Bodybuilders are a rare breed of people. What makes us spend hours in the gym? How come we watch our diets to the point of fanaticism? Or test the latest supplement to recover after a grueling and exhauting workout?

It is the passionate desire to look better, bigger and leaner. Better than average person for sure, better than the jock next to you in the gym or stage, better than we were last year. It is our competitive nature. When our T shirts finally give way to our 18" arms, we breathe success but only for a moment then start to focus on blowing them up to 20" guns. When your chest and back no longer fit your shirt, you smile, but move on to the next size. So it is Yumon Eaton, the overall winner of the 2008 Musclemania Junior Universe.

Yumon Eaton Musclemania Winner Junior Division

At a mere 21 years old, he has rocketed to top of the National level of competition. At 5'8" and a ripped 190lbs of muscle, Yumon is a natural bodybuilder that has achieved early success in the sport. Yumon breathed stardom for a day this year then it was back to the gym to curl, squat and bench every muscle to drive for the next level of development.

Before I get too much into the "now", I want to back up to his early days. Yumon started training at whopping 115lbs in high school as a freshman to pack on some size to play football. His high school was small and after 2 years the school dropped football program from the curriculum. He also ran track as a sprinter developing those quads for the 100, 200 and 400 meter runs. He continued his training along with his sports and eventually the bodybuilding bug bit him and he was on the way to competition. By 18 years old Yumon was a chiseled 170 lbs and being profiled by Bodybuilding.com as the Teen of the Week and eventually chosen as Teen of the Year. He began competing at 18. Check out his titles below.

MuscleMania Universe 2008 (Junior Division) - 1st

NPC South Florida Championships 2006 (Teen Division) - 1st Overall

Bodybuilding.com's Best Teen Bodybuilder of the Year (2006)

Florida Strongman Championships 2008 (200 lbs Class) - 2nd

Florida State Bench Press Championships 2006 (Lightweight) -1st

Florida State Bench Press Championships 2007 (Middleweight) - 1st

Yumon has a full plate of activities that he must schedule around. As a fulltime student at Florida State University, the senior in Psychology was studying when I called. Developing his mind is every bit as important as developing his body.

Lumbering around the gym at a lean 205 in the off season, Yumon is seen as the big guy by his peer gym buddies. But he does see himself as extraordinary but a just regular "Joe" trying to be his best. Humility is a trait that describes Yumon. This attitude plus his genuine honest friendly nature makes it easy to like him and want to emulate his behavior. Bodybuilding attracts the curious bystander with diplomats like Yumon.

Yumon's well defined chest

It is obviously apparent though that you can't call Yumon's physique anything close to regular. His back is cobbled into mountains and valleys of fibrous muscle. His chest protrudes fed with veins that look like an interstate road map. Arms bulge. Legs planted on the squat rack like oak tree trunks.

Clearly he has genetic potential, reminiscent of Brandon Curry (also recent Musclemania Winner). But genetics alone will not carry you to top. Yumon clearly understands the value of hard work. My tag line of "Sweat Eventually Hardens to Muscle" is fully implemented when Yumon thrusts the weights in the gym. His intensity has produced his success. Yumon remarked to me that he has tried training partners but usually not for long. A few red hot scorching workouts with Yumon burn like the wildfires of California and most call it quits before long. He also says partners tend to slow his pace down and prevent him from getting the intense pump he needs to grow.

Also many bodybuilders don't lift or can't lift as heavy as Yumon. His power lifting days taught him that size is magnified when muscle are pushed to the limits of failure. Results are obvious.

Yumon Deadlifting 385 lbs

Read his entire workout routine in detail here.

Yumon is committed to competing naturally and taking the Overall Universe title at Musclemania. Next step the IFBB pros. Inspired by such greats as Dexter Jackson and Kevin Levrone, his vision is focused to win.

Yumon is an inspiration to us in the bodybuilding. Driving me to train harder, persevere in diet and stay focused on the goal to improve. How about you?

Yumon not only has the the will to win, but he has the will to PREPARE to win.

Yumon, we will see you at the top!

See more pictures of Yumon here.

Sweat eventually hardens to Muscle".....Scott

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