- Sheldon Longley
- Nov 2, 2023 Updated Nov 2, 2023
- 0
The accolades continue to pour in for Danny Sumner who has given more than half of his life toward the development of the sport of bodybuilding in The Bahamas and the region.
Sumner, a former president of the Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (BBFF), now the Bahamas Bodybuilding Wellness and Fitness Federation (BBWFF), was awarded with the Gold Award at the Golden Anniversary 50th International Federation of BodyBuilding and Fitness’ (IFBB) Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Championships in Palm Beach, Aruba, this year. The Bahamas won nine medals at those championships, including four gold, and also had a pro card winner.https://8339cc7912efad85ca6b95edd6edf671.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html
Sumner is the first Bahamian to serve on the executive board of the CACBBFF, reaching as high as vice president, and also served as the president of the Antilles region.
“It’s exciting to know that your work is appreciated,” said Sumner. “This is an award that the IFBB gives to long-standing members in different countries for the development and promotion of bodybuilding and fitness in the region. I’ve put in time, energy and effort into the sport and it’s just an amazing feeling when you are remembered. I feel like I was instrumental in the development of bodybuilding and fitness in The Bahamas and the Caribbean. I’m one of the first Bahamians to receive an international judge’s card, the first Bahamian to be vice president of the CAC and the first Bahamian patron of the sport regionally. All of that have led to me being respected by comrades, the athletes and coaches, and team officials, and it’s a good feeling to get that recognition.”
Sumner served as president of the BBFF at a time when The Bahamas got its first pro card in bodybuilding and first pro card in fitness. Charles Kemp and Natasha Brown earned those distinctions, respectively. Also during his reign, The Bahamas dominated at the CAC level, winning eight CAC Championships titles. The country was ranked as high as number one in the CAC region and was top 10 in the world.https://8339cc7912efad85ca6b95edd6edf671.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html
“I stepped away from the sport locally after serving as president because I felt that I had done my part, but I kept my position at the CAC level. Really and truly, I never left the sport,” said Sumner. “I was instrumental in getting Bahamians certified in judging and officiating. The first four came under me.”
Sumner said he wants Bahamian athletes to continue to pursue their goals in the sport and to continue to aspire for greatness.
“I want athletes and officials to pursue their ultimate goals and put more into the sport. The more you put in, the more you will get out of it,” he said. “The sport is big and will make you more disciplined in life. I want the people involved to get more active in creating a vision for younger people and I want Bahamians to gain international experience in the sport. I want the sport to get into the Olympics. It’s disappointing that the IOC (International Olympic Committee) has not invited the sport into the fold as yet. We were close to getting it in about 10 years ago but we never got over the hump. It’s time that bodybuilding and fitness be added to the Olympic schedule.”
Sumner has received as much as seven awards in bodybuilding and fitness at the CAC level, but the Gold Award is the highest one. He is the first Bahamian to officiate at a fitness competition in Spain and has served as an official in bodybuilding and fitness at all levels, obtaining the highest level of experience and judging card.https://8339cc7912efad85ca6b95edd6edf671.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html
Also, Sumner was instrumental in the formation of government league slow pitch softball and government league basketball in the country, was president of government league basketball for 10 years and is certified as an international official in three sporting disciplines – bodybuilding and fitness, basketball and powerlifting. He served as CAC Vice President for three consecutive terms.
The CAC Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation was formed to promote bodybuilding and fitness in the Caribbean and Central America.