Skinny nerd was inspired by Arnie films to get into bodybuilding
Skinny Vietnamese nerd is inspired by classic Arnie films Terminator and Commando to get into bodybuilding – now he’s in the running to be named ‘best beach body’
- A skinny Vietnamese kid was inspired by Arnold Schwarzenegger movies
- Viet Doan, 34, is one of Australia’s most successful bodybuilding competitors
- At 19, he was six foot two and weight just 58kg, but then started to work out
- Now, his shoulders are three times the size of his waist and biceps are 50cm
A man who was once one of ‘the skinniest kids in school’ is now running for the title of ‘best beach body’.
Growing up in Canberra’s south, Viet Doan, now 34, was inspired to become a bodybuilder after watching Arnold Schwarzenegger movies.
At 19 years old, Doan was six foot two and weighed only 58 kilograms, but turned to films such as The Terminator and Commando for inspiration.
Talking to the ABC, he said his family also encouraged him to start working out.
Now, Doan’s shoulders are three times the size of his waist and his biceps are a whopping 50 centimetres.
Growing up in Canberra’s south, Viet Doan (pictured), now 34, says he was always one of the ‘smallest, skinniest kids’ in high school
At 19 years old, Doan was six foot two and weighed only 58 kilograms (pictured left at 17 years old), but turned to classic Schwarzenegger films as inspiration to put on weight (pictured now on the right)
‘You always, as a kid, aspire to be big and muscly. But I never thought I would get to the size I am now or do what I’m doing,’ the modest bodybuilder said.
When he began bodybuilding, Doan saw great success at the Arnold Sports Festival series – named after Arnold Schwarzenegger -coming in second place at Arnold Classic Europe in 2017.
In 2018, he was named the overall physique champion at the Australian festival.
This title meant he earned a ‘pro card’ with the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness.
He was also invited to the 2019 Arnold Classic, held in Columbus, Ohio, and was the first ever Australian to compete in the Men’s Physique competition.
Now, Doan’s shoulders are three times the size of his waist and his biceps are a whopping 50 centimetres
Because they wear boardshorts rather than ‘budgie smugglers’ during the competition, the division has often been dubbed as the title for ‘world’s best beach body’.
Although he loves competing in bodybuilding competitions, Doan said he comes under stress and has had to make sacrifices for the sport.
‘On the day of comp, people think you look so fit and strong when actually, you’re at your weakest,’ he said.
When he began bodybuilding, Doan saw great success at the Arnold Sports Festival series, coming second place in the Arnold Classic Europe in 2017
Months of intense and highly disciplined training is required leading up to a show.
Doan explained that more often than not, competitors undertook potentially harmful practices in order to look their best on competition day.
Some even go as far to deprive themselves of fluids in the days leading up to the show so they look more ‘shredded’.
‘To be honest. It’s not the healthiest sport. The things that you put your body through, the starving, all that excess cardio, the body can only take so much,’ Doan said.
Doan explained that more often than not, competitors undertook potentially harmful practices in order to look their best on competition day
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