Retired Mr Universe, 40, goes vegan, gets more hench than ever - now he's back in the game
Barny du Plessis, 40, from Bristol, has competed in 55 shows in 20 years (Picture: Barny du Plessis)
In 2014, Barny du Plessis made his third attempt at the coveted Mr Universe amateur category. He was 40 – and he took home the title.
Winning the competition was the pinnacle of his bodybuilding career to date and, after he’d smashed it, he decided it was time to hang up his posing pants for good.
Constant training and dieting had left Bristol-based Barny exhausted and drained, He wanted to experience a ‘normal’ life.
But months after winning the title, Barny turned vegan – and says he found himself in better shape than ever.
He claims that his meat-free diet gave him more energy and endurance in the gym than ever before.
With his passion for pumping iron reignited, Barny is now preparing to slip the posing pants back on to compete in Mr Universe 2015.
Mr Universe 2014 winner Barny du Plessis is a GMO free vegan (Picture: Barny du Plessis)
Mr Universe 2014 winner Barny du Plessis is a GMO free vegan (Picture: Barny du Plessis)

Here is his story…