Its athletes returning with hardware from international championships and successfully hosting its statutory competitions despite financial constraints were the highlights of the sport of bodybuilding for the year 2023.
The body is now looking to hit the ground running in 2024, with the Novices/Mr. Linden event tentatively set for the last Saturday in February.
According to the President of the Federation, Keavon Bess, plans are also in the pipeline to further decentralise the sport with the hosting of the Intermediate and the Mr. Berbice Classic in June and another event in Essequibo.
Bess, an attorney-at-law, further highlighted that the federation will look to bolster its cadre of CAC-qualified judges when the annual CAC Championship is hosted here next October.
Under the leadership of Bess, Guyana secured the rights to host the spectacle at the Congress in El Salvador two years ago.
Frank Tucker (CAC and IFBB certified), Aubrey Henry, Franklyn Brisport-Luke, and Bess are the current certified officials.
For the year 2023, the federation successfully hosted its statutory fixtures, hosted fund-raising activities, and also collaborated with the principals of ‘Stage of Champions’ to host the fifth edition of the event at the Ramada Princess.
On the international stage, Team Guyana’s standouts posed, flexed, and earned hardware in Barbados, Aruba, Colombia, and Dubai.
The hardware heist was a compliment to musclemen Emmerson Campbell, Darious Ramsammy, Nicholas Albert, Rawle Green, and Julio Sinclair. Bess pointed out that musclewomen, IFBB Elite Pro, Rosanna Fung, and Hannah Rampersaud were the international medalists for Guyana in the Miss Bikini Wellness category.
The focus will now shift to hosting ‘CAC’, the highest and most prestigious bodybuilding and fitness event in the region.
Said Bess, “The federation will commence work on securing sponsorship to have the best showing for CAC 2024.”
He added, “Other items on the calendar for 2024 include fund-raising activities and several planned seminars for the athletes, which include posing and health and nutrition seminars.”
In conclusion, Bess thanked the bodybuilding fraternity for their support, the GOA, the Ministry of Sport, the National Sports Commission, Fitness Express, and his executive members for making the year 2023 a successful one for bodybuilding.
