This man needs no introduction, Peter Chown, 2006 Mr Universe. I was lucky enough to get up close and personal with Pete, one of the nicest guys in bodybuilding, to find out what drives the latest Pro of the BNBF and what it felt like to achieve his dream.

Name: Peter Chown

Nickname:Chownie, Quadfather, Quadzilla and probably a few names I don’t know about!

Date of Birth:9th August 1972

Nationality: British

Birth Town: Harold Wood, Romford, Essex

Current Residence: Er….same place, haven’t ventured too far! But I think they may change soon

Family: Mum, Dad, two brothers and two wicked nephews Josh and Chris!

Height:5’ 11

Off season Weight:Usually get up to around 17st but I am managing to stay pretty lean this time and currently weigh between 15st 7lb and 16st

Competition Weight:14st 7-10lb

Where do you currently train?
Muscle Limit, Enfield. LA Fitness, Piccadilly and Fitness 2000, Tenerife

Contest history?
I started competing in 1991 as a junior and the first show I entered was the ANB South East which I won. My big wins of my career so far are the 1992 Junior British and European Champion, 1998 European Heavyweight Champion, 2005 World Heavyweight Champion and 2006 Natural Mr Universe Tall class and Overall Champ and Pro card winner.

Training split?
I train six days a week, splitting the body over 3 days, chest/arms, back/shoulders and then legs, and then repeat the second half of the week.

Favourite body part to train?
I love training legs but have a bit of a knee problem so am not training them very much at the moment. But really I love training all body parts, I just love training!

Best body part?
I guess that has to be legs! I seem to be known for them for some reason. But the rest of my physique seems to get more attention now.

Are there any weaknesses with your body parts that you would like to improve for future competitions?
Oh definitely, my back needs improving especially the lower lats and a bit more detail, my shoulders need more size and my abs need more thickness and detail and I just want to get bigger in general because last year I seemed to find a way to add some more muscle after thinking I had maybe reached my limit. I now believe I can add plenty more. I have sponsorship now from Garnell Nutrition so am lucky enough to use all the supplements I want which I really believe will make a massive difference to my gains. Last year I couldn’t afford hardly any supplements and still made good gains so I’m looking forward to see what this year will bring!

Pete in LA for the Universe

What presents the biggest challenge to you when preparing for a contest? Keeping the head together. I am very focused leading up to a show, I become tunnel visioned and machine like apparently. But it becomes very mentally draining, and you can sometimes take it out on the ones you care about even though we don’t have to do this to ourselves. I really hate this part of dieting so even when I feel like death I still try and lead as normal life as possible so it’s not so hard on the ones you are closest too.

Who are your favourite body builders (male and/or female)?
Dorian Yates has been a massive influence to me over the years and of course Arnold. Mike Williams was always someone I admired as he encouraged me so much from when I met him at the 1992 ANB South East and always called me one of his boys! He always believed in me and hope he was proud of what I have achieved.

Mike Williams

You are well known for your amazing quads. What does a typical quad/leg workout look like for you?
The basics, you just can’t beat them! Squats, lunges, straight leg deadlifts etc. A typical workout would be, squats onto hack squats, then lunges. Hamstrings would be straight leg deadlift to a leg curl movement. Calves, standing and seated calf raises. Basic but very effective exercises.

You recently won your Pro Card and the title of Mr Universe. How did it feel to finally achieve your dream?
It felt amazing but also weird. I had been trying for so many years to win my pro card. It was a relief more than anything. Then I got the feeling, why me, what have I done to deserve this? Me Mr Universe? But I love it now! I still don’t mention it too much to people, which I should do with the business I’m in but I guess that’s just me!

Pete on stage in LA - about to become Mr Natural Universe!

What is your advice to anyone out there chasing their dream of a Pro Card? Keep chasing the dream. It is achievable. I had been trying for years and got their in the end. If I can do it so can others, just believe in yourself. This applies to all areas. I have been on a mission the past two years to change my life around. I had a job I hated that I had been in for years, it was low paid and a complete dead end, I had zero confidence and spent most of my time being depressed! Then I thought I had enough and set out to change it all. Now I have a job I enjoy ( I personal train) all over the place, including a lot of clients in Tenerife, where I actually am while writing this, I have been in music videos, magazines and people tell me that I inspire them in training, and to top it off I have an amazing girlfriend. Life’s pretty good!

Just to be nosey…

Favourite diet food?
I eat pretty basic so chicken and salad. Exciting huh!

Favourite cheat food?
Mr Ben and Mr Jerry all the way baby!

What's in your fridge that should not be there?
This will sound really boring but nothing! I eat well about 95% of the time now and feel much better for it.

Favourite Movie:
Oh, so many! The Lord of The Rings trilogy, Lawrence of Arabia, Before Sunrise, Hero, House Of Flying Daggers, I could go on…..

Favourite Book:
Arnold: The education of a Bodybuilder. A fantastic book that I have read so many times and always inspires me to achieve more, and also the autobiography of the Dyson Hoover bloke, a great read and again very inspiring. He risked so much over the years to realise his dream.

Favourite Music:
I like a mix of music. I love metal like Slipknot, Korn, Stone Sour but also like bands like Snow Patrol, love some classical everything really!

Ideal Holiday?
L.A, love that place! Also I really want to get over to Australia and loads of other places. I love sight seeing and seeing as much of places as possible.

What do you like to do outside of body building?
I love music, films, updating my website (www.naturalphysique.co.uk), I am getting into photography now as well. I have taken some great pictures while here in Tenerife, especially of my girlfriend Mayling and some of her friends, they all do some modelling so was good practice for me. I’ll be at a lot of the shows this year with camera in hand.