Tamer El-Guindy is focused on getting his pro card at the ’09 NPC Nationals
By Zack Zeigler
November 18, 2009
FLEXONLINE.COM
Why did Tamer El-Guindy wait until 2009 to enter the NPC Nationals? The Razor has competed at the USA’s since ’05, finishing second in ’07 (middleweight) and scoring a huge upset over Branden Ray to take first in ’09 (light-heavyweight). However, despite the accomplishment earlier this year, El-Guindy failed to obtain his pro card, which is what many believe has pushed him to enter the 2009 NPC National Bodybuilding, Figure and Bikini Championships at the Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood, Florida on November 20-21.
“That competition told me I was good, but not good enough,” said El-Guindy. “Bodybuilding is never a guarantee. If you expect to be handed anything in this sport, don’t compete. But I’m confident that I’ve made the right improvements that will help me walk out with my pro card in hand at the Nationals.”
To leaave no doubts this time as to whether or not he’s ready for the big time, El-Guindy’s focused on claiming overall honors as well as the light-heavyweight title.
“I want to win my class, of course, but the main objective is to win overall,” he said. “Shawn Ray, Johnnie Jackson, Vince Taylor they’ve all won overall and have carried significant momentum into the pro ranks due to that title. I’m going there to win the whole show; that’s the goal.”
On this week’s Pro Bodybuilding Weekly, which included a guest appearance by FLEX Editor-in-Chief Allan Donnelly, favorites were mentioned. El-Guindy’s name was discussed in depth as one of thefrontrunners in his class, which is something “The Razor” views as both a positive and negative.
“Being a favorite puts a target on my back,” he said. “But I’ve used it to motivate and work harder. I needed to train more and get a little bit bigger than I was at the USA’s. My condition was pretty good, but I’ve improved. There’s always room for improvement. Once you’re satisfied, that’s when you find yourself in trouble as a bodybuilder and I’m not going to be satisfied until I get my pro card. My time is now.”
