The "Big Lao" - Got Guns? (Profile)

Born in Savanhakhet, Laos on May 1971, Ko Chandetka came to America when he was 4 years old. As the youngest of seven siblings, Ko grew up pretty spoiled in a very diverse neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois. However, as a child he attended a private school that was predominantly white. His life was diversified when he entered middle school, by this time more Lao families had resettled into the neighborhood. Ko admits that religious conflicts at home and at school did confuse him a bit during this period of his childhood. Yet, Ko Chandetka easily assimilated into the American culture and dedicated his life to bodybuilding. He ate, slept, and trained dedicating himself to building muscle while nothing else matters. Ko’s bitter sweet success at body building came with the sacrifice of his family and friends. Dedication cost him time spent with them that he could never get back. Being humble, the BigLao points to his father, his hero, as the mentor for his success: “My father was in the military in Laos and he is pretty much my hero. Coming to America, he had to start all over, getting his G.E.D to PhD while working to support a big family. To me, that’s way more than what I had ever accomplished in Bodybuilding.” Ko Chandetka would like to send a message to everyone, “Balance in life, education, family, in my opinion, is far greater than fortune and fame!” The BigLao, Ko Chandetka is now offering personal training, nutrition, and pre-contest preps. You can email him at kochandetka@yahoo.com .