This past weekend, Virginia State University’s strength and conditioning head coach, Dr. Rodney Gaines won the Lightweight Division at the 2012 NPC Virginia/DC Bodybuilding Championships giving him the Mr. Virginia Title seventeen years later. He also placed fifth in the Masters 40-49 division at the state championships at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA.

Dr. Gaines placed fifth in the Men’s Masters Division that featured athletes between the ages of 40-49. At the age of 45, Dr. Gaines is having his best year competing in seventeen years, after winning nine titles. This was his third attempt to win this version of Mr. Virginia, which is becoming the toughest division to compete in. He was awarded Swords as seen in the picture.

“It has been a great run. I have learned so much about myself over the last 5 months when I started back competing. It is my wish that my bodybuilding success will be a springboard for the VSU Football, Volleyball, and Cross Country teams. As a coach I personally have had the opportunity at 45 years of age to relive discipline, focus, persistence, and hard work. It has been my wish to walk out the talk, and hope that by living it, it can inspire my student athletes,” says Gaines.