Student Builds Physique and Computers!

BY: .

Mr Jean-Luc Maurel received a Sports Scholarship for his prowess in bodybuilding which has seen him excel at national and provincial levels.

The final-year Computer Engineering student found his study direction through an early interest in video games, building his own PC and repairing it, and later doing electronics repairs using the skills he acquired. In his teens, he worked on multiplayer video gaming servers, learning programming on C++ and C#, writing and editing scripts for his and his friends’ servers.

UKZN’s Computer Engineering programme enabled him to learn more about both the electronic engineering and the software engineering elements he enjoyed. This, as well as the University’s affordability and proximity to his home in Durban, made it his top choice, and Maurel has not looked back, with his example motivating his younger siblings to pursue tertiary studies.

Keen on working out as a hobby, Maurel branched into bodybuilding, pushing his limits during workouts with encouragement from men at his local gym. He took on the sport of bodybuilding guided by a coach who helped him through his first novice competition in 2019, where he won the junior category in his weight division. He went on to take fourth place in his first provincial show the same year, and in 2022 won the East Coast Classic, Provincials and Nationals in the junior division, leading to selection for the South African team. In 2024, he again won Provincials, in the under 80kg division, and achieved third place at Nationals.

Competing in this sport has taught Maurel the importance of discipline and consistency to maintain his finely-balanced physical condition. He says training involves good sleep, carefully calculated meals and carbohydrate intake, weight monitoring, posing practice, cardio exercise and weight training.

“Bodybuilding has taught me an incredible amount of discipline, benefitting my work and study life,” said Maurel.

He was selected to represent South Africa at the World Championships on Kish Island in the under 80kg division, doing gruelling training to drop 15kg in weight to achieve the leanness needed to compete. He represented South Africa against over 100 other countries and earned his status as a Protea athlete.

Winning a scholarship and recognition from UKZN made Maurel feel the efforts and inputs were all worthwhile.

A keen student, Maurel plans to pursue his master’s next year and is considering a PhD or MBA in the future. He hopes to work in the computing and embedded systems industry and is also interested in software development.

Alongside his studies and demanding training regimen, Maurel does practical demonstrations, tutors Computer Science and Mathematics, as well as works on freelance software projects and spends as much free time as he can with his fiancée.

Maurel thanked his parents for their assistance and for supporting his bodybuilding journey, his fiancée for motivating him and helping him with elements of his training and preparation, and his siblings and close friends for their support.

He also thanked his coach for helping him develop in the sport, and UKZN for the financial assistance to attend the World Championships and for the scholarship.

Words: Christine Cuénod

Photographs: Andile Ndlovu and supplied