THE BEGINNING
There is so much I could write here but to fully understand who I am and why I do what I do its best to start from when I was much younger. Growing up in a very sporty family I was playing all sports from football to hockey to cricket to tennis and more. I found myself in the gym from 13 years old where I was trying to get stronger for football as I found being one of the shorter kids on the team, strength could help improve my game. I was playing with the U17 team at the age of 13 so strength was something I needed to ensure I wasn’t being bullied on the pitch and letting my team down.
In the gym I had very little guidance and probably wasted the first year and a bit in the gym doing random movements (with incredibly bad form most likely). I then swallowed my pride and asked for help from my eldest sister who is a personal trainer and then I started following a basic program which put me on the right track of seeing progress and that became incredibly addicting.
When I was 17, Playing football started to feel like a chore and I knew the level I got to was my limit and even if I had the desire to try push past it I genuinely don’t think I could have. I remember looking around the changing room at the boys during my days playing for England School Boys U18 team and thinking I am not going to go any further and once I finally accepted it I felt happy with what I did and how far I got. I decided to hang up my boots after my international debut against Australia (won 5-1) and from there I began to pursue bodybuilding.
Bodybuilding
From the day I stepped in the gym at 13 years old to now I got to know about bodybuilding little by little until I ventured into Kings Gym Croydon for the first time in 2018 where I was lucky enough to meet James Hollingshead and Jordan Peters and that day was where my mindset towards what bodybuilding meant to me changed forever. I started tracking my food, my sleep, my training and everything in-between. I had a goal and I knew what I needed to do to reach it.
Fast forward to now (2023 - 20 years old). I am now currently in my off season phase, being coached by Tom Hames and James Hollingshead after competing for the first time in a Junior bodybuilding show (under 24 years old) back in August 2022 where I won my class at 19 years old. I then went on to compete at PCA London 3 weeks later where I placed fourth in a stacked line up with a very good standard of athletes.
As long as I pick shows before October 21st I still to this current day have 4 more years left as a junior bodybuilder. The idea of that excites me beyond belief and I am ready to give this sport everything and take it as far as possible.
my goal
My goal is to become one of the biggest names in the industry and be a very high level competitive athlete leaving a legacy behind which will never be forgotten.
I am documenting my whole journey over on my social media (find my handles below) and also on mine and my training partners/best friend, Marvin Bane, private members site “METAMORPHOSIS”. On there you will find full training sessions, sit down educational content, podcast episodes, members meet ups and even more!
I am very excited for this journey and to have some great people in my circle supporting me though this means the world! I hope you enjoy following along and we get to go through this together :)
INSTAGRAM:
https://www.instagram.com/connorlaunder_/
YOUTUBE: