Shawn Rhoden's Blog available courtesy of Ronnie Coleman Signature Series. http://www.ronniecoleman.net/blog_shawn.php?id=2
Visit Shawn Rhoden's Website. http://www.shawnrhoden.com/
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Good morning good afternoon and good evening, my journey did not begin in 2012. As Toney Freeman said Shawn has been good for a long time but they just didn’t see him.
I turned pro in 2009 after stepping away from the sport I love because my dad became ill with lung cancer in the 2002. It took me going to a show in 2008 to help my cousin with some clients he was working with. While watching pre judging I turned to a few friends and ask why these guys aren’t bigger. They were the same size back in 2002. They all laugh and ask if I could do better, my response ‘helllzzz yeah’. I decided to get back in the sport one last time in 2009. After training for 7 months I entered my first show and won the Delaware State, I went on to do the 2009 IFBB North America winning the heavy weight at 212lbs as well as the overall.
My first pro show was the Dallas Europa Super Show in Texas in 2010 which gave me a walk up call, second to last callout. OK, for all that don’t know me I am very anal when it comes to competition. I stood in the back and watched Cedric McMillian, Bill Wilmore, Mark Alvisi (to name a few) get called out ahead of me. I was happy it happened there because it was a wakeup call that this journey was not going to be easy. I remember saying this shit will never happen again!
Upon turning pro and competing in your first pro show you have no idea as to how good you are until you step on stage with other “seasoned” pros. Your first show is normally a test to see what is yet to come. Went back to the drawing board, more focused more determined I went back to Texas again, same show same judges. This being my second show I came prepared, ready to compete. I went all out, pose for pose against Ed Nunn and Toney Freeman and was able to get 3rd Place and a trip to my first Olympia. It was here I found my motivation for 2012 from Toney Freeman (will get back to that later).
Shawn Rhoden, 2010 Dallas Europa
