By Neto Baptiste
Ambassadors Kimberly Percival and Melissa Seaforth finished first and second in the recently held IFBB Diamond Cup in Prague, Czech Republic.
Competing in the Bikini Fitness category, Percival and Melissa posed their way into the hearts of the judges, claiming the number one and the number podium two spots, while Michelle Seaforth, not to be outdone, claimed a fifth place finish to solidify Antigua and Barbuda’s dominance in that category.
Percival, who claimed the title for a second time with Sunday’s triumph, labeled the achievement a significant one for all three Antiguan athletes given the level of competition they faced.
“We had 19 very well-prepared pro athletes from 10 different countries that represented and I am really happy that I was able to defend my title and walk away for a second time with that first place crown and trophy, and also, this time, have the company of my two fellow Antigua athletes in Melissa and Michelle. Melissa placing second and Michelle taking fifth, in the top five out of a pool of 19 girls,” she said.
Melissa, also speaking with Observer media from the Czech Republic, said she is pleased with the overall performance but took note of what she said was her best package to date.
“Walking away as vice champion means so much to me and I am definitely happy with the performance and the outcome and more so because it was one of the better packages I ever presented since I joined Elite Pro, more than the second place, so it speaks volumes as to how well Team Antigua did collectively, and we just continue to dominate,” she said.
Meanwhile, Michelle said she enjoyed the highs and lows of the competition, and was elated to have medalled in the end.
“There would have been 19 athletes at this competition and the stakes were very high, so everyone came well-prepared and so at every stage of the event and as I kept advancing, I was blown away, I was overwhelmed and I was overjoyed, and just to cap off the night finishing fifth and medalling at this competition was a big deal for me and I was so happy not only just for myself but just to know that five persons medalled, and Antigua took three of those spots,” the athlete said.
Competing in the amateur division of the show, bodybuilder Dylan Jonas muscled his way to a third place finish in Master’s Bodybuilding before finishing fifth in Men’s Bodybuilding (up to 100kg).
In Masters Bikini, Kemberly Greenaway finished seventh, but grabbed a fifth place finish in the Bikini category (up to 172cm).
Sisters Melissa and Michelle will now turn their attention to the Nordic Fitness Expo in Finland this weekend before Melissa competes at World Championships, Arnold Classic Europe in Madrid, Spain, from October 13-15.
