The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

JASON Johnson will now have plenty of time on his hands trying to juggle his fitness level to compete on stage as both a World Beauty and Fitness Fashion (WBFF) and International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) physique professional bodybuilder.

After earning his Male Fitness Model WBFF card at the Bahamas International Pro-Am show in May at the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island, Johnson travelled to Miami, Florida for the Miami Grand Prix over the weekend where he secured his IFBB pro card in the men’s physique Class C.

The 30-year-old personal trainer is the first and only Bahamian to earn the double feat, but he joins a growing list of Bahamians who have earned their pro cards.

The list includes Raynor Ferguson, Enderich Rahming, Jameil Hamilton, Jimmy Norius, Terran Knowles, Rashid Edgecombe, Tammy Stubbs, Loraine LeFleur, Lakeisha Miller, Chanice Bain, Angelika Wallace-Whitfield and Tanya Moxey-Cleare.

Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation president Joel Stubbs, a pro bodybuilder himself, welcomed Johnson to the sporting fraternity, particularly after he was received from the Central American and Caribbean Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships in San Salvador, El Salvador, the previous weekend as one of the Bahamas’ eight medallists.

“Both Jayson and I spoke one on one and I made it known to him that he did his homework and had tremendously improved his physique and that it will be noticed,” Stubbs said. “We’re so excited to see these national athletes commit to the task at hand and to follow it through to completion.

“Knowing that if they remain consistent and determined it will elevate them to professional status, and be given the opportunity to make their mark and represent the Bahamas in the sport of bodybuilding on the world stage.”

Watching Johnson’s elevation, Stubbs encouraged the other members of the BBFF, who are seeking their pro cards, not to give up, give in or slack off because they would be very close and if they want it very badly, they will be able to achieve it.

Johnson, the lone Bahamian competing in the show, coming off his silver medal performance in the men’s physique at the CAC Championships, said he knew he had what it took to prevail at the show held at the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center.

“It was an exciting competition,” said Johnson, who was in the 182 centimetre class at the IFBB Florida Grand Prix that served as an International Elite Pro Qualifier.

“I brought my best package because I just came back from the CAC Championships and I was still in good condition.

“The competition was very competitive. One thing I always bring to the stage is my conditioning, which got me more noticed than the other guys on stage. Despite the fact that some of them were a little bigger in size than me, they were not as conditioned as I was. In bodybuilding, conditioning is key.”

In just two years competing in the sport, Johnson said he owes a deal of gratitude to his IBFF girlfriend and business partner Lorraine LaFleur for being instrumental in introducing him to the sport back in 2019. Today, the pair operate the G-Fitness for Life Gym on Soldier Road.

“She brought out the potential I always had inside of me. She saw something that I didn’t know I had,” said Johnson of LaFleur, who earned her pro card in 2018.

“So, I really appreciate her and the relationship that we have developed in such a short space of time.”

After returning home with the nine-member team from the CAC Championships on Monday, Johnson didn’t have any time to unpack his bags as he was back on the plane to Miami for his latest competition.

“I was already conditioned from the CAC last Saturday, so with just one week in between competition, I decided to give it a try because I really wanted to get my pro card at CAC,” he said.

Now he will have the opportunity to appear on stage as a dry fitness model in a suit in WBFF competitions and as an oiled up competitor flexing more of his muscles in his posing routine with the IBFF.

“I have the look for both areas because in the fitness model, they are looking for men’s physique, but not so much flexing it, as I would do in the physique competition where I have to focus on my conditioning,” Johnson said.

“I am going to pursue both pro cards in both federations next year to see how I can compete.

“I’m officially in my off-season, so I will take the time to look at what’s best for me and what direction I will go in.”

And with that in mind, Johnson said he’s just amazed to be the first Bahamian to hold two pro cards in two different federations.

“To be able to earn two pro cards in the sport in just the short time I’ve been competing is just amazing,” he said. “God brought me this part into the sport and I’m just glad to have someone like Lorraine on my side supporting me.

“She’s passed so much of her knowledge on to me. She’s seen the potential in me. So I would really like to thank her for that.”

When he returns home, one of the first things Johnson said he intends to do is treat LaFleur to a well-deserved belated birthday dinner, although her big day was on August 11, but he couldn’t cheat on his training and diet because of the competitions ahead of him.

And hopefully next, he said they will get the chance to compete together as the first Bahamian couple on the same stage as professional bodybuilders.