By Floyd Christie
Guyana’s most renowned bodybuilder Hugh Ross says he doesn’t plan on retiring and in a recent interview with Stabroek Sport he elaborated on his recent accomplishments and his future plans for the sport in the competitive arena.
While making it clear that he has no plans on retiring Ross stated, “The natural bodybuilder embraces a lifestyle that is conducive to longevity and good health, so there’s no reasons I should stop… Until I get bored I’ll remain competing.”
He pointed out that although it is felt that things regress as a person gets older he doesn’t agree with that 100% because he is a living example that this doesn’t really happen. “A typical athlete once they are over thirty they start going on the decline and start losing muscle mass and I’ve been able not to loose but to gain a solid two to three pounds every year of muscle.”
According to Ross, this can be attributed to the fact that he lives a very clean and healthy lifestyle. “I’m not like your typical person who wakes up and eats breakfast, lunch and dinner, that doesn’t cut it. I ensure I have proper nutrients compounded with day to day training. Combining the two I think I was able to be ahead of the game and I’m still competing with people who could’ve been my little sons.”
Prior to bodybuilding Ross was involved in power lifting and acquired a number of awards in that sport. He won the New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and the Tri-state Championships, then went on to win the United States overall nationals in powerlifting along with the best lifter award in the year 2000.
Ross stated that at this point he got bored and due to the fact he had maintained a low body fat percentage, he decided to set foot on the body building stage in 2002 after taking a year off reshaping his structure for bodybuilding.
“I guess the muscle density and mass I acquired as a powerlifter gave me a major jump start and in eight years I was able to accomplish what bodybuilder’s haven’t been able to achieve in 30 years,” Ross said.
He also reaped successes on the bodybuilding stage and was able to win the United States overall championship in 2004 after just two years of bodybuilding. Ross also got two consecutive second places in the Muscle Mania World Championships in 2008 and 2009 and in the latter stages of last year he competed in the United Kingdom as part of team USA at the Mr. Universe championships where he was able to place third in a field of 37 international athletes from all parts of the world. In closing Ross mentioned, “I do not do small competitions anymore because it entails the same preparation” and to this effect he will only be competing in “one or two” competitions a year because “it takes at least three months to prepare.”
He will be returning to the United Kingdom in October for the Mr. Universe Championships and according to Ross there is the possibility he will compete in the Muscle Mania World Championships that comes shortly after in November in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Amidst his successes, a very patriotic Ross took time out to emphasize, “I will continue in my endeavours to keep the Golden Arrowhead aloft.”
