Grandad with a six pack says 'it's my way of life'

A family dare has turned into an ambition to compete on the European stage for a bodybuilding dad. Gary Ebanks' son Isaac, now 33, who is himself a bodybuilder, dared his dad to enter some bodybuilding competitions.

Gary, from Kirkdale, has been training in bodybuilding since the age of 10 but only started competing, at the age of 52, after his son's challenge. With the chance to compete at the world championships in sight, Gary tells the ECHO he hopes to use his success to inspire both healthy living and hard work - no matter your age.

The 62 year old, who works as a HGV driver, expresses how he's always loved bodybuilding. He said: "Bodybuilding just comes natural to me, I don't have to force it. It's just my way of life."

As for his work ethic, Gary gives credit to his mum, known as May, who raised him and his two siblings in difficult conditions. Gary tells the ECHO: "She was an Irish woman raising three black kids. When I was two, we lived in a rat-infested cellar in Everton and then we moved into a block of flats. We went from underground to the sky and either way she kept it spotless."

The dad-of-three continued: "She looked after us, made sure to make us independent. That work ethic stayed with me". Now a grandad to six children, Gary's hard work goes beyond bodybuilding. He explains that his job often involves lifting goods in excess of 300 kilograms, often while he is enduring a four-month long strict diet.

On top of his job and his bodybuilding, Gary is also passionate about art, particularly contemporary painting. Gary says: "It's something that I used to do and then stopped but picked it back up in the pandemic. I've been offered considerable money for my paintings. But it's just a hobby, bodybuilding is my art really."

And Gary is very committed to his art, saying "When I do something, I do it all the way. It's a way of life". After coming first in two recent bodybuilding competitions - in St Helens and the Midlands respectively - Gary will head to London for the finals with the hope of then being able to compete in the world championships in Germany.

Gary says: "When I started I didn't think I'd get anywhere. It was really intimidating at first ... but I just try and make people watching enjoy it and get them cheering."

At 62, Gary is contemplating the idea of this year being his last year of competing but stresses he won't stop bodybuilding. In fact, he is keen to inspire others to get involved. He said: "It's made my life better, it's given me more of a purpose. I want to inspire others.

"I just want to promote good health and healthy living. It makes you put your focus into something positive instead of something negative. I've been trying to start a business with one of my sons to start a website and business plan together to promote and encourage a better life style.

"Having my family involved is very important to me so looking at this time next year everything will be up and running as well as my art career. I might have missed the boat for life beginning at 50 but better late than never."

Gary claims he's looking better now than he did 10 years ago when he started competing. He says: "It's not getting harder. I have more energy to do other stuff. Play football with my grandkids and stuff like that. How many grandads have a six pack?"