Home|Sports|All hail the return of the nationalsSports
New national champions crowned in bodybuilding and fitness
Sheldon LongleySend an emailJuly 18, 2022 312 6 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email
Starving for an opportunity to compete, bodybuilding and fitness athletes came out in full force on Saturday night and the fans showed their approval, signaling a grand return of the Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation’s (BBFF) Novice and National Championships.
The 49th edition of the bodybuilding and fitness nationals, and the first in three years, due to the threat of COVID-19, drew hundreds to the Atlantis Theater at Atlantis on Saturday night.
Coming out with the overall titles were Fania Joseph in Open Bikini, Cara Saunders in Women’s Wellness, Kaif Young in Men’s Physique and Giovanne Farrington in Men’s Bodybuilding. Overall, 30 athletes took part in the competition and, for all of them, it was a welcomed experience after a three-year hiatus at the national level.
Joseph competed in just her second nationals. She competed for the first time in 2019 and is now the National Bikini Champion.
“I feel very good. This is incredible,” said Joseph. “I worked extremely hard for the past four months or so, and I feel as if the hard work has definitely paid off. I brought my best to the national stage and I’m very happy with the result. The work continues.”
Joseph will now prepare for the 49th Annual Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships, set for July 27 to August 1, in Bridgetown, Barbados. The CACs is an International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness’ (IFBB) world ranking event and an IFBB elite pro qualifier. Several Bahamians have attained their IFBB pro cards from the CACs over the years.
“I’m very grateful to the federation (BBFF) because even though we didn’t have nationals, they still provided opportunities for us to compete over the last three years,” said Joseph. “Right now, I’m just looking to going to the CACs and representing The Bahamas well. I’m optimistic that I will have a good showing.”