The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation congratulated the 10-member team that represented the Bahamas at the Ben Weider Legacy Cup in Toronto, Canada.

The team was led by Lakeisha Miller, who earned her professional card in winning the masters women and the physique title. She became the ninth Bahamian to earn her pro card.

Not to be left out in the celebrations were the other members of the team, including Gemo Smith, who won the master men's physique 40-44 years open, Paul Wilson, who won the men's bodybuilding up to 70kg and Sidney 'Butts' Outten, who won the master men's bodybuilding over 60 years open.

Also, Grand Bahamian Bernard Davis got 11th out of a field of 12 competitors in the men's bodybuilding over 100 kg and Alberto Armbrister placed fourth out of eight in the men's physique up to 170cm Class A.

And Grand Bahamian Tammy Stubbs got fourth in the master women's body fitness 35-44 years up to 163 cm and sixth in the women's body fitness up to 160 cm Class A; Dekel Nesbitt fifth in the women's body fitness up to 166 cm Class C and Shakira Ferguson was 11th in the women's bikini-fitness up to 163 cm Class B.

"The competition was a success, but I was disappointed that I didn't finish in the top six," Ferguson said. "It was totally different. I got a lot of feed back.

"This was my first time on the international stage where I competed against competitors outside the CAC region and so it was a different level for me. I had judges come and five me pointers on how I could improve."

Ferguson, a beautician who will turn 34 in December, said she went out there and gave it her best shot. She felt that she gave her rivals a run for their money in the couple seconds that she had to go on stage.

For Wilson, he was disappointed that the other two competitors entered in his category didn't get to compete. But he didn't let it get to him after he had to compete against the light middleweights, who were about 20 pounds heavier than him.

"This will only help all of us to get even better," he said. "The team performed exceptionally well because more than 50 percent of us brought back medals and more than 75 percent made the top ten.

"So competing against countries like Canada, the USA and Mexico and perform the way we did was very encouraging for us. Every time we turned around, they were calling the Bahamas' name. Everybody was impressed with us."

While Wilson, 34, will wait to see if the competition is open to the Bahamas again next year, he will now turn his attention to competing in the Fay Rolle Classic next weekend.

"This is my third competition, which I had to fund myself. I have two gold and a bronze," he pointed out. "But I hope my next international event will be the Arnold Classic. I know they are going to have one in Africa, so we might just hear that someone will be going to the Motherland to compete."

In his first international competition, Giovanni said the competition was all that he expected and more.

"I ended up coming third in my division, which I felt I should have actually won," he said. "From my presentation to the judges, I was in much better condition, I was in the best shape of life. I actually looked better than when I competed at nationals in August.

"But at the end of the day, I'm still excited that I got to compete. I placed in the top three, so I am impressed. I got some great critiques from some of the top bodybuilders at the competition and I got great advise from the overall bodybuilder. He told me to just continue pressing on and working hard."

He's now more motivated to compete and hopefully next year he want to tighten up his body and show ore definition and eventually go after his pro card in one of the various shows.

"I want to thank my coach and mentor Nardo Dean. Without him, I don;t know what I would have done," he said. "It's amazing to see how he has transformed me from a track star to a bodybuilder in just one year. That is amazing."

Just before the team traveled to Toronto, Terran Knowles competed in Miami, Florida where he placed second and third in three different categories and was awarded four swords for his efforts.

"It's been a long time coming," said Knowles of his performance. "I actually suffered an injury in 2015 that kept me out of competition last year.

"This was my first competition back and being back on stage reminded me of the discipline and dedication that you have to put into the sport," he reflected.

"This is just the tip of the iceberg for me, but right now I want to get back to the body fitness level that I was in before the injury."

Knowles said he's so confident in his comeback that he's projecting that he will be one of the next Bahamian competitors to earn his pro card.