A San Diego bodybuilder who once had a 98% blockage in one of his heart's main arteries has turned that scare into a national championship. James Kusuda was diagnosed with the blockage at age 39, the same age he first began feeling chest pain, and has since built a competitive bodybuilding career that includes a national title in 2025 and a third-place finish in 2026.
Kusuda's diagnosis came with a stark family backdrop. According to 10News, Kusuda has a family history of fatal heart problems: his father died from a heart issue at age 59, and his uncle died at age 55 on a tennis court. That history, combined with the 98% blockage of his LAD artery, led to Kusuda receiving a stent implant.
The physical fix, however, came with its own complications. Kusuda was prescribed statins to manage his cholesterol, and the same report notes that statins cause muscle pain and cramping in roughly 1 in 10 patients. Kusuda was among them, experiencing chest and triceps cramping while taking the medication.
A Cardiologist Finds a Workaround
The muscle pain threatened to derail Kusuda's recovery until Dr. Jorge Gonzalez, identified as a Scripps Health cardiologist, found a solution. Gonzalez pointed Kusuda toward Repatha, described as a newer PCSK9 inhibitor drug that fights bad cholesterol. The switch alleviated Kusuda's muscle pain, clearing the way for him to keep pursuing serious physical training rather than being sidelined by side effects.
From First Show to National Podium
Kusuda began competing in bodybuilding in 2024, stepping on stage for the first time at age 51 and winning his first show. A 2024 contest listing from NPC News Online identifies Kusuda as the overall winner at the NPC Border States competition that October, with results also logged on his individual contest page tracking his men's bodybuilding placement. He went on to win a national championship in 2025 and placed third in 2026.
Kusuda is not slowing down. He plans to move up to the light heavyweight division and chase a national championship in a second weight class, a goal that would mark another milestone in a competitive run that started well after most bodybuilders begin their careers.
A Message Beyond the Stage
Kusuda said people facing serious health challenges should pursue meaningful activities and stay close to the people they care about, according to the same 10News report. It's a message he has effectively lived out himself, transforming a near-fatal cardiac diagnosis and a frustrating medication side effect into a competitive comeback that continues to unfold on national stages.
