Gustavo Badell
DOB: November 3, 1972
Birth Place: Venezuela
Height: 5’8”
Competition Weight: 245lbs
Years Bodybuilding: began lifting at age 18
BIO:
Gustavo Badell, AKA “The Freakin Rican” was born in Venezuela but moved with his family to Puerto Rico at the age of 5. He began lifting at the age of 18 to aid in his boxing pursuits and he grew extremely fast. By the age of 19 with the encouragement of those around him, Gustavo entered his first bodybuilding competition, the Junior Caribbean Bodybuilding Championships, 1991 where he took the overall. At this stage Gustavo took upon himself 6 more years of training and it was at this time that he won the overall at the 1997 Caribbean Championships and earning his pro card. From that point on he competed in many IFBB events but his placings were anything but spectacular. It was at this point, 2003 that he began working with world renowned trainer and IFBB pro Milos Sarcev.It was at this point that Gustavo started achieving a much desired higher placing at the various events he entered, and he has since become a top contender at all the major IFBB shows.
Competition History
1991 Junior Caribbean Championships, overall winner
1997 Caribbean Championships, overall winner (received pro card)
1997 World Amateur Championships Heavyweight, 10th
1998 Grand Prix Germany, 9th
1999 Grand Prix England, 17th
1999 World Pro Championships, 14th
2000 Ironman Pro Invitational, 18th
2000 Night of Champions, Did Not Place
2000 Toronto Pro Invitational, Did Not Place
2000 World Pro Championships, 11th
2001 Grand Prix England, Did Not Place
2001 San Francisco Pro Invitational, 11th
2002 Ironman Pro Invitational, 13th
2002 Night of Champions, 10th
2002 Southwest Pro Cup, 6th
2002 Toronto Pro Invitational, 3rd
2004 Ironman Pro Invitational, 3rd
2004 San Francisco Pro Invitational, 4th
2004 Show of Strength Pro Championship, 3rd
2004 Mr. Olympia, 3rd
2005 Arnold Classic, 3rd
2005 Ironman Pro Invitational, 1st
2005 Mr. Olympia, 3rd
2006 Arnold Classic, 4th
2006 San Francisco Pro, 1st
2006 Mr. Olympia, 6th
2007 Arnold Classic, 4th
2007 Mr. Olympia 8th
2008 Ironman Pro Invitational, 2nd
2008 Arnold Classic, 6th
“Bodybuilding is a lifestyle. It’s not a contest. I want to be a professional bodybuilder all my life, to live this way all my life.”