By Neto Baptiste
Coach of the Antigua and Barbuda National Bodybuilding and Fitness team Elvis Bailey said the focus will be on conditioning heading into the September 21-25 competition in Aruba.
The team, which is headlined by national bodybuilding champion Rodney George and veteran Steve Williams, features 14 of the country’s top bodybuilding and fitness athletes, all seeking to win pro cards at the IFBB qualifier.
“It’s just all about conditioning now because it won’t be so much about muscle development because muscle development takes a bit of time, so it’s just getting tighter. Some of the men with the abdominal area, some of the women the glutes [muscles in the buttocks], hams [hamstrings] and stuff like that and just bring a tighter package overall to the stage for Aruba,” he said.
Bailey added that although having the perfect body going into the CAC is a major plus, you must also know how to present it.
“From nationals, we’ve had four weeks to prepare and tighten up … for this show. So I am looking to see even a better physique coming out of nationals from all of the athletes and better presentation, because you could have a good body but you have to know how to present it also. I will be drilling them with a lot of poses and stuff like that once we are away and here, too … so they could display their bodies to the best of their ability,” the coach said.
The IFBB pro who will be on his first stint as a national head coach, is looking forward to the opportunity.
“This is actually an honour for me to do this because I’ve always loved to push, motivate and encourage the younger ones coming up to do this, and even the older ones who would look up to me. For me, it’s just to help them to keep their minds set and ready. Although you go on stage two or three times you’ll still get that bit of nervousness and for me, as the coach, it’s just to stabilise everyone mentally,” Bailey said.
The team is slated to leave Antigua on September 21 for Aruba.
