Story: Lisa Swift | Photo: Rohan Francis
Legendary Burngreave body builder, Lloyd Stewart, has brought home the trophies again, winning two world titles in 2013.
After opening a show in Huddersfield, Lloyd was invited to compete in Miami, America, where he claimed the Masters over-60’s title. Just weeks later, he went on to Paris to win the Natural Physique Association (NPA) World Championships title.
Lloyd has been competing in natural body building since 1987. He has travelled all over the UK and Europe, winning hundreds of trophies in his career. Lloyd explained,
“There’s no drugs in natural body building. It’s all diet and training. I start preparing for competition in April and I’ll keep to the diet until the end of November. I drink a lot of water and weigh the food I eat. It’s worth it when you look good on the stage.”
From the age of 17, Lloyd was a boxer but, after more than 10 years, he was forced to give it up due to a shoulder injury. It was while working as head doorman at Josephine’s nightclub that someone set down the challenge to take up body building.
“This body building guy had said, ‘tell Lloyd if he ever gets up on stage I’ll blow him away.’ There was nothing to him, so I trained and practiced a few poses and the next year, when he was defending his title, I was there, and I won. I haven’t stopped since.”
Lloyd runs his own gym on Carwood Road, near Carlisle Street, which has been the training ground of other champions, and he is happy to share is knowledge with the next generation,
“Lloydies Gym is different. People come from all over Sheffield to train here because it’s friendly and relaxed. There’s no aggression or showing off. Young and old train together and I’m happy to help people out.”
After a short break for Christmas, Lloyd is now thinking about the start of the next training season,
“I’m 65 this year, but do I look like a person who will sit around twiddling my thumbs and doing nothing? My son would say ‘the only time Dad is happy is in the gym.’”
Lloydies Gym is open 6 days a week, Monday to Saturday – tel 261 7767. New members are welcome to come and have a free trial before joining.