Afghanistan born athlete Bismillah Mardani, based in Finland, clinched two gold medals at the Finnish Bodybuilding and Fitness Championship, earning a place on Finland’s national team.
Helsinki | By Zabihullah Shehzad
Afghan fitness athlete Bismillah Mardani, who has lived in Finland for over a decade, captured the national bodybuilding and fitness titles in Finland after winning gold in both the Classic Physique and Men’s Bodybuilding categories.
Mardani described his achievement on Instagram as the result of years of discipline, effort, and perseverance, calling it only the beginning of his professional journey. The event served as a qualifier for Finland’s national bodybuilding and fitness team, where Mardani’s outstanding performance secured his selection.
The 27 year-old athlete will represent Finland at the Nordic Fitness and Bodybuilding Championship in Sweden from October 25–26, 2025, followed by the World Championship in Spain later this year.
Mardani began professional training in 2017 and entered his first official competition in 2021, finishing runner-up in Finland’s Junior Classic Physique category. In 2023, he earned second and third places in national and Nordic events. Alongside competing, he works as a bodybuilding coach, training and mentoring other athletes.
Mardani believes bodybuilding is more than a sport, “it’s a healthy, purposeful lifestyle that has shaped who I am,” he says.