http://www.wtrf.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=86402The Wheeling native competes this weekend in Las Vegas. WHEELING -- Wheeling bodybuilder Erik Fankhouser is ready for the biggest weekend of his professional life.
Fankhouser, 30, has been a professional since 2007, and has been training for this moment for years.
"To win this would be amazing," said Fankhouser. "Realistically, I'd be tickled to death to finish the top 10 of 15."
Fankhouser is one of 20 qualifiers for Mr. Olympia, which takes place at the Orleans Hotel & Casino on Friday and Saturday. The competitors will pose for the judges for about 15 minutes each night and will find out who wins in the finals on Saturday night. Most of them have a game plan going in, but not Fankhouser.
"I usually just wing it," said Fankhouser. "I just recently picked my music and will ad-lib when I'm on."
Fankhouser hasn't had a carbohydrate for weeks as he gets his body into competition shape. He's been eating fish and wheat, and will step on stage at 220 lbs.
"It's the Super Bowl of bodybuilding," added the former West Liberty and Wheeling Park High School football star. "I'll be on the same stage as the legends of bodybuilding and side by side with the people that I've watched in this before. It'll be pretty cool."
