THIRTY-ONE bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts are set to take the stage tonight at the National Cultural Centre for the Guyana Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (GBBFF) and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport ‘Resilience’ competition. The event, which is the first for the sport since February, will be spectator-free, since organisers are looking to follow COVID-19 regulations. According to the president of GBBFF, Keavon Bess, over $1M will be up for grabs. Bodybuilding Lightweights (athletes at 165 pounds and lower), Bodybuilding Heavyweights (athletes at 166 pounds and higher), Ms Bikini and Men’s Physique will have $100 000 as the first prize, while the second-place winners will collect $70 000 and third-placers $50 000.
Additionally, the overall winner of the Bodybuilding segment would receive $200 000. Along with the ministry, Fitness Express is also a sponsor of the event. Both reigning Mr Guyana Marlon ‘Bolo’ Bennett and National Bikini champion Rosanna Fung are scheduled to compete. Bennett would have stiff competition from the likes of former Mr Guyana Clint Duke, Caerus Cipriani, CAC finalist Darius Ramsammy, Guyana’s Strong Man winner Carlos Petterson-Griffith and several other seasoned bodybuilders and up-and-coming competitors looking to make their names.
Fung is scheduled to compete against four other ladies, including the 2020 Novice champion Ashanti Conway and first runner-up Christina Ramsammy. None of the top three from the 2019 Senior National Championships Men’s Physique will battle tonight, but several talented and well defined competitors will look to take centre stage. Among the likes are 2020 Novice champion Jonathan Jeffrey and the talented Renaldo Caldeira, who is being trained by former Senior National Mr Physique winner Yannick Grimes. Information from the federation indicates that the event would now start at 20:00hrs and can be viewed live on the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport Facebook page, HJTV, NCN Channel 11, Channel 28 and NTN. “The time for the competition has been changed from 19:00hrs and to 20:00hrs. This slight change is to accommodate the synchronisation of the different TV stations and media outlets.” The two-hour competition will be judged by three of Guyana’s top judges: Frank Tucker (Chief Judge), Franklyn Brisport and Aubrey Henry. The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson, will be in attendance. All videography and production will be handled and facilitated by the Hits and Jams team.
