Alex Spenceley started at the deep end when he won a silver medal at the New Zealand championships in his first body building competition at Auckland last week.
Spenceley (18) demonstrated that he has a future in the sport when he came second in the teenage section at the national championships.
He was scheduled to make his competitive debut at the South Island championships in Christchurch last month but it was cancelled because of the earthquake.
Spenceley has trained at the Body Synergy Gymnasium for the past 18 months and is coached by Rowan Ellis.
He first showed he had the competitive temperament when he was runner-up at the New Zealand secondary schools karting championships when he was a pupil at Logan Park High School.
He was also third at the South Island Schools championships.
Ferg d'Ardis of Dunedin, who is coached by Glenn Morton at the Olympic Gymnasium at Mosgiel, finished third in the tall novice athlete event.
