SCULPTURED: PO Todd Melrose strikes a pose for the judges. Photo: Brendan Breen

Petty Officer Todd Melrose has the well-sculptured and muscle-bulging body of a Greek God that women love and envious men hate.

PO Melrose, from HMAS Albatross, won the Male Short category at the 8th ADF Natural Bodybuilding and Figure Titles held at HMAS Cerberus on September 26.

The 35-year-old Navy man edged out four other competitors from the Army, Navy and Air Force to win the Short Title.

However, PO Melrose fell ‘short’ in his effort to retain the Male Champion Overall title that he won in 2004. That title went to the Army’s Jason Stafford who PO Melrose described as a deserving winner.

PO Melrose, 35, told Navy News he was disappointed to lose after such hard training and dieting.

“I lost to an Army guy with a better body, but this has made me all the more determined to do better next year,” he said.

The Navy’s oldest competitor in the bodybuilding championships, CPO Kerwyn Ballico, 44, of Albatross, was runner-up in the Men’s Tall category and winner of the Men’s Senior title.

Navy women also did well at the championship, with SMN Chloe Kramer, 18, of Cerberus, the Women’s Tall category and Novice Female Overall category winner.

The 8th Annual Natural Bodybuilding and Figure Titles held at HMAS Cerberus was supported and judged by the International Natural Bodybuilding Association (INBA) and conducted using INBA regulations and the INBA contest format as a guide.

Many past defence force competitors have used this competition as a stepping-stone to the more competitive civilian INBA competitions.

Event organiser, POPT Jeff Kerr, said CPO Ballico and SMN Kramer’s achievements demonstrate how “desire and dedication can enable people to reach any goal.”

“It’s never too late to get your body into competition shape and I encourage people to approach PT staff who will steer you in the right direction.”