects of natural bodybuilding?
Working full time at Rolls Royce, owning a gym, training myself, working for my sponsors USN and having a family leave me very little time to be involved with much else. One day I’d like to promote a show, but as for judging I only like to look at the legs, so it’s a bit unfair!
Which WNBF amateur shows are you likely to attend?
I’ll be at the UKDFBA UK championships this October and also at the Pro International on the following day. Lee Kemp, the shows promoter puts on the UK’s finest competition and is expected to have some good prize money this year for those traveling from abroad.
Will you be competing in the 2015 Worlds in Atlantic City?
Unfortunately I will be taking the rest of the year off to concentrate on other things. Mainly my family and my gym as these are the most important things in my life and two things that suffer when I diet for competition. I think 2016 will be a different story.
What are your competitive goals?
I have no way near reached my potential in the sport. I’ve never really hit peak condition without sacrificing muscle and I’ve never competed at by biggest without holding fat/water from carb loading. As long as I can continue to compete at a high level, keep getting better each time I compete and keep enjoying what I’m doing then I can see myself competing for a long time to come. I wouldn’t mind winning that WNBF Overall again one day, that was really something special.