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OH MY BOD
BIONIC BODY has defied all odds to become a champion bodybuilder.
The father-of-three from French Guiana lost both of his legs in a car crash when he was just four years old.
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His mother was driving his family to a party when she lost control of the vehicle.
Speaking to SunSport, the IFBB (International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness) Pro, 35, has revealed exactly what happened on that night.
Edgard John-Augustin, as he is otherwise known, said: "We were going to a wedding, my mum was driving and my brothers and sisters were in the car too.
"My mum lost the control of the car and we had a car accident. My big brother lost one of his legs, I lost my two legs.
"A man found us on the road and took my brother and I in his car and drove us to the hospital. He saved our lives that day.
"We probably ruined his car with our blood.
"I am very grateful to this man. It’s very hard for my mum because she feels guilty her whole life, but thanks to her I am the man I am today."
He has lifted the lid on the struggles he faced while growing as a double amputee.
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Talking about life after the accident, he said: "It was hard because we had [with my brother] to go to France for surgery and rehabilitation.
"I was so young, scared, injured and far from my parents. When I was a kid I learned to run, ride a bike and hide on trees like every other kid.
"But I was often on a wheelchair because of surgeries I had to have. When I was a teenager I was kinda shy, overweight and I was hiding my handicap."
But then he found his calling in life after he moved to France, where he still lives, at the age of 20 and hit the gym.
He has since won numerous bodybuilding shows including the European Wheelchair IFBB championship in 2015.
Bionic Body has also rubbed shoulders with a long list of bodybuilding legends including Ronnie Coleman and Lee Haney.
And even Arnold Schwarzenegger was blown away by his incredible physique.
Speaking about when he met Arnie, he said: "I met him 2 times. The first time was at the Arnold Class in Spain, just after winning the European championship in 2015.
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"I saw a crowd come in and then walk away and I saw him he greeted me, congratulated me on what I was doing and then he crouched down and posted a snap saying something like, 'what’s your excuses if he can do it?'.
"The second times he congratulated me on my progresses. It’s a real honour and I will never forget those days, he is a true legend."
His incredible physique is a result of the endless hours he spends in the gym pumping weights.
He trains in the gym six times per week, does fasted cardio every single morning and has not eaten a cheat meal since March.
But he is limited to what he can do in the gym because of his disability.
He continued: "I learn to adapt my life to my handicap. I grew up with it, so it's a part of me.
"I have to adapt my legs training because I have no balance so for example I can't do a free squat.
"I often have injuries due to my prosthetics and my activities, but it doesn't stop me, I continue even with the pain, no matter what.
"If I don't do it, nobody will do it for me. This is my mantra, what my mum used to tell me."
He is no longer allowed to compete with other wheelchair athletes as he is a professional - which he claims is his greatest achievement.
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The heroic social media star said: "Since I am an IFBB professional bodybuilder, I am not allowed to compete with wheelchair athletes anymore so I can go on stage three now.
"For me, this is my biggest achievement, being on stage with amazing athletes."
How does Bionic Body train?
Here's his gruelling training regime...
- Monday - Quads
- Tuesday - Back and biceps
- Wednesday - Chest and triceps
- Thursday - Hamstring and glutes
- Friday - Shoulders
- Saturday - Arms
- Sunday - Rest day
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