More than 1,000 amateur bodybuilders converged in New Jersey over the weekend, competing for a chance to go pro

TEANECK, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — They are teachers and lawyers. They are firefighters and federal agents. They are oiled-up and wearing the bare minimum, striking a spray-tanned pose.

They are the best amateur bodybuilders in the nation, and they were in suburban North Jersey over the weekend, showing off to a panel of National Physique Committee judges.

“There are over 1,000 competitors, and they get from being an amateur to a professional. This is where they earn their pro card,” said Steve Weinberger, head judge, acclaimed bodybuilder and chairman of NPC Universe .

“And what does that mean to be a professional? When you start competing for money all over the world.”

Take Filippe Abreu, who was named 2024 national bodybuilding champion in the light heavyweight division.

In his day job as a federal agent, Abreu is likely to be found at crime scenes or interrogating suspects — “Homicides, rapes, all the bad stuff.”

Now he is eligible to enter big-bucks competitions like the IFBB Professional League’s annual Olympia Fitness & Performance Weekend. Mr. Olympia takes home more than half a million in prize money.

But Abreu isn’t thinking that far ahead.

“I couldn’t be any happier. I'm just gonna celebrate tonight and eat some good food,” he said.

That includes things like pizza and donuts — items not to be found on his normally bland training table.

Paula Stokinger says he is proud of her 60-year-old husband Ed, the new national Universe champ in the 60+ classic physique division.

“Every day, 2 a.m., up at the gym, by himself,” she said.

Inspired by Mr. Universe winner Arnold Schwarzenegger as a kid, Ed says his former job led to this.

“I was starting to limp around from injuries from the Boston Fire Department,” he said.

“I'm retired from the Fire Department and a friend of mine … convinced me to go diet, lose some weight so that my joints could get a break. Then as I got in better shape, he asked me if I wanted to do some body building and posing. Do some contests. I told him I'd never get into a skimpy little speedo. Then I said, ‘I'm almost 60. I have no more pride. I'll do it.’”

And it paid off. He, too, heads home with a coveted pro card.