By Emmerson Campbell
Medalists at this year’s 40th annual Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Bodybuilding and Bikini Championships, Devon Davis and Kerwin Clarke, were both lauded for their outstanding performances yesterday.
Davis, the current Hugh Ross Classic bantamweight champion, posed and flexed his way to a gold medal in the flyweight category while Clarke, the reigning HRC welterweight and overall winner copped a bronze medal in the lightweight division at the three-day event which concluded on Saturday in Puerto Rico.
During a press conference yesterday at the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), Clarke and Davis along with compatriots Marlon Bennett (bantamweight) and Alisha Fortune (light weight and Master’s) who both received medals for placing sixth in their respective categories were congratulated by the Guyana Amateur Bodybuilding Fitness Federation (GABBFF) for making the nation proud.
President of the GABBF, Kevon Bess, praised the four-member team, stating that their performances were “an accomplishment for Guyana.”
Bess said the four athletes must be commended for “rising above the challenges” and doing extremely well in their respective categories.
He added that the GABBFF has aspirations to send a much larger team, probably of 10 bodybuilders to the 2013 championships which will be held in the Dominican Republic, depending on their ability to raise the necessary funding.
Bess stated that bodybuilding was not as established as cricket and football and therefore corporate support was difficult to garner.
He, however, thanked the companies and individuals for supporting the bodybuilders at the championships. The GABBFF boss also stated that Guyana has talented athletes but more government and corporate support was needed.
Meanwhile Davis, who trains at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) gym, stated in an invited comment that he has plans of winning another gold medal at the CAC championships next year but in the mean time will be taking part in two more local shows (National Senior Bodybuilding Championships on October 20 and Flex Nite Inc on December 8.
Clarke echoed Davis’ sentiments and mentioned that he too will be going for the gold at next year’s CAC’s while he also will be looking to acquire his pro card in the not too distant future.
Clarke also stated he will be competing at the National Seniors as well as Flex Night events.
The athletes were selected by a panel of judges last month which included GABBFF Vice President Hugh Ross, former GABBFF president and current Chairman of Flex Night Inc Donald Sinclair, and former GABBFF president Frank Tucker.
Some of the sponsors for the athletes include Fitness Express,New GPC, Hand in Hand Insurance, the National Sports Commission, Buddy’s Gym, Extreme Fitness Gym, Digicel, Giftland Office Max, Digicel and others.
