Body building is in the water

Moses Lake body builders Tony McCurty and Todd Scott finish on top at Emerald Cup 2005

MOSES LAKE - Tony McCurty remembers winning the Emerald Cup in 1989.

The then 28-year-old body builder was on top of his game, making a rise to national notification that brought him top finishes at competitions around the country. Then there is a period of about 10 years that McCurty can't remember winning a competition — but that is to be expected since McCurty stopped competing during that time frame.

Now the 44-year-old Moses Lake resident is climbing back to the top, starting as the 2005 Emerald Cup Lightweight champion.

"I told the second-place guy he had a chance and he looked at me weird," McCurty said about his reaction to taking the top spot in the lightweight competition.

McCurty finished fourth last year, then worked with Todd Scott at Sleek Physique and both finished on top in their weight division. Scott went on to win the overall category at the Emerald Cup on April 30.

"Moses Lake is turning into a bodybuilding town and people on the west side are realizing that," McCurty added.

With age and family becoming major factors in McCurty's professional body building career, his continuance in the sport that gave him a name nationwide almost came to an end last year.

McCurty said he finished fourth at the Emerald Cup last year in the middleweight competition, he said a person approached him and told him not to leave the sport that way.

"That voice was all I could think about," McCurty said about his motivation in preparing for the Emerald Cup this year.

With the help of his wife Lisa to train him, McCurty said he feels like he can win one more national competition before giving up the sport. He said he can then focus on training the next generation of body builders.

"I keep telling myself I am not going to do this anymore," McCurty said, then added: "I would like to do just one more national show."