Rajesh John

Rajesh John is an Indian bodybuilder and fitness trainer from Kerala, best known for his achievements in professional wheelchair bodybuilding. He was the first Indian to win the Arnold Classic Pro Wheelchair title at the Arnold Sports Festival in 2024 and successfully defended his title in 2025. In 2025, he won the 2nd runner-up title at the Mr. Olympia Pro Wheelchair competition held in Las Vegas. The previous year, in 2024, he had secured 6th place in the same event, which forms a part of the Mr. Olympia competition. John also won the Mr. World title for the differently abled in 2016 and won the World Fitness Federation’s Mr. India title for the differently abled twice, in 2016 and 2018.

Personal life Rajesh was born to Ummarapallil M.D. John and Omana John in Thazhathuvadaku, Kollam district in the Indian State of Kerala. He completed his schooling from Holy Trinity School Thiruvananthapuram and Mar Thoma Dynoysius School Pathanapuram. After attaining higher secondary education from IHRD T.H.S.S. Adoor, he completed a diploma in electronics and computer networking from NSS College, Pathanamthitta. Rajesh works as a fitness trainer and he runs a gym at Enathu in Pathanamthitta district, Kerala.

Career and achievements Rajesh was the runner-up in the 2009 Mr. Kerala competition. In the subsequent years of 2010, 2011, and 2012, he became the champion in this competition. He has won the Mr. India title (differently abled category) three times, in 2009 (IBBF, Ludhiana), 2011 (IBBF, Nashik), and 2013 IBBF, Khammam). He won the WFF Mr. World title for differently abled 2016 at Ireland, WFF Eurasia Championship 2018 at Kyiv. He also won the 2023 Sheru Classic India Pro Wheelchair, in Mumbai which helped him to attend and win the Arnold Classic Pro Wheelchair competition 2024 during the Arnold Expo stage at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus. He was able to secure 6th place in the Mr. Olympia Pro Wheelchair 2024. He was the first Indian to win the Arnold Classic Pro Wheelchair at the Arnold Sports Festival in 2024 and successfully defended his title in 2025. In 2025, he won the 2nd runner-up title at the Mr. Olympia Pro Wheelchair competition held in Las Vegas.