Age is 'only a number' says 62-year old bodybuilder as he sets sights on pro card

A 62-year-old bodybuilder from Sarnia, Ont. competing on the international stage has once again qualified for next year's North American championships, bringing him one step closer to his goal of winning his pro card after falling just short of it in August.

Bernie Mockler placed third in early October at the Canadian Physique Alliance's (CPA) National Pro Qualifier in the men's bodybuilding masters 60-plus division, securing himself a spot in the 2026 North American championships.

Weeks before in August, he placed first on the continent in his division and second overall.

"I'm happy with that," Mockler said. "It's just another step to reaching the final goal."

A pro card from International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation (IFBB) is a certification that grants professional status to a bodybuilder, allowing them to compete in pro-level shows. Only one is given out at the annual North American championships.

Mockler will need to win not only his own division to earn the card, but also come out on top of all the other division winners. To get another shot, Mockler had to compete in last week's qualifier.

His coach, Tim Love, said it's difficult to maintain peak condition and get back on stage a month after the North American championships.

"Everyone else takes breaks, everyone falls off, but Bernie has stayed consistent for 40-plus years of just, keep going, keep showing up, keep working," Love said. "And the rewards are paying off for him for sure."

Mockler said feels no different than he did when he was 35, he said, explaining that feeling young is a result of his weight and cardio training and clean eating habits.

He starts every day with 40 minutes of cardio for fat loss before breakfast, and eats another three meals during the day before his nighttime weight workout, he said.

If he has a contest coming up, he added, he fits in an extra 40 minutes of cardio after his workout.

When he's not working out, Mockler works as a nurse at a jail, where his experience and expertise in dieting and exercise has allowed him to bond with the inmates, he explained.

"It's a way of us having a bit of a therapeutic relationship, which is sometimes tough to establish in there with that clientele," he said. "They respect physicality and it gives me an opportunity to sort of steer them in a positive direction."

To prepare for next year's contest, Mockler plans to put on another 10 pounds of muscle, he said. He will spend the next six to seven months doing what he called "off-season mass building" before an intense four months of pre-contest conditioning.

Before that, however, the first thing on Mockler's to-do list is getting some sleep — something he was losing a lot of leading up to Saturday's contest.

"My coach actually gave me a week off from training and I'm going to take it," he said. "I'm looking forward to getting some rest."