Celebrity Interviews
January 2012

Interview with MICHAEL KEFALIANOS
by Ramona Portelli
e-mail:-  ramonaportelli@hotmail.com
Website:-  www.ramonaportelli.com

RAMONA PORTELLI from okmalta.com interviewed IFBB Professional bodybuilder from Greece playing for Australia - Michael Kefalianos.  Together with his family he lives on the island of Kos in the Dodecanese.  41 years old – Michael works as a taxi driver mainly in Summer when there is tourism.  His hobby and second love of his life is the gym, and his first love of 20 years is his wife Helen.

“I am a very dedicated person.  Very harsh, stern and demanding on myself.  With those rules in my life I have gotten to this stage  in my professional career”, said Michael in his introduction to this interview.

He got into bodybuilding after the army, due to the fact that he had put on a bit of weight.  He saw some bodybuilders at the gym and they truly inspired him to have a try.  “Let’s just say that I liked it so much that I never stopped.  Also I was happy with the results in my body changes.  I lost fat yet built mass.  A number of years later I met my trainer David Balasas and we’ve been together since.  Slowly through the years I reached the level I want to be at”.

How long have you been married?
I have been married 20 years to Helen, she is a Greek Australian, we have 4 kids, George 18, Mikaela 17, Valanti 12 and Nektari 10.

Mention some of your latest/best bodybuilding achievements.
This past year 2011 I have done quite a few competitions starting with my favorite the Australian grand prix and placing 3rd which got me my Mr. Olympia placing, two 5th placing in Germany and England.  My best ever placing in New York pro with 6th place, 7th in the first ever Sheru classic in India and 8th in the first Arnold Europe in Spain.  Then not forgetting the Mr. Olympia placing 16th.

You are ranked amongst the top professional bodybuilders in the world. What are your comments?
What can I say!!  That my dream came true?  Playing in the Mr. Olympia was a dream and goal for over 20 years, going twice is simply amazing!  Being ranked amongst the elite and best of the best is just indescribable.  It’s a true privilege!  

Do people sometimes stare at your big body?
All the time!!  At the beach when I get up to go for a swim the whole beach stops talking and jaws drop!  It’s funny actually.

In your own words, describe bodybuilding.
It’s a way of life for me.  If I don’t go every day I feel guilty, I need it every day, rain or shine, even if I’m ill I go.

Do you worry about getting so older?
No not really, well there’s nothing we can do to stop ageing, it’s mother nature.

Is there a down side to your fame?
Well, I can’t go anywhere without people recognizing me, but that doesn’t bother me, I don’t mind either when people stop me anywhere for photos or to talk.  It’s part of the job, think about it, if we are not approachable or friendly to the fans, where would we be without them?

What are the qualities you most admire in a woman?
Strong willed and to have a good heart and personality.  I don’t care about looks and body.  My saying in life is “A good woman will bring you up or bring you down”.  Luckily for me I found a good woman, she has helped me enormously in cooking my food to booking appearances, in other words she does everything.

What are your weaknesses?
Ice-cream!  Don’t have hardly any actually!

Have you ever kissed someone of your same sex?
Hahaha no.

What are your views and comments about alcohol & drugs?
Never touch the stuff.  I’m a stay at home kind of guy, so if I go out it’s for dinner and a coffee.  I have never smoked in my life.  I talk to my kids about it also, to keep away from that stuff for their health.

What is your opinion about same-sex marriages?
No problem with it at all.  My two best men at my wedding were a couple actually.

Are you planning any competitions at the moment?
I still haven’t planned out the 2012 year yet.

What are your comments about my country island – Malta?
I would love to come there one day, since I have never been.  I have heard it’s a beautiful country.

What’s your sense of style and what do you wear on a daily basis?

Casual of course! Can’t find good clothes in my size! Lol for jeans to get them to fit the legs, the waist in enormous and if I get a tailor to adjust them they lose their style, so track pants is easier and comfortable for me.

What does your most ideal day consist of?
Summer season is a bit fuller, I work 12 hours, when I finish I  take the 2 youngest kids to the beach with me for a couple of hours, then home to get ready for the gym.  I go to bed early as I get up at about 4am to work the 12 hours again.  It’s a bit tiring but I’m used to it.  Winter is a bit less busy doing fewer hours in the taxi and not going to the beach.

What are your hopes, dreams and fears for the future?
I hope to place as high as I can in my competitions.  To continue as I am doing for as many years as I can.

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