Kenya's biggest bodybuilding show returns to Mombasa at Mombasa Sports Club Dec 12–13, 2025. KES 2.5M prize pool, 10 categories including new Masters Men division, and athletes from 54 countries.
TL;DR: The Mr. 001 Bodybuilding Show 2025 is set for December 12–13 at Mombasa Sports Club after a four-year hiatus, offering KES 2.5 million in cash prizes and attracting competitors from 54 African countries. Registration opened on August 18 at KES 3,000. Late registration runs from September 19–30 at KES 4,000. The event will feature ten categories, including the newly introduced Masters Men division, alongside open bodybuilding, bikini, figure, and physique divisions, plus weightlifting competitions.
Jump to Sections:
After the disappointing cancellation of the Mr & Miss East Africa Bodybuilding Contest, the African bodybuilding community has something major to look forward to. The Mr. 001 Bodybuilding Show 2025 in Mombasa is returning this December, shaping up to be Africa's biggest bodybuilding competition of the year.
The event will take place a week after the IronFit Classic 2025, giving local athletes competing in both events ample time to travel to Mombasa.
Similar to many local bodybuilding competitions, Mr. 001 has been on hiatus since 2021. The break was attributed to financial difficulties brought on by the pandemic, which made it challenging to secure sponsors. However, this year's return promises to exceed all previous editions, attracting competitors from 54 African countries with an estimated KES 2.5 million in total cash prizes. This makes MR 001 one of the most lucrative bodybuilding contests in East Africa.
When: December 12-13, 2025
Where: Mombasa Sports Club, Mombasa, Kenya
Prize Pool: KES 2,500,000 total
Scope: Continental African competition
Categories: 10 competitive divisions
The two-day format aligns with major international competitions like the Olympia and Arnold Classic, featuring separate pre-judging and finals days. This structure gives athletes ample time to make improvements between rounds compared to back-to-back pre-judging and finals formats.
Registration opened on August 18, 2025, and athletes can register at www.mr001championship.com/mr001.
Pro tip: That KES 1,000 difference between early and late registration could fund an extra week of quality meal prep. Register early and invest those savings back into your contest preparation.
Registration is open to athletes across Africa, making the Mr. 001 bodybuilding event a gateway for those aiming to compete in pan-African and international bodybuilding competitions.
The Mr. 001 bodybuilding show features ten categories to accommodate athletes across different disciplines:
Each category will feature its own prize structure, creating multiple opportunities for athletes to earn recognition and cash rewards across the KES 2.5 million prize pool.
The 2021 Mr. 001 Men's Physique competition champion, Hanif Physique, will be looking to retain his title after a four-year hiatus, setting up what promises to be an exciting comeback story. Unlike other top Men's Physique athletes, such as Josey Antonio Kabugi — aka Joe Ripper — who claimed victory at last year's MMEA, Hanif has not competed in a major African event since 2021, making his return to Mr. 001 even more anticipated by fans and fellow competitors.
Meanwhile, Philip Guya, the reigning 2024 MMEA Classic Physique champion, will step onto the MR 001 stage looking to defend his reputation as East Africa's top Classic Physique athlete.
For female competitors, 2024 MMEA Wellness Division champion Caren Namenya Mulyanga, aka the Muldibo, is expected to make a strong showing, and potentially dominate her category at the Mr. 001 bodybuilding show.
Unlike MMEA's regional focus, the Mr. 001 bodybuilding event brings a pan-African field of competitors, raising the bar for fans and posing a greater challenge for local athletes across all categories.
Still, with KES 2.5 million in total prize money, athletes have strong incentive to invest in contest preparation, travel, and accommodation.
The return after a four-year break also suggests that organizers have used the time to secure stronger funding and sponsorship partnerships, ensuring a professional event experience that matches the prize pool's ambitions.
Success at the Mr. 001 bodybuilding show 2025 will carry significant weight across African bodybuilding communities, potentially opening doors to international competition opportunities and sponsorship deals.
The local bodybuilding scene has faced numerous challenges recently, making MR 001's return particularly significant for the African fitness community. The competition fills a crucial gap left by other cancelled events and provides athletes with the high-level platform they've been seeking.
This bodybuilding event's success could establish a new standard for continental bodybuilding competitions, demonstrating that African contests can offer world-class prize money and attract international attention.
Registration opened August 18th, 2025
Don't let this opportunity pass by—the African bodybuilding community is watching, and December 12-13 in Mombasa, Kenya, is where legends will be made at the Mr. 001 Bodybuilding Show 2025.
Continue reading with these related fitness and health articles
Join the conversation!
Share your thoughts on "MR 001 Bodybuilding Show 2025 set for December 12-13 in Mombasa Kenya" below.