The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

ALTHOUGH she considers bodybuilding a hobby, attorney Ashley Sturrup said she’s honoured to be able to make the team to represent the Bahamas at the Central American and Caribbean Bodybuilding Championships.

At the Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation’s showcase at J-Line Fitness Centre on Saturday, Sturrup was able to impress the panel of judges to earn her debut on the team as a bikini contestant at the championships, scheduled for San Salvador, El Salvador, from August 12-16.

Trained by International Federation of Bodybuilding Fitness (IBBF) pro Lakeisha Miller at Better Bodies, the 30-year-old Sturrup said she contemplated participating in the sport from 2018. But it was during the start of the coronavirus pandemic that she made the decision to get on stage as a competitor.

“I started training last October consistently and prepping for this year,” she said. “This is my first time doing this, so I was a bit nervous. I didn’t know what to expect, so I just did what my coach told me to do.”

With this being her first shot at competing, Sturrup said she would have preferred to be in an actual show, but the federation didn’t have one because of the protocol restrictions for COVID-19.

“I wished it would have been in front of an audience, getting that support from my family and friends,” she lamented. “But nonetheless, I still showed up with the best version of my body today.”

Looking at her performance, Sturrup said she felt she delivered a complete package and being just a novice, she hopes that she can get better in time. “I feel comfortable. I feel satisfied,” she insisted.

No doubt, her number one critique outside of the judging panel that made the final decision came from Miller, who was on the sideline providing the support for her new protégé.

“She looks amazing from where she started from,” said Miller, who will be coming off an injury to make her first appearance as a pro in November after earning her card in 2017 in Toronto, Canada.

“She’s a novice so when she came in, we tried to put some muscle on her to give her a better conditioning and a better shape to her body for her physique.”

From what she’s seen, Miller said Sturrup will definitely be ready for the championships.

“I think she did very well. I’m very proud of her,” Miller reflected. “We’re just going to bring a whole new package. We will get her a more symmetrical shape, put caps on her shoulders and some more shape in her quads and hamstring area.”

With a few more weeks to go before the team travels, Sturrup said she will continue to work hard under the supervision of Miller to ensure that she puts on a good show in El Salvador. “I will give it my best shot. I will definitely take the critiques and criticisms from the judges into account and further work on my body,” Sturrup said.

“Right now, I’m satisfied with my upper body. My lower body could use some more work. I need to work on my legs some more. That’s what I’m envisioned on doing when I go to CAC.”

She’s just eager to finally get on stage and compete in a competition for the first time.