| Lucion Pushparaj | |
| Native Name: | ලූෂන් පුෂ්පරාජ් (Sinhala), லூஷியன் புஷ்பராஜ் (Tamil) |
| Nickname: | Black Lion of Asia |
| Nationality: | Sri Lankan |
| Ethnicity: | Sinhalese |
| Birth Date: | September 10, 1982 |
| Birth Place: | Ja-Ela, Sri Lanka |
| Weight: | 100-110kg |
| Sport: | Body building |
| Event: | Men's 100+kg |
| Firstproshow: | 2013 IFBB Pro Championship in Oman |
| Firstproshowyear: | 2013 |
| Bestwin: | Mr Universe - WBPF World Champion[1] |
| Successor: | Chitharesh Natesan |
| Yesorretiredyear: | 2012–active |
Lucion Anton Pushparaj,ta|லூசியன் ஆண்டன் புஷ்பராஜ்;(born September 10, 1982) also spelled Lucian Pushparaj, nicknamed Black Lion of Asia, is a Sri Lankan male IFBB professional bodybuilder.[2] [3] On 16 December 2018, he became the first Sri Lankan to win the WBPF World Championship title, and was crowned WBPF Mr. Universe.[4] [5] [6]
He is also the first Sri Lankan Bodybuilder to participate in the IFBB Pro Arnold Classic Amateur, where he came in 4th place.[7]
Pushparaj was born on September 10, 1982, in Ja-Ela. He received his primary education from St. Xavier Maha Vidyalaya, and his secondary education from Basilica College, Ragama. In school, Pushparaj was an active athlete, taking part in athletics, volleyball, cricket, winning at the all-island level. [8]
Subsequently, he became a fitness instructor at various gyms and tried his hand at Pro bodybuilding. Despite the difficulties and discrimination he faced, he managed to fund himself, train and compete. [8]
Lucion is a professional bodybuilder who competed at both national and international levels since receiving his IFBB Pro status in 2012. He won his first major international competition in 2013, which was an IFBB Pro Championship in Oman.[8]
Pushparaj won a gold medal in the 2014 Mr. Sri Lanka Contest. Later in 2014, Pushparaj won a silver medal in the AFBF 48th Asian Championship (IFBB) (100 kg Category).[9] In 2014, he became the first Sri Lankan to take part in the US-based competition, Mr & Mrs Atlas and Fitness Expo Contest, and came in fourth place.[10]
In 2016 he came first (gold) in the Open Weightlifting Championship in Oman (Under 100 kg),[11] and then came third (bronze) at the Wawan Classic Expo International Bodybuilding Championship 2016, held in Kuwait.[12]
In 2017, he won a gold medal in the 51st Asian Bodybuilding and Physiques Sports Festival in South Korea, and was titled Mr Asia.[13] Following his 2017 win in Thailand, Pushparaj was gifted a house and a sum of Rs. 1 million, by the Housing and Constructing Minister at the time, Sajith Premadasa.
In 2018, he then went on to secure a silver medal at the IFBB Austrian International Bodybuilding Championship,[14] held on 19 May 2018.[15] [16]
Pushparaj emerged as the World Champion at the 10th World Bodybuilding Championship (over 100 kg category) held in Bangkok, Thailand on 16 December 2018, where he was crowned Mr Universe.[17] In March 2019, he was awarded the Popular Sports Personality of the Year as a part of the Newsfirst Platinum Awards.[18]
In May 2020, Pushparaj participated in the Super Heavyweight division at the Arnold Amateur competition and placed 4th overall.[19] [20]
Pushparaj faced several issues with the local Sri Lankan Bodybuilding Federation (SLBF). Arguably, this was due to a conflict with the SLBF over his criticism of the body's support of the IFBB Elite Pro.
Pushparaj accused the IFBB Elite Pro of being a corrupt body, especially in Sri Lanka.[21] [22] As a result, the SLBF pulled their sponsorship funding from his events, causing Pushparaj to fund his flight tickets and other associated costs, despite his victories. There was no official welcome when he arrived in Sri Lanka after winning the WBPF in 2017.
Pushpraj claims that the SLBF attempted to have him banned, by contacting the Global Bodybuilding Organization, which organized the 2017 Mr Atlas competition in Los Angeles, and that is why his VISA was initially rejected.
SLBF then accused Pushparaj of using banned substances. He denied the allegations and accused the federation of attempting to tarnish his image and prevent him from taking part in international events representing Sri Lanka. But despite these challenges, Pushparaj continues to represent Sri Lanka internationally, by super-ceding the SLBF and being represented by the globally ranked WBPF.