Sports: THE GAME OF MY LIFE – NAC International Mr. & Ms. Universe Bodybuilding: Pinay wins Ms. Universe – By Bill Velasco

Cheryl Nakanishi has become the first Filipina to win an overall championship at the NAC International Mr. & Ms. Universe bodybuilding championship in Hamburg, Germany on Nov. 25 (early Nov. 26, Manila time). Organized by the National Athletic Committee (the international governing body for amateur bodybuilding), the competition attracts the biggest names from around the world, and is routinely dominated by European and Latin American athletes. It is rare that Asians even get through to the final round of judging. Nakanishi, also an official of NAC Philippines, topped the Asian qualifier held in Cebu more than a month ago. The lean Philippine delegation planed into Germany middle of last week.“I’m still floating, but thank you everyone. Thank you Lord for so much blessings,” said Nakanishi, a businesswoman and mother of three.

She first won the Women’s Figure competition for her weight class, then was proclaimed overall champion, besting the winners from all the other weight classes. Figure and Bikini are the two major bodybuilding categories for women.

Nakanishi is operations manager of a car repair and detailing shop, and organizes local and international bodybuilding and fitness events. She is also a housewife and trains as a full-time athlete while coaching other athletes.

“We are so proud of Cheryl, she always has a great attitude towards training and works so hard,” exclaims NAC Philippines president and international bodybuilding champion Patrick Tan, who led the delegation to Germany.

NAC Philippines hosts two major international competitions a year: the Phil-Asia held in Metro Manila, and the Mr. & Ms. Universe Asian qualifier in Cebu. In 2018, NAC Philippines is hosting the NAC World Championships.

“Now this, another history in Philippine bodybuilding industry,” gushes Nakanishi’s coach, legendary bodybuilding champion Roman “Dondon” Cortuna. “Congratulations again, Cheryl. A proud coach here with tears of joy.”

The diminutive Cortuna, competing as a welterweight, won two Mr. Universe trophies in 2008 and 2009, and likewise beat the field in the Arnold Classic in Ohio in 2012. He also trained Joseph Fernandez to be able to become the first Filipino to get an IFBB Pro card in the US.

Nakanishi is continuing the long tradition of unsung heroes in Philippine bodybuilding. Roland Dantes was the first Filipino to be a runner-up in the Mr. Universe, losing to second-time winner Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1969. Dantes later became a movie actor and arnis pioneer, but continued his regular workout routine until his death in 2008. His contemporary, Stan Carbungco, also an international competitor, became the first Philippine manufacturer of free weights.

In 2010, Luzviminda McClinton became the first Filipina to win the FAME World Bodybuilding Championship, where she was the smallest competitor. Unfortunately, her trailblazing achievement was eclipsed by Manny Pacquiao’s conquest of Antonio Margarito in Dallas on the same day. Earlier this year, Loujen Saldo won both the inaugural Muscle Beach in Asia, and also brought home two trophies from the prestigious Fitness Universe competition in Miami, Florida.

The Mr. & Ms. Universe is an annual competition and NAC Philippines and bodybuilding as a sport are not yet under the Philippine Sports Commission. But perhaps Chairman Butch Ramirez and the PSC Board will consider giving Nakanishi an incentive equivalent to what other national athletes receive. She definitely deserves it. After all, this is an historic accomplishment by an individual who has supported herself and her sport selflessly and relentlessly. Cheryl Nakanishi is the living embodiment of everything that is good about Philippine sports.