Home|Sports|Robinson heads CAC teamSports
Simba FrenchSend an emailAugust 4, 2023 188 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email
In the face of a blow to the port through international sanctions, and still coping through a gradual recovery process from COVID, bodybuilding and fitness is trying to make a successful return to the grand stage.
The local governing body for the sport, the Bahamas Bodybuilding, Wellness and Fitness Federation (BBWFF), has certainly had its challenges over the past year, but that didn’t stop the executives from pressing forward, ensuring that the athletes have an opportunity to develop and progress in the sport.
Following the conclusion of the BBWFF Novice and National Championships, the federation has ratified a 14-member team to represent The Bahamas at the Golden Anniversary 50th International Federation of BodyBuilding and Fitness’ (IFBB) Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Championships, set for September 21-25, at the Aruba Marriott Resort Stellaris Casino at Palm Beach, Aruba.
Named to the team are national overall champion Godfrey Robinson, Reginald Delancy and Orick Nesbitt in men’s bodybuilding, Briceton Anderson in men’s fitness, Kareem Brancaccio in men’s fit model, Ricardo Gibson in men’s physique Class C, Judah Forbes in men’s physique Class D, Brandon Bastian in men’s physique Class F, Anthon Moxey in men’s classic physique Class B and Andrew Gibson in men’s classic physique Class C. Anderson will also compete in men’s physique Class B.
Among the women, Dorcas Cox will compete in women’s body fitness (figure), Denica Thompson and Andrecka Dames will compete in women’s wellness Class B and Ivanique Kemp will compete in women’s wellness Class D.
All of the members of the team will be first-timers at this level of competition with the exception of Robinson, Nesbitt, Forbes and Cox.
“It is a very young team, but it is a very structured team,” said Nardo Dean, project manager of the BBWFF. “It’s a new team with just a couple veterans. They all have the potential to win a medal and we are giving them an opportunity to do so. They just have to stay focussed, remember what got them to this point and just go out there and represent themselves, their families, and the country well. We have the utmost confidence in them in that they will do well. The new talent is very eager to get on stage and compete. They want to do well and we believe they will. They are excited. They have the drive and passion and they want to prove a point. With the veteran leadership there to guide them, we believe that they will represent themselves well.”
The head coach of the team is legendary retired bodybuilder Raymond Tucker.
Dean said in recent years, they have been taking a 10-15 member team which is considerably smaller than what is needed to win the overall team title. There has been a struggle to generate interest since the passing of the coronavirus pandemic. On top of that, funding is always an issue, said Dean.
“We need about $20-30,000 to send this team away and that’s significantly more than what we get in terms of annual grant. We want to say thank you to the minister and the director of sports for coming through at the nationals but we’re going to need them more than ever now. We need funding. We’re doing what we can in representing The Bahamas but we could only do so much with the limited funds that we have,” said Dean.
The team has about a month and a half before the start of the regional championships. Dean said they are looking to bring back as much medals and pro cards as possible.
“One thing about the CAC Championships, you don’t have to win the overall in order to get your pro cards now. You could earn a pro card by winning your division, and depending on how competitive the division is, you could finish second and still earn a pro card,” said Dean. “I tell the athletes all the time, it’s much easier to get your pro cards now than in the past so take advantage of it.’ A lot of them are looking forward to that. If we had it like that back in the day, a lot of us (former Bahamian bodybuilders and fitness athletes) would have gotten our pro cards.
“We believe they will do well. The Bahamas has always been a force to reckon with in bodybuilding and fitness and we expect this year to be no different. Everyone expects quality performances from The Bahamas and that is what we intend to give them.”
At 56, Robinson stole the show at the nationals last month. He won the masters and national bodybuilding titles along with awards for most muscular and best routine, and will lead the 14-member team into Aruba.