As a high-level athlete, Matt Pattinson knows that having a goal helps keep you motivated. It’s what earned him all-conference honors in high school, a starting job as a linebacker for the UNLV Running Rebels, and a job on the Buffalo Bills roster after making the team as an undrafted free agent in 2008.
But NFL teams don’t typically wait on undrafted free agents who get sidelined with injuries, and that’s exactly where Pattinson found himself shortly after signing with the team.
“I’m very competitive,” Pattinson says. “When football didn’t work out for me, I didn’t have anything to train for.”
After watching a friend compete in the newly-formed Men’s Physique division last year, Pattinson found that something.
Most recently, in just his second competition, Pattinson won his class and the Overall at the Empire Classic on April 28.
“I love competition,” he says. “I love everything about it and that’s kind of how I got into it. I always thought about bodybuilding, but this is more of a look I pride myself on having.”
AGE: 28
HEIGHT: 6’3
CONTEST WEIGHT: 208
LIVES: Bellview ,Washington
CONTEST HISTORY: 2012: Emerald Cup, 2nd Tall Class; Empire Classic, 1st Tall Class and Overall
ATHLETIC BACKGROUND: “I played football and ran track in high school. I played college football at UNLV and was signed by the Buffalo Bills.”
OCCUPATION: Personal Trainer
PHYSIQUE ROLE MODELS/INFLUENCES: Arnold Schwarzenegger and Steve Cook. “Arnold’s the man. Steve Cook is kind of a guy I look up to, I think I’m close to his physique and I try to model my body close to his.”
PIECE OF EQUIPMENT MY GYM MUST HAVE: Hammer Strength Power Rack. “You can do anything in there.”
FAVORITE MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE: “I have quite a few, but my best is ‘It ain’t easy being great.’ Meaning you have to work your ass off to be great.”
WHAT’S NEXT: USAs on July 27-28
