Learning what sacrifices it takes to win

Oftentimes, people ask me about my younger days and my journey on the way to winning the Mr. USA title. I like to share some of the old stories because it gives the essence of what commitment to a goal really means.

Mr. America Steve Michalik was my mentor and my trainer.

When Michalik trained, the fires of intensity burned in his eyes.

The man was a machine.

I lived each waking moment anticipating the butt kickin' workouts that lay ahead that day and wondering how I would be able to overcome them. I lived by a quote from Friedrich Nietzsche:

"That which will not kill you will only make you stronger."

Surviving the


The key was to figure out how to survive and even thrive and grow on these workouts. It wasn't easy at first, but I was determined not to quit. I wanted to win the U.S.A. and claim a spot in the record books. I was not looking to be fit.

I wanted to be the best.

I realized early that I would have to make some pretty tough sacrifices if I wanted to be a champion. Michalik was not only a champion, but he was the Vince Lombardi of bodybuilding. Win at any cost. Winning meant everything. He would always say, "Train beyond the pain ... and death is your only release!"

It was a hot sunny day in the summer of 1979 and we had just finished a brutal 55-set leg workout. After the workout, Steve Michalik invited me to catch some rays at the beach in preparation for the upcoming U.S.A. On the way to the beach I kept asking Michalik what it was going to take for me to win the USA Championships. What would I have to do and what sacrifices had to be made beyond the ones that I was already making?

Steve was quiet. He just kept looking out the window but refused to mutter a word. A short time later we arrived at Jones Beach, dropped our towels on the sand, and proceeded toward the water. When we were out far enough for the water to cover my head, Steve grabbed me and aggressively shoved me under the surf. I managed to surface for a moment. I gagged, coughed and was shoved under again.

Michalik would allow me to come up for one breath, and then proceed to shove me under again and again. I frantically kicked and fought until I finally grew weak and went limp. Michalik dragged me from the water and threw me on the beach. As I spit up water and tried to catch a breath, he started yelling like a madman.

"Tell me how it felt to have one breath ... How bad did you want that little breath of air? When you want to win as bad as you wanted that one breath of air, then come back and see me. That's what it will take for you to be the best!

That's what it will take for you to win the USA!"

I never forgot that breath of air, and the rest of the story is history.

I wanted it as bad as I wanted that breath of air.

I wanted it enough to make the necessary sacrifices.

By making those sacrifices, I was able to achieve my goal.

To this day I think back to the summer of '79, the summer when I learned what it is like to sacrifice what you want for the moment for what you ultimately want in life!

Fitness expert and Fitness Hall of Fame recipient John DeFendis is the director of exercise and fitness at Coop's Health & Fitness in Anderson and Greenville.