Turning passion into a sport
ADAMS TWP — William Smolensky turned his passion into sport.
The 30-year old resident of Adams Township has been involved in body building since he was 15 years old, but only recently entered the world of Men’s Physique.
His first competition was the National Physique Committee Pittsburgh Championships May 3 at Soldiers and Sailors Hall, an event with competitors from all over the country.
Smolensky placed first in the Class B Novice field, then won the overall title, which included the winners of Class A, B and C. The classes are based on height. Smolensky is 5-foot-10.
He pulled off the same double-victory May 18 at the Mid-Atlantic competition at the Carnegie Music Hall.
After just two events, Smolensky knows that Men’s Physique is something he wants to stay involved with.
“Even if I hadn’t won, it would have been worth all the work I put in,” he said. “Meeting different people and the adrenaline rush I got on stage, I loved it.
“Men’s Physique, unlike body building, isn’t about simply being the biggest in the competition,” he added. “It’s about being athletic and proportionate. It is the perfect category for my body type.”
Smolensky got into weight training while at Pine-Richland High School.
While a student at Mercyhurst-North East in 2004, he was featured in Muscle and Fitness magazine for being one of the top college bodies across the country.
“I first got involved in body building because I wanted to be muscular. I knew it was something I wanted to keep up with, but at that point, I really didn’t think about entering competitions.
“Exercising, eating well and staying fit had become a lifestyle for me. Recently, I figured I was putting so much work into it, I might as well take it to the next level. That’s when I decided to start competing.”
Beginning in January, Smolensky began a grueling training regimen in preparation for his first competition, which at that point was four months away. He exercised three hours (two weight training and one cardio) per day, seven days every week.
He also stuck to a diet that included a lot of fish, plain chicken and brown rice.
“I didn’t allow myself any cheat meals,” he said. “The hardest part was the low-carb days. I was about dead at the end of those. I used to be a personal trainer at Fitness Factory in Seven Fields. Over the years, I tried different things as far as exercise and diet and I stayed with things that worked for me.”
Smolensky works out at The Training Center on Myoma Road. He is adamant about remaining a clean competitor.
“I feel that I am blessed to have such a modern clean gym so close to home,” he said. “I’ve never taken any type of steroid in my life, but I know people who have. I feel a heck of a lot more accomplished knowing that I did it on my own.”
Smolensky’s next event will be the North American Championships in Pittsburgh Aug. 29. The competition will include entrants from all over the continent.
“What I like about fitness is that you get out of it what you put in.”
