Steve Rovella keeps himself, and local residents in shape
He’s 54-years old and he hasn’t lost a single amateur
bodybuilding championship
– in any division – in a year. Of course, it probably doesn’t
hurt that he owns and operates his own gym, teaches daily body
sculpting and aerobics classes and eats a healthy diet that would
make legendary fitness guru Jack La Lanne seem like a junk food
junkie.
Steve Rovella keeps himself, and local residents in shape
He’s 54-years old and he hasn’t lost a single amateur bodybuilding championship – in any division – in a year. Of course, it probably doesn’t hurt that he owns and operates his own gym, teaches daily body sculpting and aerobics classes and eats a healthy diet that would make legendary fitness guru Jack La Lanne seem like a junk food junkie.
“I’m in better shape now than I ever was,” said Hollister resident Steve Rovella, who owns and operates Rovella’s Gym on Industrial Way in Hollister.
In the last two months, the 5-foot-5, 154-pound bodybuilder, who competes in the lightweight division in both open (any age) and masters (above age 40) competitions, captured the U.S. Millennium Natural Body Building Championship as well as the U.S. Nationals competition in Hawaii, and last year he captured the World Natural Bodybuilding Championships in Sacramento.
Despite all the success and trophies, the thing the former winner of both the Mr. California (1985) and Mr. U.S.A. (1986) competitions is most proud of is that he accomplished all of his feats without ever taking an illegal steroids or muscle-enhancing substance.
“I’ve never taken drugs in my life,” Rovella said. “I test clean all the time. I’ve even won a few competitions by default because of it.”
Just recently that happened in the Silver & Black Natural Bodybuilders Championship, which is sponsored each year by the Oakland Raiders. Rovella wound up taking second in the open division event, which included amateur bodybuilders from age 18 to 60-plus, only to learn several days later that the 24-year-old first-place finisher had tested positive for an illegal substance.
“In the competitions I enter they test the blood and urine and have a zero-tolerance policy,” Rovella said.
Rovella is so clean and such a fitness and nutrition buff that he wouldn’t even test positive for drinking coffee. He won’t do it, and won’t even use the protein supplements that he sells in his gym. For Rovella, it’s 100 percent natural and healthy or nothing.
“I mostly eat vegetables, fruit, fish, chicken and raw nuts. I also eat 40 egg whites a day. I will take some vitamins,” he said. “I eat nine to 12 pounds of raw vegetables a day, three to seven potatoes and three to four pounds of chicken or turkey. I also drink a half-gallon of raw juices from cucumber, spinach, parsley and brussel sprouts.”
He believes all his health-conscious diet gives him an edge in the competitions. He chooses to compete in the Natural Body Builders Association sanctioned events only because of their strict testing guidelines.
“They test for everything,” Rovella said. “If they find anything, you are banned for life. Kids need to know that they don’t need steroids to succeed. I’m proof of that. For one thing, they are illegal; for another thing, they can kill you. Young people need to be educated on this because they are our future and last hope for America. If they don’t stop (using steroids), our society will be bankrupt.”
Despite all his experience in the sport and impressive titles, Rovella still competes as an amateur. As an amateur he is allowed to win up to $16,000 a year in gratuities and cash. Ultimately, he’d like to turn professional and donate the majority of his winnings to children’s charities.
“So far, I don’t think I’ve been good enough to turn pro,” he said. “Those guys are much bigger than me. Going from amateur in this sport to the professional ranks is a huge step. Those guys blow me away. I could probably place in the top five if I was a pro, winning would be different. And I’m getting older so I don’t know how much longer I can hold up.”
But Rovella would like to give it a whirl to help the needy. He has always had a soft spot for handicapped children.
“I have a handicapped brother with Down’s Syndrome. All handicapped kids can come here and workout and swim for free, for life,” Rovella said.
At his age, the road to becoming a successful professional is a long one, but he’s just happy to have the chance to be competing again. Four years ago he suffered a major head injury after falling some 20 feet off a ladder during extensive remodeling of his gym. The injury left him temporarily blind in one eye, he lost hearing in one ear and it also caused him to suffer severe memory loss.
“I had to relearn everything,” Rovella said. “It took about two years.”
To keep his chiseled look, Rovella works out up to 4.5 hours a day. During workouts, he focuses on all body parts. As a bodybuilder and not a power lifter, the main focus is on repetitions, not to lift for sheer mass.
“I bench about 275 but I do everything for reps,” Rovella said. “To look at me you’d probably think I was on steroids, but it’s all natural.”
