Ross Caesar received a confidence boost as he prepares for the Masters Olympia by winning a silver medal in Fort Lauderdale at the weekend.

The professional bodybuilder flexed his muscles in the men’s Masters Over-50 classic physique at the Fuze Vitality Atlantic Coast Pro event, which was held at the Broward County Convention Centre in Florida.

“I am pleased with my second place in the Masters over-50,” Caesar told The Royal Gazette. “This particular show was very, very competitive in all the categories so I was pleased with the outcome.

“I feel good and I don’t have any injuries. The body is working good so I give thanks to everybody who has been supporting me.”

The six-times Bermuda champion was among 2,100 athletes competing in the International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation Professional League event, which was held in conjunction with the National Physique Committee (NPC) Atlantic Coast Championships.

Caesar used the competition as a warm-up the 2025 Masters Olympia in Tokyo, Japan, and is inspired by the outcome and helpful advice he received.

“I wasn’t in my Olympia condition but I was using the show as a prep show to give me momentum towards next year,” he said.

“I qualified for the Masters Olympia next year so I used this show to get some momentum going towards that bigger competition and to get feedback from the judges as to what I need to do going forward.

“I want to make the necessary improvements so I can be at a higher standard basically because bodybuilding is a progressive sport and sometimes taking too long off can set you back.

“That’s why I decided to jump into a show this year rather than next year so I have enough time in preparation for next year’s Masters Olympia and can get some feedback as to how the level of competition is now in comparison to 2023 when I competed, and of course the level has improved incredibly.

“The condition of the athletes has improved so as good as I am I still have to make improvements and the good thing is I got positive feedback from the judges as to what I need to do to meet the criteria and the standards that will put me in a higher place.”

Caesar now hopes to secure sponsorship to help cover the additional costs required for the upcoming Masters Olympia.

“A sponsor would be really good going forward into a show like the Olympia and going to Japan,” he said.

“It’s a long distance I will be travelling to compete at such a high level and obviously I will have arrive maybe a week early. It’s going to take time and any additional funds from a good, solid sponsor would be helpful, but in the meantime I am still thankful for the whole Bermuda support.”

Caesar, who earned his IFBF professional card in 2019, competed at last year’s IFBF Masters Olympia in Cluj, Romania, where he claimed a third-place finish in the men’s classic physique.