Where it all started
Louie Diaz – IFBB Pro | Founder of Muscle City | Personal Trainer
I grew up playing soccer from the age of 5 to 18 – soccer was my passion. At 17, a friend invited me to the gym to lift weights with him. I had never been in a weight room before, and that first session challenged my strength in a way I had never felt before. I liked the idea of getting stronger. From that day on, I started training five days a week throughout my senior year—while still playing varsity and club soccer. As I kept lifting, I noticed my strength improving and started building lean muscle.
My First Bodybuilding Competitions
At 19, I decided to compete in my first bodybuilding show—a small local event in my hometown of El Paso, TX. I entered the Teen Division and won 1st place. I was hooked. I went on to compete in two more shows as a teen, winning both, and almost made it to Teen Nationals.
Balancing College and Fitness
After my teen years, I shifted my focus to college while still making fitness my priority. I graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. During my college years, I trained five to six days a week, completely obsessed with the gym. At 20, I started personal training to make a living—fitness wasn’t just my passion, it was my career.
Chasing the
IFBB Pro Card
I took a seven-year break from competing, but at 26, I stepped back on stage. For four years, I competed in local shows before deciding it was time to go national and chase my Pro Card. After years of dedication, I finally earned my IFBB Pro status at 34 at JR. Mr. Olympia—my fifth national show. In total, I’ve competed in 18 shows and counting.
