MARIGOT—Joseph Carty and Anguilla’s Nicole Gumbs respectively won the Junior Male Physique and Junior Bikini Fitness categories at the inaugural Junior Bodybuilding, Bikini and Fitness Championship held in the Sandy Ground Cultural Center on Saturday evening.
Bodybuilding and Fitness Association of St. Martin’s (BFASM) initiative to encourage a new wave of beginner athletes to get into the sport and gain experience and exposure from competition for the first time must be applauded. While there were just two categories of nine athletes in total, the newcomers will continue to gain confidence as they develop their physiques.
Joseph Carty with his superior tone and definition was a stand out in the Junior Male Physique category and no surprise he got the nod from the judges. Stephan Johnson from Anguilla placed second, Kai Da Silva took third and Aron Richardson (Anguilla) was fourth.
The Junior Bikini Fitness category saw Anguilla’s Nicole Gumbs take first place, Janicia Brooks, also from Anguilla placed second, and Fanny Sam from St. Martin/Guadeloupe finished third. Fourth place went to Javonella Lake and fifth place to Valencia Croft (Anguilla).
Guest posers included Junior Guercin, the Overall Male Physique winner at J.C.’s Gym and BFASM’s 5th Inter Island Bodybuilding and Fitness Championship in June and bodybuilder Geshaunne Clark from Anguilla who was the Middle weight winner in the same event. Elvina Mathew also gave a polished Bikini Fitness demonstration.
The biggest cheer of the evening however went up for Mr. Olympia, eight-year-old Vernon Gamiette who went through his moves, a future bodybuilder in the making. He earned a medal and a gift bag along with the other athletes. His father Lucien Gamiette then showed the audience how the pros do the poses.
“A competition like this to encourage the youth to get into the sport is long overdue,” said Francois Carty. “We always talk about the youth having no direction and getting into crime. Well getting into this sport is a way out; it’s healthy and gives you goals to work towards.”
International Federation of Bodybuilding (IFBB) judges Jospeh and Celestine Pradel from Anguilla, Martin Wilson from St. Maarten, and Head Judge Francois Carty officiated for the evening.
Trophies were presented by Erwin Dormoy, sponsor from Fun, Relax SXM, a vacation concept from Simpson Bay Resort.
