Pumped to Turn Pro - Gumataotao Points Toward USA's

Always working out: Bodybuilder Vince Gumataotao works out Wednesday at the Paradise Fitness Center. His goal is to become a professional bodybuilder.

Vince Gumataotao won the heavyweight title at Mr. Nevada, a contest which is part of the National Physique Committee of the USA, on May 12, 2007. Like most aspiring pro bodybuilders, he seeks out hard core gyms when on vacation.

January 2, 2009

With hip-hop music pumping through his iPod earphones, Vince Gumataotao grasped a pair of dumbbells and pumped iron in front of a mirror at Paradise Fitness in Hagåtña.

Gumataotao, 34, is back on Guam for the first time in four years, but the Las Vegas resident isn't spending his vacation doing what most people do during the holidays. The award-winning semipro bodybuilder was working out as usual.

While he has been hanging out with family, he has also been working out at Paradise Fitness every day except on Christmas day -- because it was closed. That didn't deter him from working out. Instead, he went to the beach and ran.

"He doesn't know how not to work out," said sports nutrition specialist Tony Morrison. "Working out is truly his life. There is no way to separate working out and Vince."

Gumataotao said he started bodybuilding for fun.

"People approached me to take it to the next level," he said.

Mr. Nevada

Gumataotao won the heavyweight title at Mr. Nevada, a contest which is part of the National Physique Committee of the USA, on May 12, 2007. The NPC is the official U.S. governing body of men's and women's amateur bodybuilding, Gumataotao said. By winning Mr. Nevada, he qualified to enter Mr. USA in Las Vegas, and he plans to compete as a light heavyweight. If he places first or second in his weight class, he will receive a pro card.

"It opens the doors to sponsorships," said Gumataotao of receiving a pro card. "That's where the money is at. People pay you to do shows."

In order to get a pro card in the United States, a bodybuilder has to win first or second in one of four events: Mr. USA, the Arnold Classic, the NPC Junior National Championships and the NPC National Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships, Gumataotao said.

He participated in the Excalibur Bodybuilding Championships in Los Angeles and Mr. San Diego to help keep him in shape before competing in Mr. USA.

On Dec. 5, 2008, he placed third in the novice light heavyweight division at the Excalibur. He earned the title of Mr. San Diego in the novice light heavyweight division on Mar. 21, 2008.

Gumataotao also competed in bodybuilding as a junior. He traveled to Spain in 1994 for the Junior World Championships. He placed 10th against 30 competitors. The following year he went to the Junior World Championships in Turkey and placed seventh. In 1996, he won Teenage Mr. Guam in the welterweight division.

Oceanview standout

Gumataotao was a multi-sport athlete when he attended Oceanview High School. For three years, he made all-island in football, baseball, soccer and wrestling. He said he was offered a full scholarship to play soccer for Manhattanville College in New York, but didn't go to the school because he missed the deadlines.

"I didn't think about college," he said. "I just thought about playing sports."

While Gumataotao passed on that opportunity, he did eventually go to college. He received a bachelor's degree in criminal justice at the University of Guam in May 2000. He also pitched for UOG in the Guam Major League from 1995-2000.

He also played baseball for Guam at the South Pacific Games in 1999, the year that Guam won the gold medal.

Moved to Vegas

After he graduated from UOG, he moved to Las Vegas. He is now a certified personal trainer and nutritionist.

He said some of his clients include comedian Wayne Brady, Miss Hooter's International 2006 Michelle Nunes, and several Las Vegas showgirls.

"I've seen this young man grow," said Tony Sgro, owner of Paradise Fitness Center. "He really does understand the concepts to be a personal trainer. I've learned something from him being in business all these years."

In Las Vegas, Gumataotao plays baseball for fun with fellow Chamorros. They play in mini tournaments.

"I always wanted to get back into baseball," he said. "(Bodybuilding) is my passion now. Back in the day, I used to do four or five sports at a time. This time I'm just going to concentrate on bodybuilding and see how far I can take that."

Gumataotao gets his motivation from his 8-year-old daughter Carmae Gumataotao.

"She is my drive," he said. "Everything I do, I do it for her. She levels me."

Vince Gumataotao is from Santa Rita, and his mother is Mae Dydasco.

Leaves tomorrow

He heads back to Las Vegas tomorrow and will compete in Mr. USA on July 24 and 25. He plans to visit the island again in the summer.

"You can pretty much do what you want to do if you put your mind to it," he said. "You just have to take one step at a time ... Follow your dream."

Source:  Guam Pacific Daily News