Steadfast Athlete Ishu Thakur lived up to his reputation as bodybuilding’s rising star by claiming two back-to-back golds in six months at India’s biggest bodybuilding championships for aspiring athletes - the recently-concluded Sheru Classic 2024 and the Amateur Olympia 2023. Ishu, 27, who hails from Bihar, achieved the feat in the men’s physique category in the championships held during the International Health, Sports, and Fitness Festival (IHFF) in Delhi in June 2024 and Mumbai in November 2023 respectively. Ishu is among the few athletes to achieve podium finishes in multiple championships at this mega event, renowned as Asia’s largest health and fitness festival.
Stepping onto the IHFF stage is always exhilarating for Ishu. "I feel an adrenaline rush in my physique when I step on stage," he described, feeling proud to be a Steadfast athlete and part of Asia's biggest stage.
Ishu was drawn to bodybuilding after the men's physique category was introduced in 2017. "It looked very admirable to me, like a dream of every gym-goer," he said, appreciating its realistic and maintainable nature.
Ishu began professional bodybuilding in 2018. "Before that, I was only a person who liked to work out," he recalled. Winning his first show transformed his passion into a profession.
Reflecting on his journey, Ishu shared that winning the Sheru Classic Male Model Search 2019 during his graduation days was a turning point. "I thought that I could take some risks and work on my passion," he said. His ultimate goal is to continue working on his passion and maintain a realistic, admirable physique all the year-round.
Ishu, ace at managing struggles along the way, downplayed any major hurdles. "There’s nothing serious I faced," he said with a shrug. However, he did mention the challenge of maintaining sleep on a low-calorie diet, leading to many sleepless nights. “Melatonin from Steadfast helped me quite well in improving my sleep," he added.
Asked what he wants to convey to the youth, Ishu - flag bearer for millions of amateur athletes - emphasised the importance of consistency and financial stability. "Keep calm and consistent with your schedule and workouts," he advised. He also stressed avoiding drugs and relying on hard work.”
Ishu was all praise for Steadfast Nutrition’s support in his preparation and wholeheartedly thanked the Steadfast Nutrition team. Ishu has been with Steadfast Nutrition for three years and considers them family. "They support us and provide us with a good stage and limelight," he said. The high-quality supplementation from Steadfast has been crucial for my recovery and health.
Asked about his favourite Steadfast supplements, Ishu said he had many on his list of favourites - SteadC - for improved immunity, SteadCreatine - For more hypertrophy and strength, and PlayStead - for better energy and focus. These supplements played a significant role in his preparation and performance.
Preparation is part of Ishu's daily routine and he prepared for the big win with this motive. "There is nothing like the sacrifices I made, but yes, cravings for carbs every hour," he mentioned. His preparation involved controlling his senses, enduring sleepless nights, and pushing through tiredness on a low-calorie diet.
On talking about his source of encouragement, Ishu believes giving his best every day is paramount. "This is my work. I have to do it every day, whether I want to or not," he stated. His drive comes from past experiences and an unquenched thirst for improvement.
Many individuals now want to compete professionally and Ishu's advice to aspiring men’s physique athletes is straightforward, "Keep going, learn from your failures, and never repeat them. Work hard on weaknesses and conditioning.”
He also expressed his feeling of winning gold at the prestigious stage, The feeling of winning gold was mixed with happiness and a bit of dissatisfaction. "I missed my pro card again," Ishu said, but he remains determined to keep working hard until he achieves his goal.
Ishu looks up to many athletes and coaches, with reigning Mr Olympia Ryan Terry being one of his favourites. "He has a proper physique that I idealise," Ishu explained, admiring Terry's balanced physique and symmetry.
His support system includes his family, coach, sponsors, and most importantly, his fiancée. "She has always been my back from my first show," he said.
Before stepping on stage, Ishu focuses on giving his best. "I work very hard for this moment, so zero time to make mistakes and pose good," he concluded.
Steadfast Athlete Ishu Thakur's journey is proof that hard work, consistency, and the support of a dedicated team like Steadfast can work wonders for performance. His story continues to inspire countless athletes to pursue their dreams with determination and resilience.
