Africa-Press – Liberia. The Champion of Liberian Strong man competition Thomas Benjamin who goes by the stage name “No Fear” is expected to compete with world stars in Arnold Schwarzenegger Strongman event.
The Arnold Strongman Classic is an annual competition featuring strength athletes from all over the world, determining who is the Strongest Man in the World. Created by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jim Lorimer and Terry Todd, it is an offshoot of the Arnold Sports Festival which takes place annually in Columbus, Ohio, USA.
NO Fear who won the 2022 Liberia Strong Man championship in December will be the 1st Liberian to ever compete in the Arnold Schwarzenegger Strongman event by STRONGMAN CORPORATION.
The competition that involves several strength category will take place from March 2-5 2023 in Columbus Ohio in the United States of America.
Benjamin participation in the competition was made possible after The founder of the Liberia Strongman competition Junda Morris who convince the Arnold Schwarzenegger strong man event to give the West African nation the opportunity to showcase its champions to the world.
Madam Morris told FrontPage Africa that having Liberia compete in such international competition is great for the sports and an opportunity to opens doors for the Liberian Fitness Industry.
She said it’ the first time for Liberian champions to compete at such level but was quick to state that there will be some challenges for him because Liberia do have the kind of equipment in country and no support on proper diet for him to compete but is optimistic of Him making an impact.
In her words the Liberian champions is ready and continues to prepare well for the competition.
When asked how Liberia got invited to such competition Morris Said “I introduced Liberia Strongman Federation to Strongman Corporation as a way to give opportunity to Liberian athletes to further their careers in the sport ,”
“We are hoping that No Fear competes at a high level. We will also use this opportunity to network with various counties competing with networking with international fitness brands,” Junda Morris disclosed that No Fear will participate in the 231 Max Kg Category.
“This is an amateur elite event. In International Strongman if you are not a pro and have pro card you don’t compete for cash. You get Medals. We are fighting for him to earn his Pro Card, then he will be considered top in the World. This way he will get paid to attend events and now can compete for the cash prize Iron Baby and the rest,”
“If Liberians start to support the sports we can have Liberia as the leader in Africa Strongman. We will be able to see athletes compete in the Olympics and around the world.” The Passionate Junda Morris told our sports desk.
The Founder of Liberia Strongman indicated that they have getting the full approval from the Ministry of Youth and Sports as Federation and issue Service Passport to it’s champions but said they will see how the newest sporting federation be put in the national budget.
Yes we have. They approved us as Federation and issue Service Passport but said they will see how the can work to adding event in budget. Right now there is no money but they 100% support the initiative
She explained that getting Thomas Benjamin to the USA is all her as founder and is holing few of her partners and Liberians in the diaspora will help.
“We asking for support of the Fitness Industry in Liberia. This event is an Empowerment event for young women and men in Liberia
“We need about $15,000. 00 to run a successful event, which will be able to give prizes, pay media, promotions, buy belt, Medals and trophies, pay staff, and etc. Madam Morris added.
ABOUT THMOAS SOKO BENJAMIN, AKA, No Fear.
Thomas Soko Benjamin, AKA No Fear, born in Clara Town, Monrovia on March 13, 1988 is a career mechanic who developed love and passion for weight lifting sports in 2018.
He was inspired by Mr. Leo Miller a gymnasium coach in Lion’s Heart gym in Slapway community, Monrovia in 2018, and since then he had made the gym his best friend.
In the early stages of his new gym lifestyle he had a tough competitor in the middle weight class whom he used as a motivation to excel in his new hobby. With persistency he surly became the champion of the Lion Heart gym middle weight class over his tough competitor, Sam Warrs after one year in early 2020 and since then it became his dream to one day become Liberia’s strongest man. Based on that motivation he named himself No Fear.
Motivated by his new achievement he began to explore other gyms in Monrovia to experience more competitions to improve his ability in order to reach his goal.
At some points along the way, it became difficult to balance his mechanic career with his gym life, especially in times that he was unable to afford supplements. However, he never gave up. he kept his mind fixed to his goal and began to win other local gyms weight lifting competitions and grew more fans and followers until one-day in August, 2021 when he was training in UNMIL Gym in Monrovia that he finally met the road to his goal.
It was a moment that Mr. Emmanuel Payne, the President of the Liberia Strongman Federation visited the gym to give awareness on the registration process for the 2021 Liberia Strongman Competition. That was the moment that Thomas Soko Benjamin, AKA No Fear had longed for.
He competed among 10 giants in the national strongman competition that year and came second place with Ibrahim AB Mensah winning the championship in 2021. His motivation grew stronger and he challenge himself that comes 2022 he must win the national strongman championship.
In November 2022, the Liberia Strongman Federation was opportune to register three athletes to represent Liberia in the Africa Strongest Man Competition. Of course No Fear being Liberia’s second strongest man was selected to go along with the champion Ibrahim AB Mensah and the third runner up Terry Harris, but unfortunately, and fortunately, only No Fear Represented Liberia in South Africa and flagged 6th in the Africa strongest men competition. His position qualified him to participate in the world strongest competition in December, 2023.
Maintaining the commitment, 35-year-old Thomas Benjamin AKA No Fear in five years achieved his goal by winning the national 2022/2023 Liberia Strongest Man championship title on December 23, 2022.
Progressively, he has been invited and issued visa to participate in the Arnold Classic Strongman event in Columbus, Ohio, USA on March 27, 2023, while he gears up for the world strongest in Miami, USA, in November, 2023.
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