By: David Robson

Germany's Ronny Rockel is one man admired the world over for his perfect proportion, thick musculature and crisp conditioning.

He is among the top 15 bodybuilders' in the world and always garners positive reviews from bodybuilding insiders and fans alike.

Why is he so often overlooked then? I sought Ronny out backstage at the recent Elite and Professional New Zealand Bodybuilding Championships for some answers.

Click Image To Enlarge.
David Robson Backstage At The 2008
New Zealand Pro With Ronny Rockel.

I caught Ronny backstage devouring a well deserved consolatory donut. Having just placed sixth in a field of athletes' not at their usual best, Ronny, who displayed his best shape and conditioning of 2008, was clearly mystified as to why he did not place higher.

He basically put it down to politics, him not being a US resident as are those who routinely place in the top six regardless of whether they bring their best package or not.

In the following rare interview Ronny shares his recent New Zealand Pro experience and what he hopes to accomplish as one of bodybuilding's elite.

[ Q ] Hello Ronny. Good showing tonight. What are your bodybuilding plans for the remainder of 2008?

I will do the New York Pro to qualify for the Mr. Olympia. It is very difficult for me to qualify when I am going up against the US boys who have names. It is a competition for US competitors' really.

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[ Q ] Once again it appears you were overlooked tonight.

I don't understand it. At the prejudging I am being compared in the first callout to Dexter Jackson and then I end up with sixth place.

[ Q ] You have everything, yet don't often place toward the top, especially at the big contests like the Olympia.

Well this is very stupid to me. When I am coming to compete and there are US boys, it is one, two, three, four for the US guys and the German guy comes behind.

Even though the German guy has a good body, good shape he cannot place. (Speaking of the New Zealand Pro) The US boy does not have good definition but comes in at the top, second and third place.

Click Image To Enlarge.
Ronny Rockel At The 2008 New Zealand Pro.
View More Pics Of Ronny Rockel At The 2008 New Zealand Pro.

I do everything I need to in the preparation; I give more in the training and the diet than the US boy and there is no respect.

[ Q ] So what do you need to do to start placing higher?

I would need to be a US resident and have a major sponsor. This is a US sport, not a European sport.

[ Q ] Is it an option for you to become a US resident?

Not in the next two or three years, but maybe later. This is my job and I give all for my job. It makes me happy and the sport makes me fans, and I want to get the results for my hard training.

Click Image To Enlarge.
Ronny Rockel Backstage
At The 2008 New Zealand Pro.

[ Q ] What is your future in bodybuilding?

My future is to be a professional bodybuilder for the next ten years. I will bring the best symmetry and proportion to the stage and be a good representative of the sport, and I will aim to help bodybuilding to become a cleaner sport.

Cleaner meaning not so much of the massive and freaky physique; I want more symmetry, proportion and definition - a more classic physique. I want to represent the sport for the next 25 or more years and help it to be better.

[ Q ] You are currently a full time professional bodybuilder?

Yes I have been a full time professional for five years and my world ranking is around 14th. And out of the 20 best bodybuilders in the world I would like in the future to be among the top ten.

And I want to be placed highly in USA competitions' not just at one show. I want to win four or five shows' and then I will stop.

[ Q ] The win you refer to was of course at the Australian pro.

Yes my pro win was in 2006 and second place was Lee Priest. And this was not a Muscletech competition. It is okay when Dexter wins like he did here tonight (at the New Zealand pro) and all competitions around the world because he is an example for me; his shape, symmetry, proportion.

Understand I have respect for Toney, Troy, and Melvin and for all the competitors but not for the judging at this party on this day.

Click Image To Enlarge.
Ronny Rockel At The 2008 Australian Pro.
View More Pics Of Ronny Rockel At The 2008 Australian Pro.

[ Q ] What are your main strengths as a bodybuilder?

I know I have the package but the results do not come. I won the 2006 Australian Pro, but now my shape is better and I have more muscle and better proportion.

And I get bad results. I think I can qualify for the Olympia; that is okay. But not these results; for me this is political.

[ Q ] And the New York Pro will be when you qualify.

Yes it will.

[ Q ] Thank you so much for your time Ronny; all the very best.

Thank you.

davidrobson19@hotmail.com

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