Mendiola wins medal in Hawaii

Donivan Mendiola holds the CNMI flag with the third place medal around his neck the morning after the competing in the 2017 NPC Shawn Ray’s Hawaiian Classic held last Nov. 4 at the Honolulu Convention Center in Hawaii. (Contributed Photo)

Donivan Mendiola claimed the bronze medal in the 2017 NPC Shawn Ray’s Hawaiian Classic held last Nov. 4 at the Honolulu Convention Center in Hawaii.

The tournament was shown live on the Generation Iron Network and NPC News Online, which is considered as the biggest news network for bodybuilding and the ESPN of the sport.

Mendiola finished third behind eventual champion James Tani and runner-up Changdae Kim in the men’s physique novice division. Another CNMI bet, Enrico Valdez, also saw action in the Shawn Ray Classic and placed sixth in the same category.

It was the second straight third-place finish for Mendiola this year and third overall and it came two weeks after he won the overall championship in the 2017 Dee Clayton Classic at the Pacific Islands Club Saipan’s Charley’s Cabaret. He also placed third in this year’s Ikaika Classic at the Neal Blaisdell Concert Hall in Honolulu, Hawaii and in the 2016 Michelob Ultra Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships, and International Invitational.

Mendiola said the Shawn Ray Classic was the biggest and hardest event that he competed in as it attracted a total of 285 international bodybuilders.

“The show was huge. I went up against people who were like 30 lbs heavier than me. But I still managed to place in the Top 3,” the CNMI bodybuilder said.

Mendiola, in a Facebook interview with the Saipan Tribune, added his third-place finish was worth the sacrifice and hours he spent in the gym to prepare for the event. “There was no weight division in my category so I went up against guys who are over 200 lbs.”

“I weighed 176.0 lbs the night before the competition, lighter compared to my opponents. I ended up over 30 lbs lighter than my opponents, but I’m happy with [placing third] because I was able to beat some of the top guys in the sport, not just in my weight division but in bodybuilding overall.”

He was hoping to rule his division but he saw that he was up against a challenging field. His third place award, however, motivated him to work harder to either finish higher next time like what his coach Derek Cutting accomplished (second place) in the Stingrey Classic in Hawaii.

Mendiola said he was pumped up and excited once he stepped on the stage despite seeing the other contestants bigger than him. “I knew for a fact that I have a slight advantage in conditioning and my posing for the judges.”

“I also have the better-toned leg muscles compared to them. I just stayed confident no matter who I’m against or wherever stage I’m about to step into. I didn’t get intimidated after seeing that they were over 6 feet and 200 lbs than me. I just prayed for guidance and strength.”

His next competition is the 2017 Michelob Ultra Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships, and International Invitational on Nov. 17 at the Leo Palace Resort in Yona, Guam.