My parents in the beginning, when I started bodybuilding... they didn't know really what it is. Until I introduced my father to bodybuilding, and I took him to all the gymnasiums. And he then started picking up weights, and making his arms strong and so on. And then they started liking what l did!
Especially after l won the first international competition which was the first contest I ever entered. So when I came home with my trophy, my parents were very proud of me, and they said, ''My son, that's my son. ''
My father was a police chief and we had a very strict upbringing because of him being with the police force. We had to be the perfect example. We couldn't do anything bad. And it was kind of an uptight feeling at home because of it. I always felt like my place is America. I only dreamed of coming to America and being the greatest.
And just being different than everybody else.