The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE stage is set. Now it’s time for the competitors to flex their muscles at the 43rd Central American and Caribbean Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation Championships.

At the weigh-in yesterday in the Orion Room at the host Atlantis resort, some bodybuilders from the various countries expressed their delight over being in the Bahamas and competing in what they describe a “beautiful” venue, while the Bahamian athletes know that the pressure is on for them to compete before the home crowd.

With the pre-judging set for 2pm today, the actual championships are scheduled to begin 2pm Saturday.

“Last year, we did really well. We had three gold, two silver and bronze and this year we have a stronger team. We have more athletes and so we have more categories, so I’m expecting pretty much the same results,” said Jamina Jonas, the president of the Antigua and Barbuda Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation.

Jonas said because all of their gold medallists are back bigger and stronger than last year and their bikini competitor who got silver improving, it’s difficult to say where the strength lies in Antigua and Barbuda.

“I like the fact that everything is taking place in the same venue where we are living,” Jonas said. “That makes it a lot easier on the athletes, not having to be shuffled back and forth. They love the gym facility and the Bahamian people have been very good to us, so we’re looking forward to our stay here.”

No stranger to the Bahamas and even to the CAC Championships, veteran Beverly Percival is back because she didn’t want to miss the trip to “Paradise.”

“I’ve competed here twice. My first CAC was here in 2003 where I placed third in bodybuilding and my second time was in 2008 where I didn’t make the final. I was very disappointed then,” Percival stated. “I am now in a new category called Women’s Physique, so I want to come here and give it a try.”

Percival, who noted that she knows all of the competitors competing in the sport, said she intends to put up a fight.

“I know all of the girls will be coming in their best shape to put up a fight,” she said. “I have put together a package. I know I am not totally 100 per cent, but I am happy with it and I intend to go out there and fight and may the best man win. The hotel is very spacious, very huge, so I think it should give us some added incentive to compete.”

As for Team Antigua and Barbuda, Percival said they are looking forward to securing as many medals as possible and even some pro cards in the process.

Andreas Alzate, a delegate for Colombia, said their seven-member team has fallen in love with the Bahamas.

“We have a lot of experienced athletes from Colombia. We have one competitor in all of the men’s bodybuilding class and one girl in the bikini,” he said. “This is the best place that we have ever seen in terms of hosting a competition. This is like a palace and the people have been so nice and everything to us. We love it here. It’s great.”

The Bahamian team is as ready to compete on their home soil.

Kadesha Culmer, one of the competitors coming from Grand Bahama, is looking forward to representing the Bahamas for the first time.

“This will be my third time on stage competing,” she said. “So the fact that in my third time competing, I’m on the national team, I feel great about it. I’m really thankful. My preparation has been going great. I won’t say it’s one of the easiest, but I’m just trying to go hard at it and I’m thankful that it will be over by the weekend.”

Competing in the bikini competition, Culmer said she’s looking forward to putting on a show for the Bahamian public.

Another novice, Carina Ferguson, is also competing in her third competition for the year.

“I’m expecting to make the top six and make the final. Once I make the final, that would be an achievement within itself. “I will be satisfied,” Ferguson said. “My preparation has been very good. I’ve been competing for the last four months, it’s my lifestyle, it’s what I’m doing, it’s a part of me now.”

In preparation for her appearance on stage in the bikini category, Ferguson said she has had to diet extra hard because she can’t go on stage too hard.

“I have to have the cardio to balance my training,” she said. “So I’ve really had to stick to my diet.”

And with the championship being held here at home, Ferguson said this allows us to get over the jitterbugs in her first international competition with her family and friends in the stands cheering her on.

National coach Raymond Tucker said he had a chance to look at the 38 competitors representing the Bahamas and he has been quite pleased with what he saw.

“We’re looking great so far. As a team, everybody has been working hard and they are ready to go,” he said.

Tucker, a household name in the CAC region having represented the Bahamas for more than three decades, said it’s mind boggling that he was unable to compete this year, but he likes the fact that he can pass on some of his expertise to those who are following in his footsteps.

“The last time I represented the country, we won the championships and I medalled in three different categories,” he reflected. “I think if I had competed this year, I would be looking to medal in at least two categories, but I’m not competing for circumstances beyond my control. But that’s okay. I think I can outlive this one. I don’t know about the next one, but I know I will be in better shape to compete.”

In the meantime, Tucker said he has a job to do and he intends to get the team mentally ready and if they do, their bodies will respond physically.

“There’s a lot going on because they are at home and they feel more comfortable,” he said. “But I’m here to advise them that even though we are at home, countries are coming here to steal our things in our back yard. So I have to stir them in the right direction and make sure they diet properly and use the right supplements and take care of their bodies.

“From what I can see right now, our athletes are physically and mentally ready to make this homecoming a super one for us. We placed second last year, but I’m looking forward to us coming out on top and winning the title this year because we will have two competitors in each division.”

Last year, the Bahamas finished as runners-up to Barbados in St Maarten. Barbados is here with a full team among the more than 20 countries competing as they prepare to defend their title.