He has the chance to earn money at events such as Mr Olympia and the Arnold Sports Festival, named after Arnold Schwarzenegger.
It’s far more involved than working out, posing and accepting prize money, however.
Gudgeon will have to bulk up and the couple will need to sort out preparations and bring on board sponsors to give him the best chance of success.
With food, accommodation and travel costs, competing in the sport internationally cannot be done on the cheap.
It is also a joint project — Arian Gudgeon has provided crucial emotional and motivational support, as well as more tangible and practical help.
As a paraplegic, Ephraim Gudgeon needs support for everyday activities such as showering.
The couple will travel together.
They will have to organise staff for the gym to cover for their absence.
“We will just prepare ourselves way ahead of time,” Arian Gudgeon said.
Chuffed about Toronto resultAll that is in the future, though, and right now the pair are still chuffed about the Toronto result.
When her husband’s name was read out as the winner, Arian Gudgeon was relieved.
“I was almost in tears,” she said.
“I knew how hard he had worked, and the physical and mental challenges he faced.”
She also tried to keep her wits about her, because she wanted some footage of the moment to send back home amid the yelling, screaming and cheering.
She said she knew her husband had what it took to win.
The couple have been able to reflect on how far they’ve come.
They had been married only a few months when Ephraim Gudgeon became a paraplegic.
He jumped into the water at Omanawa Falls near Tauranga on Waitangi Day, 2017, fractured his T12 vertebrae just above his hips and damaged his spinal cord.
Although he was in hospital until April that year, he got into good enough shape by November to win the 2017 national wheelchair bodybuilding title.
Ephraim Gudgeon has been clear that he owes a great deal to his wife.
Once they decided to have a real crack at getting his pro card, there was no going back.
He admitted to a few nerves in Toronto but also knew he had worked hard.
“In all sports, but especially in bodybuilding, you’ve got to go in confident,” he said.
They had a fews days’ holiday in Canada, were back in their Gisborne gym by last Monday and Ephraim Gudgeon is hitting the weights again.
“It’s good to get back into training.”
