Fans of the Men’s Physique division might know the title Xavisus Gayden as a result of he has been a IFBB Pro League athlete for a number of years. He has positioned as excessive as eighth on the Olympia stage, and he’ll seemingly find yourself again on that stage sooner or later. What these followers might not know is that Gayden made history when he competed on that stage in 2014. Gayden was the primary lively United States Marine to compete on the Olympia stage, and he’s really executed it twice.
“I used to be the primary one to compete on the Olympia and the Arnold whereas on lively responsibility,” he mentioned proudly. He referred to as that essentially the most important accomplishment of his profession onstage and in service. That ardour for service dated again to his childhood.
Gayden’s uncle is a retired grasp sergeant for the US Air Force, and he had served in Operation Desert Storm within the early 1990’s. His uncle would ship letters to the household whereas he was abroad, and that was what led Gayden to aspire to serve himself sometime.
“I used to learn the letters with my grandmother,” he recalled. “Reading these was what actually made me need to go once I grew up.”
Xavisus Gayden really grew up a straight A pupil throughout highschool, however he was unsure about going to school. That mixed with the inspiration from his uncle helped him make the choice to enlist within the United States Marines. While Gayden was working within the navy, he dedicated extra to coaching as nicely. He initially didn’t aspire to compete or turn pro in bodybuilding. When he discovered that no active-duty Marine had ever achieved IFBB Pro League standing, he determined that needed to change, and he could be the one to make it occur.
“I believed that this was a possibility that I might take upon myself and present different servicemembers that they might do it, too.”
That purpose would turn into actuality in 2013 by successful the celebrated NPC USA title, becoming for somebody that’s each a champion and repair member for his dwelling nation. Gayden is coming into his ninth yr as a professional competitor, and he’s gained two reveals thus far. One can solely think about the way it felt when one yr after turning professional, he would stand on the Olympia stage for the primary time as among the best on the planet.
“It’s superb,” he recalled. “It takes quite a bit to get there.”
It was nicely price it in his eyes, nevertheless, as a result of he’s touched many lives by means of his efforts, and he’s been acknowledged by a few of the greats in bodybuilding, together with four-time Mr. Olympia and three-time Arnold Classic Champion Jay Cutler, who is known for his efforts to help the troops.
“He’s one among my all-time favorites as a result of I really personally know him,” mentioned the Marine and IFBB Pro. “I do know the place his thoughts is, and I like the truth that he provides again to the navy, which is one thing I need to do.”
Much like the way in which Cutler has impressed Gayden, his personal work ethic and accomplishments within the sport served as inspiration to a few of his fellow Marines in addition to superior officers. However, he needed to face some criticism as nicely.
“Some of the opposite servicemembers gave me grief as a result of I wouldn’t go with them to drink. I might go practice, or I might go practice my Marines that needed me to assist them,” he mentioned. Gayden might have gotten some backlash due to that call, however he felt that he had a better calling, even with what he had already executed in service.
“It might have presumably harm my profession, however I actually didn’t care. I nonetheless did it as a result of it wasn’t about me. It was about serving to the younger Marines that wanted it. Some of them nonetheless attain out to me to inform me that they’re doing extra in health or they’re serving now due to me.”
Gunnery Sergeant Xavisus Gayden served his nation from 1998 to 2019. His profession noticed him journey abroad identical to his uncle. He even labored in Japan at one level, the place he got here nearer with one other ardour of his – music, which he mentioned was what he needed to do when he was a child.
“I did music once I was in Japan, and I labored as a DJ, and I went into producing,” he shared. “Now, I’m producing myself, and I’m working with different producers.”

Gayden might not have needed to go to high school when he was youthful, however he would return due to his ardour for music. He’s already graduated from one music engineering faculty, and is on the verge of attaining a second diploma from a music institute in Los Angeles as nicely. One of these producers he linked up with is Zaytoven, who has labored with a number of superstars of music, together with Usher, Gucci Mane, Future, and others.
“He’s superb at what he does, and I reached out to him on [Instagram] Live, and he instructed me to hit him up,” mentioned Gayden. “I’ve been working with him for the final month and a half. I simply received the grasp combine to one among my songs that we’re about to launch. It’s been a very long time coming, and I’m enthusiastic about it.”
With Gayden’s pursuit of music and his anticipated return to the stage forward, the daddy of three and health coach has quite a bit to look ahead to, and he can have extra alternatives to encourage others alongside the way in which, very like he did throughout his lively Marine profession. He hopes that youthful individuals now will contemplate the navy as a result of it may well assist them prefer it helped him.
“It may give you peace of thoughts and supply a route that you would be able to construct on from there,” he suggested. “It might help you determine the place you need to go, and it may well assist you to get there as nicely.”
Follow Xavisus Gayden on Instagram @xavisus_gayden.
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