The Sol story
Unbreakable.
From a student visa and late-night shifts to the national stage and the keys to his own gym. This is Sourabh ‘Sol’ Snehi.
The documentary
Unbreakable Sol
2005
A long way from home.
In 2005, a young Sourabh Snehi landed in Australia on a student visa. He studied a Bachelor of Business at Central Queensland University, finished in 2008, and earned his permanent residency.
None of it came easy. A new country, culture shock, a language barrier and a completely different way of living. His first job was at Hungry Jack’s, for about $13 an hour, working long shifts. Then came job after job after job.
“My time as an international student was the toughest time of my life.”
2011
Finding his purpose.
Sol always wanted to work with Indigenous communities in remote Australia. In 2011 he moved to Darwin, worked in disability support with Life Without Barriers, then became a youth detention officer at Don Dale.
Helping young people find the right path, with a good support system around them, lit something in him that still drives every day at Peak.
“My main goal as a gym owner is to help the youth re-engage with the community and be part of society. That’s my passion.”
2014
Twelve weeks that changed everything.
He’d always been a sportsman. Then, in 2014, a 12-week body transformation challenge at his gym changed his life. He only wanted a beach body, until the gym’s owner, Cheryl, saw his potential and told him to compete.
At his very first comp he placed third in men’s physique, with no idea how to pose. His next goal was simple: beat the body he brought to that first stage. Two comps a year followed, then an international show in Bali, where he took first place.
“That 12-week challenge is what changed my life.”
Family
The three women in his life.
Sol married in 2014, and in 2017 he was blessed with his daughter, Inaya. With his mum, they are the three women who have shaped everything he does.
“Since Inaya was born, another level was added.”
The prep
No stone unturned.
A 12 to 16 week prep. Low calories, low carbs, heaps of water and broken sleep. Two days out, depleted to the max, and still pushing.
On comp day he woke up dry and confident. Backstage he pumped up, visualised every pose, and looked around the room knowing the work was done.
“When you’ve worked hard and you look around, you know that you’ve got this.”
IFBB Nationals
Champion of his class.
He won his class at state level and fell just short of the overall. So he went home, regrouped with his coach and set his sights on the IFBB Nationals: more size through the delts, wider, better conditioned.
At Nationals, every state champion was in his class: New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia and Victoria. Sol won it. The overall came down to Sol and the same rival again, and it went the other way. How he took it says everything about him.
“It’s a game. Sometimes what you think doesn’t happen. I’m happy for him.”
Peak Fitness
The keys to Peak.
Then he saw a gym for sale online. It was Peak Fitness. He signed in September and kept it a secret from his dad, the man who used to ask why he competed, and tell him to stop and focus on a good job.
Sol asked the previous owner to hand the keys to his dad, not him.
“This is your gym now.”
“Oh my God, are you serious?” Today Sol runs Peak with the purpose he found in Darwin: building people up, inside and out.
The record
Plus 3x state titles · Mr Fitness 2018 · Men’s Physique 2017
