The view here is that Dean and company certainly have the credentials to lobby for greater recognition of their sport. None can logically argue that.
International and regional sports representation has become commonplace for the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. Over the last two weeks, athletes from eight different sports disciplines have carried the Bahamian banner in competition abroad. Performers from track and field, golf, softball, basketball, soccer, swimming, tennis and bodybuilding/fitness all traveled to project this countryﾴs sports image.
For todayﾴs purpose, I wish to single out one of those sports, bodybuilding/fitness. While that organization has produced some of the real sports icons in our history (inclusive of Kingsley Poitier, Glen Wells, Anthony Carroll, and Cliff Wilson), and is still very popular, in the grand scheme it is not considered one of the front line sporting programmes in the country.
Nardo Dean, one of the prolific competitors in bodybuilding and fitness feels that way and earlier this week he expressed that position once again. Some would say, with good reason.
On Friday past at the War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Dean captured the Southern States Fitness and Bodybuilding title for the second time as well as the Masters Fitness Award. It was an extraordinary accomplishment for him and he felt the need to emphasize the view that although he and others from his sport regularly register high achievements abroad, the “accolades donﾴt come as they do for other sports.”
There will be those who would be willing to debate that issue but the bottom line factor is that Dean over the weekend was phenomenal. In 2003 he actually became the first Bahamian to win an international fitness title and already is he considered legendary in the Southern States Championships. He has qualified to compete in the US Nationals, another big time accomplishment.
We congratulate Dean and the rest of the Bahamian group that took part in the event at the War Memorial Auditorium. They were Vernon Rodgers who finished sixth overall; Paul Wilson who won the bodybuilding lightweight division; masters middleweight winner Charmane McNab; heavyweight
fourth place bodybuilding finisher Jena Mackey; second place masters(over-60) bodybuilding finisher Arthur Eldon and lightweight Jay Darling.The view here is that Dean and company certainly have the credentials to lobby for greater recognition of their sport. None can logically argue that.
Actually Deanﾴs success was truly high level. When one considers the routines during the rounds, including poise/physique; strength feats of chin-ups and push-ups with no straps, gloves or chalk; and an obstacle course; you easily get the picture of the grueling aspect of the competition.
Dean did very well to come out on top.
We encourage Dean and others from the bodybuilding/fitness family in the country to persevere as a vital contribution is made to the new sports culture in The Bahamas.
Fred Sturrup, The Bahama Journal
