Bodybuilder Min Zaw Oo flexes during the Mr Crusher competition on July 11. He finished sixth overall in the event, which was won by Aung Khine Win.

THE Myanmar Convention Centre was an orgy of grunts, grins and grimaces last week, as 15 bodybuilders vied for the title of Mr Crusher.

Just when the crowd thought they’d seen it all, Aung Khine Win stole the show – and the title – performing the splits with the dexterity of a gymnast and showing off his double biceps in the process.

It was enough to secure one of the most prestigious titles on the local bodybuilding circuit.

After the performance, Aung Khine Win told The Myanmar Times he pulled off the move solely to entertain the crowd.

Indeed, the competition on July 11 wasn’t as strong as in previous years, which allowed Aung Khine Win to focus more on the audience than his opponents.

“Aung Swe Naing, my regular rival, wasn’t completely fit for this competition. Also, Mr Myanmar, Khine Lin, did not participate and most of the competitors were from the younger generation. So, I did not have to exert myself too much in this competition,” said the 73 kilogram Aung Khine Win.

His national team counterpart, the 80kg Aung Swe Naing, managed to snatch second place, while 65kg Kyaw San Maung finished third.

The competition also featured the Mr Myanmar (junior) titleholder, Aung Chan Lin, and the event’s tallest competitor, 83kg Naing Wai Win.

As expected, the competition was not as intense as the Mr Myanmar contest and most of the bodybuilders took it easy on the more difficult poses, such as the thigh abdominal pose.

Both Aung Khine Win and Aung Swe Naing put in what could be described as professional performances, performing the seven required poses neatly.

Newcomer Kyaw San Maung beat out the rest of the competition, showing off excellent muscle fibres.

“I am satisfied with my front double biceps pose but I was a bit weak in side triceps. Moreover, I am also weak in body shape, so I wasn’t surprised to finish in third place,” Mandalay’s Kyaw San Maung said.

Mr Myanmar (junior) Aung Chan Lin said he was satisfied with seventh position.

Thirteen competitors took part in the Mr Star Cola junior bodybuilding event, with 62kg Tun Win Naing finishing first, 60kg Myo San Lwin second and 60kg Sit Naing Aung back in third.

“In the competition, I thought that Sit Naing Aung was my biggest threat but he could only finish third,” Tun Win Naing said.

U Pyar beat out 11 other competitors to take the over-50s bodybuilding title, followed by U Khun Maung Maung and U Than Aye.