Bringing the Heat at Muscle Beach
Three women from the Vintage Swimwear category wait to be called on stage to receive their placements at The Muscle Beach Championship. Venice Beach Recreation Center, in Venice, Calif. on Labor Day, Monday, September 5, 2022. (Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair)
During a summer heat wave, bodybuilders gather at the Venice Beach Recreation Center to compete in The Muscle Beach Championship on Labor Day, Monday, September 5. World Gym and Joe Wheatley Productions host the event, with categories ranging from gender and age, to an additional vintage-swimsuit class. Each competitor has the opportunity to pose and have judges rank them by their physique before winners are chosen later in the afternoon.
Some bodybuilders travel internationally to attend this event, regarding it as one of their favorite competitions. For example, Matt Filmer, 47, flew from England to compete for the first time, where he took first place in the Master’s Men Over 40.
Filmer shared his journey through mental and physical struggles and losing 130 pounds over the last two years. He reflects on his achievement, “A little bit emotional. I can only think about my state then, to where I am now. It’s hard to believe it’s possible. I didn’t think I could ever do it, and to win as well,” Filmer said.
This event concludes the Muscle Beach Championships in Venice, California for the year.
