Boasting impeccable credentials local, Guyana’s Dominic Tyrell and Rome Hunter’s international prowess in powerlifting will be known today and tomorrow when they compete at this year’s World Classic & Equipped Sub-Junior & Junior Powerlifting Championships in Cluj Napoca, Romania. According to president of the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation, (GAPF) Franklin Wilson, the two athletes are confident of giving a very good account of themselves.
“The Guyanese due of Dominic Tyrell and Romeo Hunter are set to unleash their strength at the 2023 edition of the World Classic and Equipped Sub Junior and Junior Powerlifting Championships,” said Wilson in a release to this newspaper.
The 23-year-old Tyrell is in his final year at this level and will be going all out to leave an indelible mark against the rest of the world when he takes the platform from 10:00hrs Guyana time, 17:00hrs, Romania, time.
Tyrell, who is the reigning Guyana junior 74kg champion and a member of the One Barbell Gym in T&T where he resides, is intent on making himself and Guyana proud, in Romania.
The quiet, but fierce junior strongman who holds all the 74kg records (squat, bench press, deadlift, total) is a graduate of the University of the West Indies with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in French, Upper Second-Class honours.
Tyrell, who will be taking on 19 other athletes from countries including, Canada, Spain, India, France, Italy, Singapore, Hungary, Mexico, Ireland, New Zealand, Great Britain, Philippines, Kuwait, and Turkey, said he is positive of making his family and nation proud and has expressed gratitude to all who have assisted him in reaching this level including his father, mother and brother, Delroy, who just returned to the USA to continue his studies whilst also focusing on his swimming career.
Sixteen-year-old Romeo Hunter, who is making his debut at the championships, has quite a few more years remaining in the division and will be seeking to hit the platform with a bang tomorrow when he takes centre stage from 11:30hrs Guyana time, 18:30hrs, Romania time.
At such a tender age, Hunter, a member of Unity Gym, has already racked up a name for himself in powerlifting and bodybuilding. Already competing for the past three years, having been introduced to the sport, four years ago, young Hunter has been effusive in his praise of his father, who is also his Coach, Oudit Seenarain. Hunter is currently ranked ninth in the world in the 83kg class and is the current holder of 18 national records in the Open and Under-18 (sub-junior) division. His aim at these championships is to be in the top three overall whilst seeking a gold medal in the squat, as well as gold in the bench press with a possible world record.
His task will be made more challenging as he has in his path to glory, 20 other lifters from Finland, Italy, USA, New Zealand, Great Britain, Slovakia, India, Czechia, Ireland, Canada, Turkiye, Thailand, South Africa, and Japan. Accompanying the athletes in Romania is IPF category 11 referee, Franklyn Brisport-Luke who has been very active as a referee.
Meanwhile, Wilson, on behalf of his executive, members and fans of the sport, extended the nation’s best wishes to the team in Romania and assured them that the nation is fully behind them as they fly the Golden Arrowhead aloft.
Fans interested in following the action can do so via the International Powerlifting Federation, YouTube channel.
