Muzi Maluleke places 3rd at the Empro Classic Spain Pro
South African 212 bodybuilder Muzi Maluleke secured a third-place finish at the 2026 Empro Classic Spain Pro, held on June 21 in Alicante, Spain.
The show was won by Spanish athlete Angel Calderon Frias, who dominated the 212 division and secured his eighth career Olympia qualification. Second place went to Jose Maria Mete Bueriberi(Madleman), also of Spain.
Maluleke, representing South Africa, finished third with a total score of 9 from the judges, ahead of Italy's Giuseppe Christian Zagarella in fourth and Brazil's Elivelton Morais in fifth.
Following the show, an emotional Maluleke shared his excitement and gratitude with fans:
"Third place baby, you know. The most important thing is that we keep on improving and improving. I'm quite grateful guys for the love and support you guys are showing me back at home. You know, I'm living in one of my prayers."
The South African reflected on how far he has come, acknowledging the caliber of athletes he now shares the stage with:
"Growing up I used to see these guys destroy the Olympia stage. Now I get to stand next to them. You know, it can only be a privilege. God is great. God is really great."
Competing in Europe presents unique challenges, as Maluleke explained:
"Coming up here in Europe is not always easy. Because you get the best of the best due to the fact that it's easy for the guys to fly around Europe. So that's why we decided to come here to actually get to compete with the Olympians."
With his third-place finish secured, Maluleke is already looking ahead to his next challenge:
"From here, our next stop is Portugal baby. Portugal, Portugal. Lord you are great."
Men's 212 Bodybuilding – Official Top 5
| Place | Athlete | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Angel Calderon Frias | Spain |
| 2nd | Jose Maria Mete Bueriberi | Spain |
| 3rd | Muzi Maluleke | South Africa |
| 4th | Giuseppe Christian Zagarella | Italy |
| 5th | Elivelton Morais | Brazil |
