The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation is expected to field a 14-member team to compete at the region’s top event in the sport, as they look to reclaim the top overall title at the 41st CAC Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships.

On the heels of the BBFF’s Mr and Ms Independence National Championships just over a week ago, the federation selected the team for the event set to be held September 18-24, 2013, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, led by four returning medallists from 2012 - Tamica Stubbs, Jimmy Norius, Naomi Fatal and Dawnita Fry.

“The team we selected over the weekend, we went through the list with a ‘fine tooth comb’ so to speak. This federation desperately wants to get back to coming first in this event. We don’t want to finish in any other spot, we want to return to finishing in first place and we feel this is the team to do that,” BBFF president Danny Sumner said.

“The executives feel like we have selected the best team, a combination of veterans and relative newcomers, but they are young veterans. This is a relatively young team and the average age is between the late 20s early 30s. Of course we are looking for a good showing from our bodybuilders. In fitness we have a very impressive team, as well as in the other aspects like men’s physique, bikini and body fitness.”

At the 40th CAC Championships last year in San Juan Puerto Rico, the Bahamas finished fourth, after finishing third in 2011.

Barbados was the overall champion, followed by the host Puerto Rico in second and Curacao third. A total of five pro cards were awarded at the event.

For Team Bahamas, two gold medals came from Stubbs, who was successful in defending the women’s lightweight division.

Norius, the reigning Mr Independence Bahamas, took bronze in the lightweight division, while Fry claimed bronze in the tall fitness category and Fatal got bronze in the bikini category.

Other medallists included Dominique Wilkinson with gold in her body fitness division, Charnice Bain with bronze in body fitness, while Dawn Charlton just missed the medal podium as she was fourth in fitness in her division.

At the administrative level, the decision was taken to have Santo Domingo host the 2013 CAC games after Anguilla declined.

The 2013 CAC team will field eight division winners from this year’s nationals, including LaFleur, who returned from an absence in 2012 to win the title of Ms Independence Bahamas this year.

Sumner said he is most optimistic about the strength of the female squad in a competition that is highly competitive.

“Our female members of the team were excellent at nationals and we look for that to continue. More than any other sport, bodybuilding is the toughest at the CAC level. The IFBB is made up of five different regions at and what they have found out is that some of the most competitive athletes in the world come from the CAC region. Last year it was a very competitive showing and we took a little time to bring this team out to make the right choices in certain areas,” Sumner said.

“As the hosts, the Dominican Republic will have at least two people in every category, Barbados is always a tough task as well as Trinidad and Tobago.”

Team Bahamas features five bodybuilders and nine in various fitness divisions.

In body fitness, athletes are judged based on their physique whereas in fitness they are judged on their physique and a routine based on strength, fitness and flexibility.

According to Sumner, the trend toward more fitness competitors has been a recent phenomenon in the sport worldwide.

“Over the last five years there has been a decline in female bodybuilding. Three years ago they dropped one female weight category and because of that we have seen a rise in fitness. Females we were trying to recruit years ago to get into bodybuilding, we have seen many of them trend toward fitness,” he said. “We have seen a slight decrease in male bodybuilding as well with the physique category which has attracted many competitors.”

Sumner also noted that the Bahamas will place a bid to host the CAC Bodybuilding Championships in 2014. The Bahamas last hosted the event in 2008 and won the overall title.

The team won three individual championships in addition to a plethora of top-five finishes en route to 204 points.

2013 CAC Team members:

Bikini

Amy Sands

Naomi Fatal

Jheaneale Bahadosingh

Men’s Physique

Kenlexis Mackey

Jonathan Richardson

Ethan Quant

Body Fitness

Dawnita Fry

Nicole Richardson

Women’s Fitness

Dawn Charlton

Women’s Bodybuiding

Lorraine Lafleur

Tamica Stubbs

Men’s Bodybuilding

Bernard Davis

Jimmy Norious

Charles Reckly