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Bodybuilder Andy Cunningham recently won his fourth Mr Australian title.

YOU can see at a glance why Brookwater's Andy Cunningham was crowned Mr Australia.

With more muscles than a seafood platter, the 45-year-old body builder won both state and national titles in the heavyweight category at this year's IFBB Bodybuilding Championships.

After 29 years bodybuilding, it was the fourth time he had won both events. But it was the first in nearly two decades.

And the win climaxed as one of the great comebacks in the sport.

According to Mr Cunningham, this was by far the most rewarding victory - and the most difficult.

In fact he considers himself lucky to be competing at all, after ripping most of the muscles from his spine in a training accident.

"Some of the specialists weren't sure I would be able to even lift weights again," Mr Cunningham said.

It was 19 years before he returned to competitive body-building.

Since his last title win in 1992, Mr Cunningham became invested in his son's chosen sport, motocross.

"But I always kept up my body building training," he said. "Gradually I built back up the muscles in my back.

"So when my son decided to finish with motocross, I returned to focusing on my old love of competitive bodybuilding."

With a strict diet and busy workout schedule, Mr Cunningham transformed his body from 116kg with 20% fat, to 96kg and 3% fat.

"I have always been a very disciplined person," he said. "But there's always a mental aspect to the sport where you wonder if you're ready.

"When I was announced as the winner at both events it was surreal."

Mr Cunningham was judged on aspects of the physique such as symmetry, muscularity and posing.

President of the National Physique and Fitness Committee of Australia Paul Graham, said Mr Cunningham had the right proportion, size and muscularity to be crowned Mr Australia.

"It was a tremendous effort for a man of his age," Mr Graham said.

Mr Cunningham, who now owns Supplements and Sportswear in Springfield Central, said he spent a lot of his time coaching up-and-coming bodybuilders.

"There's a lot of prestige that comes with the title of Mr Australia and knowing you're the best," he said.

"So I get a lot of bodybuilders coming in, asking for advice on exercises and diets, which I am happy to give."

As Mr Australia, he now gets the chance to compete in the 2012 Arnold Sports Festival in Ohio, US, in March.