The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Wellington Wallace will return home with a pair of gold medals after leading the Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation’s eight-member team at the Central American and Caribbean Bodybuilding Championships in San Salvador, El Salvador, over the weekend.

The team, managed by Nardo Dean, saw Wallace pick up his second gold in the men’s physique, while Jason Johnson got the silver. Jaye Darling Jr secured a silver in the men’s muscular physique while Gemo Smith got a bronze. Kaif Young got his bronze in the men’s physique tall class with Terrion Kemp placing sixth.

Wallace captured the first gold for the Bahamas in the men’s masters physique on Saturday, while Wallace got his first gold in the men’s masters physique, while Kemp, making his international debut, earned a silver medal performance in the men’s junior physique category.

Joel Stubbs, the BBFF president, thanked the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture for their financial support and to his executive team and other members who ensured that Team Bahamas was ready for the championships.

“I’m, so proud that they (the athletes) did what it took to get here and of course to ensure that Team Bahamas was represented well here this weekend,” Stubbs said. “As we all can be thankful, we’re heading home with two gold, three silver and three bronze medals.

“We only had one athlete who didn’t make it on the medal podium, but as a novice athlete, making the final beating out a big field to make the top six, I’m very proud of Ashley Sturrup. I know she has the potential to go to the next level. She said her mind is all made up to mix and mingle with these girls and to take one of the top three spots.”

To the other competitors representing Team Bahamas, Stubbs congratulated them all and wished them every success as they prepare for Barbados in 2022, hopefully with a bigger team and more financing to get the job done.

Dean, the team manager, said the team did exceptionally well and it’s only indicative of the strong presence that the federation holds in ensuring that the athletes are in tip-top shape to represent the country. He thanked Tim Rolle for ensuring that everybody followed all of the safety protocols put in place in El Salvador.

Wallace was just thrilled to be a double gold medallist.

“I feel very pleased with my performance. This time around, I competed in two categories, winning the men’s masters and the men’s physique,” Wallace said. “It was stiff competition, but I’m feeling very happy and very accomplished.”

In the COVID-19 environment, Wallace said he was contemplating not making the trip, but he was glad that he changed his mind because it all worked out in his favour – double gold medals to show for it. He got the gold on Saturday in the men’s masters physique and came back on Sunday for the gold again in the men’s physique.

In his second trip to the championships, Johnson said he did what he had to do, but it was just a little short of the gold.

“I’m really pleased with my placing because the last CAC I came in sixth place,” he said. “I got a different package and I came out with a silver. So I’m really pleased with the placing. If the opportunity is given to me again in 2022, I’m going to come back for the gold.”

Darling Jr was pleased with his international debut as a silver medallist.

“I felt like it was a great experience. I’m satisfied with the body that I brought to the show,” he said. “I brought my best, in terms of posing and all that. I practiced for months, so I knew I would have a good flow.

“As for my placement, I wasn’t too happy with that. I think most people want to come first in general. The guy that won, the judges went that way, but I would not have gone that way. I’ll leave it at that.”

Next year, he said his goal is to get bigger, better and stronger as he takes in all of the critiques from Stubbs, Dean and head coach Raymond Tucker, as well as Wallace, his room-mate.

Despite moving into a different category, Smith said he felt he gave it his best shot, coming through with a bronze.

“Looking at the competition, I really thought I would have done better than the third place,” said Smith, who made his fourth appearance at the championships.

“The eyes of the judges said one thing and you have to accept it.

“But this will definitely motivate me to work hard during the offseason because I have something to prove next time around.”

Smith, however, said he was shocked when he was told that he could no longer do the men’s physique, but instead he had to go into the muscular men’s physique and it took more mental preparation to compete against the bigger competitors he faced.

Young, the bronze medallist in the men’s physique tall class, was just thrilled to be in the mix.

“With all respect, I give God the glory. I’m happy to be here again for the fourth, fifth time. This year was some really stiff competition, so I’m happy that I came out with some hardware,” he stated.

Joseph, one of two females representing the Bahamas, came through with a bronze in the women’s bikini, while Ashley Sturrup, making her debut, was sixth overall.

“I feel proud of my performance and how I was able to display my physique,” she said. “I feel every year, my package gets better, it gets tighter. It’s still room for improvement, things that I can work on and I intend to do just that. I’m not giving up.

“Sometimes the judging seemed to be off and unfair, but they know what they’re looking for, so all I can do is ask and get the feedback and critique what I need to do. I have the shape and perfect symmetry, some would say, so I’m not giving up. I’m going to keep pressing and hope to do a pro qualifier show and get a pro card from there.”

She noted that competing against 11 competitors in her category as the only black competitor, she wasn’t intimidated when she got on stage and made it to the final and got third place overall.

For Sturrup, getting her feet wet in competition for the first time was a major obstacle for her to deal with in the bikini competition.

“It was an excellent experience. I did my very best,” Sturrup stated. “I was surprisingly not nervous. I was excited that I made it to the final, but I expected to place a little higher.”

Given a week off to recuperate, Sturrup said when she gets back home, she will get back into the gym to develop more muscle and get ready for her next show, considering that this was the first time she got in a show after the BBFF didn’t have any shows this year due to COVID-19.

Kemp, another novice competitor, was just as elated with his performance.

“The first one was amazing. To bring back something, getting second and making top six it feels amazing,” Kemp said. “I already felt it out. Next year, I’m going to work hard, work on what I need to work on and bring back two gold.”

As he looks ahead to next year, Kemp said he intends to develop more size so that he can compete against the bigger guys, whom he faced in the main competition after he got his silver as a junior competitor.