Prior to the staging of the fourth Guyana Fitness Games ‘Fitness Challenge’, 2016 and 2017 winner, Dillon Mahadeo set the goal of recording a three-peat.
In front of a sizable crowd at the National Park on Sunday, the 22 year-old gladiator from Cross Fit 592 achieved his goal.
Mahadeo who placed second in the inaugural event in 2015, dead lifted, ran, pressed, pushed and jumped his way to add a third “Fittest Man in Guyana’ title to his collection.
This year’s showing was his best yet. He amassing a perfect 500 points from the five events, relegating fellow gladiators, Timothy McAndrew (408) to second and Junior Cornette (401) of the Guyana Defence Force to third. Ravendath Bajnath (395) of Suriname and Anis Ade Thomas with 377 points filled out the top five.
Mahadeo won all five individual events including the fourth (clean and jerk ladder) which he tied with Ade-Thomas. Both men clean and jerked 275 pounds which was the last rung on the ladder.
Besides another year’s bragging rights, Mahadeo was awarded the champion’s trophy, the $250,000 first prize and other incentives. The sum of $150,000 went to McAndrew. Cornette pocketed $100,000 for his efforts.
In the women’s category, last year’s second place finisher, Delice Adonis (480 points) literally climbed her way ahead of her Genesis Fitness Express club mate, Semonica Duke to take the top spot in a nail biting battle for the honors which was broken by a tie breaker.
Tonnica Archer also of Genesis Fitness Express was third with 425 points. The podium dwellers were followed by Melissa Stewart (420) and Kereina Bell (404).
The 34 male and female elite athletes were pushed to the limit in a number of demanding feats of physical fitness. They included snatches, a 400m run, rowing, box jumps, the atlas stone carry, rope climbs, cleans and jerks, sled pushes, burpees, wall balls and jumping walls.
On Sunday, there was also the Scotiabank Celebrity Charity Challenge. Robbie Singh of Pulse Entertainment and the Michaela ‘The Remix Chick’ Cameron were the male and female winners. The Help and Shelter and the Giving Hope Foundation were the beneficiaries, receiving $100,000 apiece.
Notable sponsors included Kares Engineering (title), Fitness Express, Ansa McAL, Courts Guyana Inc, WindJammer Hotel, Wings Transportation Services and Baganara Resort.
