WARREN -- Like fine wine, Steve Reeves gets better with age.
Not to be confused with the world bodybuilding champion and movie star (Superman) of the same name, Reeves has made his own name on the bodybuilding circuit.
"I don't know of another bodybuilder who puts as much of his time and effort into the sport as Steve," said longtime friend and fellow bodybuilder Matt Town.
After 13 years away from competition, Reeves, 40, set his sights on the 2003 Mr. New England Bodybuilding Championship and took home first place honors in the Sub-Masters Division.
Last month, he entered the 2004 National Bodybuilding Association nationals in Philadelphia and again walked off with the first-place trophy in his class. In addition, he won the "Most Muscular" award.
Two weeks later, on his birthday, Reeves was at it again, competing in the 2004 Northeastern Tournament of Champions in Manchester, N.H. He decided to enter both the Masters (over 40) and Open Divisions.
"That didn't bother me," he explained. "I knew I was in the best condition I've ever been in. I was ready to take on all challengers."
As it turned out, Reeves took first place in both classes and won the overall title.
Reeves' career has been a work in progress for more than 20 years.
"Both my brothers (Albert and Joe Reeves) competed in bodybuilding, and like myself, won the Mr. Rhode Island title," he said. "My brother Joe is a national powerlifting champion and still holds many records. We all started bodybuilding when we were in our early teens. We made our own gym in the cellar and it progressed from there."
Steve Reeves competed for several years and won local and state titles in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
He was named winner of the Mr. Rhode Island light heavyweight and heavyweight classes. He was also named the Mr. Rhode Island overall winner in the heavyweight division.
Outside Rhode Island, Reeves captured the Mr. Massachusetts overall title in the heavyweight class; the Mr. Southern New England overall crown in the heavyweight division; and the Mr. East Coast heavyweight class title.
Reeves also was Mr. America and Musclemania top finisher. He has appeared in several magazines, including Muscular Development, Iron Man and Muscle Trainer Illustrated.
"I retired from competition after 1991," he said. "I had had enough of it. I was busy with work and my career, but I never stopped training. I trained other people for competitions as well."
Reeves, who trains at Town's Gym and Fitness on Tupelo Street in Bristol, owns his own supplement company, Reeves Nutrition. He believes in keeping himself in top-notch shape.
"I have a specific high-protein, no-carb diet I follow for 12 weeks," he said. "It's designed for bodybuilding competitions."
When he's on the competition stage, Reeves normally checks in at a solid 215 pounds, sporting only 3 percent body fat.
"I got better as the years went on," he acknowledged. "I decided to get back to competing in 2003. Things have really worked out well. I feel good at what I've been able to accomplish."
Next year, Reeves will set his sights on the Masters Nationals.
"That should be held sometime next July," he noted. "I'll keep training hard and working toward my goals."
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