Never in his wildest dreams when Wanganui's Darren Faulkner decided to take up competitive body building did he imagine being treated like an international rockstar.
But in his second year and just his sixth competition, the 43-year-old found that adulation in the Philippines last week when he teamed with NewPlymouth's Tamara Merriman to win the mixed class of the National Amateur Bodybuilders Association (NABBA) Asia-Pacific championships.
Representing New Zealand for the first time on the island of Boracay, Faulkner was entering the individual novice international class but made the last-minute call to also put a routine together with Merriman.
"We met on the tour and decided to do it because we had a bit of spare time.
"I'm over the moon, I was rapt even to get the letter saying I'd made the team."
Nine countries had competitors attending, with the two New Zealanders beating out four other mixed pairs including Gisborne's Matthew Matenga, who won the national mixed title last year although with a different partner.
"We'd done the symmetry rounds in front of our motel swimming pool and the night show was done on a big stage on the beach in front of a massive crowd only the top five from each category got to do the night show," Faulkner said.
At the conclusion the crowd flocked to see the winners.
Faulkner said the young women all wanted to be close to Merriman while the Kiwis' hands were raised by one of the big bosses from Tiger Airways, a major regional airline.
"It's quite a big deal over there. We were mobbed by people wanting photos. Treated like celebrities."
Training at Wanganui's Club Fitness, Faulkner started competitive bodybuilding last July and had immediate success at Master's level coming runner-up at the nationals and winning at the NABBA Taranaki and Manawatu championships.
Currently busy with studies and wanting time to bulk up, he said being in the New Zealand team means a more hectic schedule.
Management have asked him to enter more events so he is looking at competing in Gisborne and Napier ahead of the nationals in Auckland in October.
