Billy Simmonds

Billy Simmonds
Simmonds in 2013
Born Nov 21, 1980
Sydney
Nationality Australian
Occupation Director of Eco Superfoods
Known for INBA Mr Universe 2009 Title

Billy Simmonds is an entrepreneur, martial artist, bodybuilder, performer and winner of the 2009 INBA Mr Universe title.[1] An authority in health and nutrition, he has served as a strength and conditioning coach to athletes around the world for more than 10 years and is the founding director of Eco Superfoods.[2]

Whilst diverse in his pursuits, most notably Billy is an advocate for health and nutrition, the environment and kindness towards animals.[3]

Career

On the day of his 18th birthday, Billy registered his first finance business called the Australian Credit Network. He pursued a career in finance for approximately 15 years working as a broker, financial planner and corporate banker. In 2011, he was awarded Corporate Solutions Executive of the Year by The Commonwealth Bank.[1][4]

In 2012, Billy left his career in finance to launch PRANAON, a natural and vegan-friendly range of fitness nutrition products.[5]

While developing PRANAON, Billy worked as a live action performer specialising in dance, martial arts and fire artistry. He was also part of the fight cast at Movie World in the Gold Coast, where his favourite character to perform was Batman.[6]

In 2014, Billy co-founded Eco Superfoods, a 100% vegan company which has rapidly grown to become a multi million-dollar success. Today, the Eco Group of Companies develops, manufactures and distributes brands such as PRANAON internationally throughout Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East and South East Asia.[2]

In 2015, PRANAON was awarded Vegan Supplement Brand of the Year, and also Best Natural Product of 2016 by Australia’s largest retailer of sports nutrition: Nutrition Warehouse.[7]

In 2017, Billy was awarded Entrepreneur of the Year for Australia's Northern Region.[8]

Bodybuilding, Powerlifting & Fitness

In 2009, Billy made one of his greatest achievements and won the INBA Mr Universe title in Hollywood, California. He was the first vegetarian/vegan to win the title since Bill Pearl in 1971.[1]

While the myth still exists that a professional bodybuilder needs to consume vast amounts of meat and dairy to build muscle, Billy eats a purely vegan diet. In an interview with Living Vegan magazine, Billy states "Vegan Bodybuilding is not only possible, it’s optimal. Within three years from first lifting weights properly and walking on a bodybuilding stage as a novice, I had won Mr Universe and become a professional Bodybuilder. Steroids? Meat? Not a chance!" [9]

Billy's muscle gain is 100% natural, proven by Olympic standard testing.[10][11][12]

In 2014, Billy Simmonds was one of five professionally classed natural male bodybuilders in Australia, as defined by the World Anti-Doping Authority.[1]

Billy is also a competitive Powerlifter with the worldwide organization the IPF,[13] a large powerlifting organization which follows the IOC and WADA drug testing standards. In 2011, Billy placed within the top five of his powerlifting division in Australia and won gold in the 102 kg Queensland State Titles.[1]

In 2011, Billy broke two world records on national TV in front of 45 million home viewers.[14]

  • Bench Press: Most Weight: 1 minute: 2,640 kg.
  • Squats, carrying two people on his shoulders: 1 minute: 11 Reps with 82 kg (combined weight).

Today, Billy regularly participates in CrossFit and incorporates Olympic lifting to support his martial arts training.[15][16]

Lifting Statistics

  • Bench: 150 kg
  • Squat: 225 kg
  • Deadlift: 275 kg
  • Bicep Curl: 90 kg
  • Clean & Press: 120 kg
  • Leg Press: 620 kg

[1][17]

Competition History

  • 2007 INBA Queensland Titles 2nd Place
  • 2008 CAPO Deadlift Competition 3rd Place
  • 2009 INBA Brisbane Titles 2nd Place
  • 2009 INBA Natural Olympia Equal 5th
  • 2009 INBA Natural Universe 1st Place
  • 2010 UQPWC IPF Powerlifting Summer 3rd Place
  • 2010 UQPWC IPF Powerlifting Autumn 2nd Place 2011 UQPWC QLD State Titles 1st Place
  • 2011 UQPWC QLD State Titles 1st Place
  • 2014 CrossFit Open
  • 2015 CrossFit Open
  • 2016 CrossFit Open

[1]

Advocacy Work and Public Speaking

Billy Simmonds has been a guest speaker at Green Earth Day,[18] The Sustainable Living Festival,[19] Vegan Business Lifestyle Tour,[20] The Australian Fitness Industry and Leisure Show[21] and World Vegan Day.[22]

In 2016, Billy became the key spokesperson for a national high school speaking tour titled Strength in Kindness, which inspires young Australian’s to lead fulfilling, ethical and healthy lifestyles.[23]

Similarly in 2016, Billy partnered with Clean-up Jakarta Day and toured several high schools in Indonesia to teach students about the importance of recycling.[24]

Billy has since expanded his outreach to groups experiencing hardship, such as those recovering from drug and alcohol addiction to help individuals overcome adversity and pursue meaningful lives.

In 2019, Billy will publish his first book titled Strength in Kindness "Breaking limitations, smashing stereotypes, and generating limitless power and energy, through mindfulness and compassion". [25]

Martial Arts

Billy holds a second degree martial arts black belt in Hapkido and a third degree black belt in Taekwondo. He is skilled in many styles of martial arts such as Muay Thai, Capoeira, Wushu, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Billy has also partaken in professional martial arts training in South Korea, Thailand, and Hong Kong.[26]

In 2004, Billy spent a year in South Korea where he lived in the coastal mountains of Busan and taught Hapkido.[1] In 2015, he returned to South Korea to advance to a higher level of black belt at Kukkiown, headquarters of the World Taekwondo Federation. Billy was awarded Senior Student of the Year by the Tans Taekwondo organisation in 2015. He also competed in the 2016 Pan Pacific Masters Games winning 4th place in technical breaking and 2nd place in power-breaking.[27]

Role Models

Billy is inspired by Bruce Lee, Elon Musk, Tony Robbins, Richard Branson, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.[28]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "INBA Professional Profile Billy Simmonds" (PDF). www.inba.com.au. INBA.
  2. 1 2 "Eco Superfoods". ecosuperfoods.com.au. Retrieved 2016-11-14.
  3. ↑ "Billy Simmonds, vegan bodybuilder". Great Vegan Athletes. 2012-05-12. Retrieved 2016-11-14.
  4. ↑ "Billy Simmonds Star Profile – naturalbodzmagazine.com". naturalbodzmagazine.com. Retrieved 2016-11-14.
  5. ↑ "Protein Powders Online | Best Natural, Organic & Vegan Protein Powder". Prana. Retrieved 2016-11-14.
  6. ↑ "Profile – Billy Simmonds Blog". billysimmonds.com. Retrieved 2016-11-14.
  7. ↑ "Supplement Awards 2016 - Big Brands, Warehouse Prices!". www.nutritionwarehouse.com.au. Retrieved 2016-11-14.
  8. ↑ "news - EY - 2017's top Queensland Entrepreneurs revealed". www.ey.com. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
  9. ↑ "Billy Simmonds | Not Your Typical TreeHugger". www.treehugger.uproar.org.au. Retrieved 2016-11-15.
  10. ↑ Pilon, Mary (2012-01-04). "Vegans Muscle Their Way Into Bodybuilding". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-11-15.
  11. ↑ Metro.co.uk, Deni Kirkova for (2015-08-20). "15 vegan bodybuilders stronger than the henchest guy in the gym". Metro. Retrieved 2016-11-15.
  12. ↑ "Billy Simmonds Star Profile – naturalbodzmagazine.com". naturalbodzmagazine.com. Retrieved 2016-11-15.
  13. ↑ "IPF - International Powerlifting Federation IPF". www.powerlifting-ipf.com. Retrieved 2016-11-15.
  14. ↑ www.unicorndesigners.co.uk, Unicorn Designers -. "World Record Holders and Breakers - Billy Simmonds". www.recordholdersrepublic.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-11-15.
  15. ↑ "Team: Reebok CrossFit Gold Coast". CrossFit Games. Retrieved 2016-11-15.
  16. ↑ "Athlete: Billy Simmonds". CrossFit Games. Retrieved 2016-11-15.
  17. ↑ "Reflex Billy Simmonds".
  18. ↑ Leigh-Chantelle. "Great Green Day Out & the future of Green Earth Group". www.vivalavegan.net. Retrieved 2016-11-14.
  19. ↑ "Vegan Body Building « UPROAR". www.uproar.org.au. Retrieved 2016-11-14.
  20. ↑ "Vegan Lifestyle Speaking Tour - Sydney". www.eventsinaustralia.net. Retrieved 2016-11-14.
  21. ↑ "Special Guests - Fitness & Health Expo". www.fitnessexpo.com.au. Retrieved 2016-11-14.
  22. ↑ "Billy Simmonds's schedule for World Vegan Day 2015". worldveganday2015.sched.org. Retrieved 2016-11-14.
  23. ↑ "Strength in Kindness - - In Defense of Animals". - In Defense of Animals. Retrieved 2016-11-14.
  24. ↑ "Billy Simmonds - Videos | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2016-11-14.
  25. ↑ "strengthinkindness – Break Limitations". strengthinkindness.com. Retrieved 2016-11-14.
  26. ↑ "6 Ripped Vegans You Should Follow". Muscle & Fitness. Retrieved 2016-11-14.
  27. ↑ "Pan Pacific Masters Games 2016 Results" (PDF).
  28. ↑ "Vegetarian Athletes: Billy Simmonds - Body Builder // Animals Australia Unleashed". www.unleashed.org.au. Retrieved 2016-11-15.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.