By Neto Baptiste
Antigua and Barbuda’s newest pro bodybuilder, Kenroy Christian, said his aim is to qualify for the IFBB World Championships from September 16-17 in Seville, Spain.
His revelation comes on the heels of a successful showing at the Inter Island Bodybuilding Fitness & Physique Championship held in St Maarten on July 3 where he captured the tall class in the Men’s Physique before going on to win the overall competition.
The feat earned Christian the opportunity to accept his IFBB Elite Pro Card and qualify for the prestigious World Championships.
“My aim was to win that pro show on the night in which I came second so I could qualify for the World Championships and compete at the world level, but I was unable to accomplish that so the aim is to see if I could get to Barbados in a month’s time and try to win that pro show or at least place top two and hopefully the points could get me to World Championships,” he said.
The athlete, who placed second in the pro division of the event later that same night, said it felt good having finally won the elusive pro card.
“The many times that I went after this pro card and I have always won my high [tall] class and for some reason, always being edged out in the overall so it was really nerve-wrecking so it was like a weight lifted off my shoulders.
“What gave me the edge was my conditioning because, competing earlier this year in Aruba, the judges’ feedback was my conditioning and it was like late February so I was on a diet since at the beginning of the year,” Christian said.
In the pro division, Kimberly Percival claimed top honours in the Bikini Fitness category with Geanna Jules claiming silver. Leanna Carrington was fifth. Anthony Nurse won bronze in the Men’s Physique.
Meanwhile, there was triumph as well for Kemberly Greenaway in the tall class but she just missed out on the pro card after finishing second in the overall competition.
The bikini fitness athlete said she went into the competition with an open mind and came out satisfied.
“Whether or not I know that I have done the work and I look the part, I never go out there overconfident; I wait for the judges’ decision and take it from there but it was an emotional victory for me.
“I am feeling a little ashamed now but I bawled [cried] on the stage. It was uncontrollable tears because coming off of nationals and going into another show, the uncertainties of your placement and just working hard and knowing that you finally got what you have been so diligently working towards all these months,” she said.
The national bodybuilding federation is set to name a team to the CAC Championships slated for the end of July.