After a near-death accident in 2010, which inspired the name of his online coaching brand, Revive Stronger, UK native Steve Hall committed to competitive natural bodybuilding. In September 2024, after a decade of competing as an amateur, Hall earned his World Natural Bodybuilding Federation (WNBF) Pro card in the Netherlands as the middleweight champion and overall runner-up.
Hall recently made his pro bodybuilding debut at a competition hosted by the Swiss Natural Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation, a WNBF affiliate, in Zug, Switzerland. He documented the whole experience, from pre-show meals and ambitions to contest footage and reflecting on his last-place finish (seventh overall).
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Pre-Contest Mindset and Ambitions
Hall hoped to best the physique he showed in the Netherlands. Competing in an Open category of varying shapes and builds, Hall knew the caliber of his opponents, including the eventual winner, three-time WNBF Overall champion Babacar Niang, and runner-up, two-time world champ Ramon Limacher.
Despite recently turning pro, Hall aspired to a favorable placing. “I want to land in the top half of pros,” he exclaimed. As Hall readied for the event, he scheduled check-ins with his coach, Cliff Wilson. Wilson monitored Hall’s physique and adjusted his diet, ensuring top-tier conditioning. This involved fine-tuning water intake, carb loading, and tanning schedules, demonstrating the small details of bodybuilding competition.
Hall followed a strict diet on contest day to maintain his shape and muscle fullness: raisins, dextrose, whey, chicken, and rice cakes.
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Show Day & What Went Wrong for Hall
In addition to his conditioning, Hall’s strengths on stage were the side triceps and most muscular poses. However, his last-place ranking reflected the disparity in size, fullness, and proportions compared to his peers.
“Maybe slight bias toward bigger physiques versus more conditioned slighter physiques,” Hall postulated, considering fifth through seventh place closer calls.
Though it was a disappointing experience, Hall learned something positive from it.
“Natural bodybuilding is about doing your best and nailing everything you can,” he expressed. “That’s all I can do, and I’m proud of the physique we brought to the stage.”
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Featured image: @revivestronger on Instagram
