By Emmerson Campbell
King of this year’s third biennial Hugh Ross Classic (HRC) Bodybuilding and Fitness Show, Kerwin Clarke, has aspirations of emulating his mentor and Guyana’s world renowned bodybuilder Hugh Ross.
However, Clarke has a long way to go if he wants to follow in the footsteps of the 2010 Mr. Olympia Masters’ Champion and former Sportsman-of-the- Year but the 24-year-old muscleman feels that he has the potential to get the job done.
“I think I have great potential and I will do the best that I can to emulate Mr. Ross and make my country proud,” said Clarke in a recent interview with Stabroek Sport.
“I look at him, he advises me and he is someone I look up to, we have a great relationship.”
Clarke, who copped this year’s HRC welterweight and overall titles by out-posing and out-flexing a competitive field that included 2010 Mr. Guyana, Clint Duke, said his immediate goal was to win gold medals at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC)Games in Puerto Rico later this year.
Said Clarke: “My immediate goal is to grab a couple of CAC gold medals, achieve my professional card, go internationally and do my nation proud.”
Clarke, who only started to train as a bodybuilder 16 months ago after a successful track and field career as a 100m and 200m sprinter, says he plans turning professional as early as next year.
“I was an athlete at first but I was off of the track for a while but I decided to stick to fitness. I always had a passion for fitness and I looked at myself and saw that I had a great physique so I ventured into bodybuilding to put it to good use.”
He added:“I plan on going pro as soon as next year if that is possible but for this year I’m focusing on winning gold medals at the CAC Games in Puerto Rico.”
Clarke, who burst onto the bodybuilding scene last year by winning the overall Novices title, said he was inspired by mentors like Ross himself, CAC gold medalist and Fitness Trainer at Buddy’s Gym, Sylvan Gardner, Bruce Whatley, and powerlifter Mervyn ‘Spongy’ Moses.
The East Ruimveldt Secondary School graduate who is currently employed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and studying for the CAT (Chartered Accountant Technician) exam opined that every household should adopt a healthy lifestyle.
“Bodybuilding is a very interesting sport and it aids in a healthy lifestyle. It is a lifestyle that everyone should adopt, if not bodybuilding, fitness as a whole, each household should get involved in fitness,” Clarke reiterated.
Clarke also stated that bodybuilders invest a lot to showcase a well sculpted physique and stated that more needs to be done in terms of sponsorship to reward the musclemen and women for their hard work and dedication to the sport.
During the interview, Clarke thanked Jamie Mc Donald, owner of Fitness Express, for making his supplements readily available. He also thanked his family, the proprietors of Buddy’s Gym, Moses, Gardner and others who supported him.
