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Bryan Balzano’s seven year struggle to make his pro debut

May 15, 2021

Bryan Balzano’s seven year struggle to make his pro debut.

Bryan Balzano’s pro bodybuilding debut at the 2021 Indy Pro was an incredible achievement. It is a story of courage and beating all odds to accomplish a dream.

These are the stories that describe what makes a champion athlete and Bryan Balzano is one of them.

After earning his pro card in 2014, Bryan disappeared from the sport, with many speculating that he had retired. This truly was not the case.

Bryan stepped on stage for the first time at the Mike Francois Classic on 10 May, 2014. He won the novice, middleweight and overall title.

78 days later, Bryan competed at the USA Championships that were held on 26 June, 2014. He won the middleweight class to earn his pro card. Earning his pro card in such a short time was an incredible accomplishment.

After enjoying his victory, Bryan decided to head back to the gym to build up his physique to compete in the 212 division.

But, unfortunately Bryan’s plans would be derailed by a number of serious injuries and medical problems.

Disaster strikes

The problems started when Bryan suffered a Labrum tear in his right shoulder and that needed surgery.

It took 10 months for Bryan to recover from his shoulder injury. Not long after returning to the gym, with hopes to get back to normal, disaster struck again when Bryan’s suffered a tear in his right bicep. His bicep tear needed sub pectoral bicep tenodesis surgery, requiring more time away from the gym.

Finally in 2016, Bryan managed to get back in the gym and he managed to get his weight back up to 215lbs. Just when Bryan thought his life was getting back to normal, he would suffer the most serious setback, he developed a Pilonidal cyst.

The worst is yet to come

The Pilonidal cysts was more serious than thought when it was infected and abscessed.

Bryan had surgery to remove it, however his glutes were so developed that it was impossible for the wound to heal.

This nightmare lasted 26 months and four surgery medical disaster for Bryan.

Bryan states that for over two years, February 2017 to April 2019, he could not do anything due to the wound not healing or able to close.

A decision by Bryan to have a plastic surgeon perform ‘cleft lift surgery’ was a wrong one. This procedure failed as well leaving him with a wound so deep that his tailbone was almost exposed.

Having to wait another six months before he could have surgery, Bryan finally decided to have a reconstructive surgeon take a look at him. The surgeon informed Bryan that he had a bacterial infection that was preventing the wound from healing in the last two years.

The surgeon ended up having to cut out all of the infected tissue and reconstruct Bryan’s entire rectum. This surgery finally gave Bryan his life back. He still had to recover, but he did not need another surgery and he was finally healed.

Road to recovery and pro debut

In 2019, Bryan finally returned to the gym, but he had a mountain to climb. Losing all his hard earned muscle, Bryan stepped back in the gym at 150lbs in May 2019. Fast forward to December 2020, Bryan managed to gain 80lbs to hit 230lbs.

Finally, Bryan saw the light at the end of the tunnel and set his sites on the 2021 Indy Pro.

On 8 May, 2021, Bryan finally made his pro debut at the 2021 Indy Pro, placing in a very respectful and well deserved fourth place.

Bryan is the true example of what bodybuilding is all about. This sport is not just about going to the gym and following a good diet, it is the challenges that we face to step on the bodybuilding stage.

It could be a person beating all odds to ose weight or an athlete trying to win the sports top prize.

Bryan is a true example of what never giving up means. He is the true Rocky Balboa of bodybuilding.

We at Evolutionofbodybuilding.net are truly impressed and admire Bryan for what he has done. We wish him the best and hope to see him on the Olympia stage in the very near future.