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The hungry boy who devoted his life to muscle

Gilbert Alaskadi grew up hungry and downtrodden in his home country, Chad. He was sick of being bullied, so he devoted his life to body building.

Gilbert Alaskadi grew up in the African country of Chad. His family was poor, and he spent much of his childhood hungry, with people frequently making fun of his small stature. Then, when he was a teenager, he encountered a bodybuilding pamphlet, promising quick muscle growth in a handful of weeks. He wanted the physique, but first he'd need money and calories. At the first oppurtunity he ran away from home, left the country, and jumped head-first into the world of bodybuilding.

Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Producer: Harry Graham
Editor: Munazza Khan

Get in touch: liveslessordinary@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp: 0044 330 678 2784

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32 minutes

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    Step into someone else’s life and expect the unexpected. Extraordinary personal stories