Ballyduff body builder wins major title

Michelle Taite

A Ballyjamesduff man has brought home gold from the Pure Elite Body Building competition in Kent. Shaun Conaty (27) took Europe’s biggest amateur bikini, fitness and muscle competition by storm when he placed first in his category.

“I picked Pure Elite’s competition because it is regarded as one of the best European shows,” he says.
When speaking about the weeks leading up to the event, Shaun said: “Dedicating your time to any sport is hard, especially at such a high level. You can’t eat out, you can’t drink alcohol and you don’t have much time or energy to do anything else in the last four to six weeks leading into a show. It is extremely hard. It was tunnel vision at the end but, like any sport, with great sacrifice comes great reward.”
He now has European amateur fitness model pro status, and received a Pro-Card, which allows him to compete in the national championships against other professionals.
“I have always loved being active, I grew up playing GAA for Denn GFC,” Shaun says. “I got injured and I had to do some gym based rehab.”
Ever since then he hasn’t left the gym.

 

Fitness and Strength Camp

Shaun began his journey studying Health Studies, Nutrition and Personal Training in the National Training Centre in Dublin. He then opened his own gym, the Fitness and Strength Camp, just outside Virginia, where he has personal training and group classes, as well as online coaching.
He is now planning on competing again in the WBFF on May 27, and the November pro show which will be his first time on stage as a professional model.