Manx bodybuilder Danny Hands has spoken of his pride at achieving professional status alongside his wife Christie.
Danny was awarded his Physical Culture Association pro card after winning an event in the Netherlands.
Becoming the first male PCA pro card holder from the island, Danny follows Christie in achieving the status which the team have worked so hard to achieve.
He told Manx.News: “My first attempt at a PCA Pro Card was alongside Christie at PCA Universe last year, where I finished 3rd in my class and was miles off.
“Since then I’ve pushed harder than ever, adding 7.5kg of new muscle in just 16 months to make sure it was a completely different Danny stepping on stage this time.”
Mr and Mrs PCA
Having had to qualify at a regional show before being invited to a qualifier event, Danny came second in Wales just over two weeks ago, with the event in the Netherlands representing his final chance of the year.
He said: “I told myself after Wales if I didn’t win it in Venlo, Netherlands, then it wasn’t meant to be this year! So one final go and it paid off.
“Doing this alongside Christie makes it even more special. She inspires me every single day with her relentless drive to be better, and becoming ‘Mr & Mrs PCA Pro’ together has been our dream since she won her Pro Card last year.”
He said that not only was he driven on by Christie, but by a promise to succeed he made to his grandad.
Day in, Day out
While the dedication is clear to see for anyone who looks at Danny, he described the “day-to-day life of a pro athlete, never skipping a meal, a step, a workout or a cardio session” that he and Christie have committed to.
“Ramming food in when I was physically sick, to Christie and I training every day in Thailand on our honeymoon, sacrificing so many social events along the way… here we are.”
He added: Huge thanks to my coach Jake for believing in me back in 2022 when this felt impossible, to Per4m Better for fuelling every session and supporting my health, and to Prime Performance and Carrefour Health Clubs for providing the facilities that made this possible.”
Danny said that he and Christie will be taking some time to focus on their business and enjoying “normal life, pizza and cakes”, but already have an eye on their next goal of an International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation Pro Card in 2027.
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