How a maths teacher from Harborough has become a national champion - at bodybuilding

A maths teacher from Market Harborough has added a national drug free bodybuilding title to his trophy cabinet.

Ian Preston-Kleine, 55, walked away with the novice grandmasters men's bodybuilding crown at the UKDFBA (United Kingdom Drug Free Bodybuilding Association) international championships last month.

Ian, who teaches at Welland Park Academy, often leaves pupils wondering why he's got a false tan as it takes a week to wash off.

But he can now tell them he is a national champion after claiming his first big title as an adult, having been training since he was aged 13.

He said: "I can't quite believe I'm a national champion.

"It's been a long time coming."

Ian, who lives in Desborough with wife Karinne, son Sacha (six) and daughter Maéva (five), first became interested in bodybuilding when he saw a Charles Atlas advert as a child.

After getting in shape he entered junior competitions and won titles before deciding he wouldn't take steroids when he moved into the adult age categories.

In 1995 he suffered an injury and wasn't able to train for a long time before returning to bodybuilding.

He trains three or four times a week on alternate days and splits his body into four sections - spending a day each on his legs, chest and back, shoulders and abs, and arms and forearms.

Ian, who trains at Chapel Gym in Corby, went on a zero-carbohydrate diet for between 16 and 20 weeks to get himself in the best shape possible, eating a lot of eggs and steak.

And the hard work paid off - although very few people were there to see him pick up the title in Bedworth near Coventry because of the ongoing pandemic.

Ian said: "Usually you get to the theatre and it's absolutely packed. It was very different this time.

"You could come in with a training partner or a friend but that was it. The audience was very sparse."