QUT's 87-year-old bodybuilding palaeobotanist will be in Slovakia this weekend competing in the 2014 World Championships in Natural Bodybuilding and Fitness.
John Rigby has already been to World Masters Games (running events), state and national bodybuilding titles, and competed in fun runs such as the QUT Classic. But the Slovakian event will be his biggest contest thus far.
Mr Rigby competed in the national natural bodybuilding titles in Melbourne last year, where he qualified for the world titles.
During his European trip, the palaeobotanist will also visit Prague to give a talk at a museum associated with Charles University.
He conducts scientific research at QUT five days a week on a voluntary basis and also trains every day at a city gym.
Mr Rigby said he was currently injury-free but that his chances of a medal in Slovakia would depend on whether or not they restructured the age categories before the event.
"It depends on whether or not they open up my age group (and introduce an over-80s event) - at the moment I'll be competing against people a quarter-of-a-century younger than me so I expect to finish last!"
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Media contact: Mechelle McMahon, QUT media officer, media@qut.edu.au
