Jamaica is expecting to achieve its best result ever at this year’s staging of the Bodybuilding World Championships.

The Jamaica Bodybuilding and Fitness Association (JABBFA) believes that the Jamaican athletes will continue their winning streak into the Arnold Classic Europe IFBB Elite Pro World Championships 2022, which takes place September 16 to September 18 in Seville, Spain.

Jamaica recently achieved a first-place finish in the classic physique category at the Elite Pro Inter-Island Championships in St Martin (held July 2 – July 4), seven gold medals at the Central and Caribbean Championships last month (July 27 – August 1) and simultaneously achieved a first- and fourth-place finish at the Roger Boyce Elite Pro Classic Show in Barbados.

Three Jamaican pro athletes will be attending the World Championships in Spain next month – Daniel Haughton, the winner in the Roger Boyce competition in Barbados; Richardo Daniels, who came fourth in the same competition and Lenroy Morrison, the winner of the Elite Pro Inter-Island competition in St Martin.

“I am expecting the current cadre of athletes to perform exceptionally well at the World Championships in Spain next month. Our team is made of two of the best Men’s Physique athletes in the Caribbean as Lenroy Morrison and Daniel Haughton recently won the Interisland Championships and the Roger Boyce Championships in St Martin and Barbados, respectively,” said JABBFA President Audrey Allwood.

Jamaica will also be sending Kemoy Maine to the Miami IFBB Grand Prix in the US – a difficult competition where only 22 athletes will be selected across 29 categories and given a pro card that would allow an athlete to pursue bodybuilding as a career. Currently there are eight Jamaicans who have a pro card – Dwayne Walker, Kristen McGregor, Damion Moodie, Avernell Modest, Lenroy Morrison, Richardo Daniels, Ricky James, and Daniel Haughton. 

Speaking with Our Today, Kirk Frankson, first vice president of the JABBFA, said bodybuilding has a rich 60-year history in Jamaica and has developed a strong identity in local gym culture by hosting local competitions, such as the recent Mayberry JABBFA National Senior Championships, from which many past competitors have gone on to become popular gym business owners, trainers and fitness personalities. Among them are Kamila McDonald, CEO of the Well Fit Club, and Allwood, CEO of Fit Farm Fitness Club.

What is bodybuilding

Bodybuilding is a sport where various athletes compete in a lineup by showcasing their physical appearance in various specified poses for a panel of judges who rank them based on symmetry, muscularity, size, conditioning, posing, and stage presentation. There is a men’s division and a woman’s division.

Men’s Division

In the men’s division there are three categories that are each subdivided by weight and height – Men’s Physique, Bodybuilding, and Classic Physique.

Men’s Physique, also known as the beach body, has the smallest size requirement, a need to be muscular, very well-toned, and have great proportions. Posing is done in board shorts. Daniel Haughton and Lenroy Morrison are both athletes in this category.

The Bodybuilding division is the most muscular division. There is no height limit. Within the division are different classes based on weight. It doesn’t matter how tall the person is, it’s all about weight.

Classic Physique is the middle ground between the Bodybuilding division and the Men’s Physique division. They are not as big as those in the Bodybuilding division, but they are considerably bigger than the men in the Men’s Physique division. The men pose in boxer briefs so they can show off the legs better. Richardo Daniels is a competitor in this category.

Women’s Division

In the women’s division there are five categories that are each subdivided by weight and height – Bikini, Figure, Physique, Bodybuilding, and Fitness.

The Bikini category is by far one of the most popular women’s divisions. Because this bodybuilding division requires less muscular development, it appeals to a wider variety of women. Judges look for curvy, balanced physiques that have some muscle tone, but also an overall physical appearance and charisma.

Figure focuses on a developed physique. The goal is to achieve muscular symmetry and proportion. Competitors should have good muscularity, with separation but not excessively lean. This division is best for those with wide shoulders and a small waist.

The Women’s Physique division is perfect for those who find it easy to pack on muscle and achieve a higher level of muscle development. Judges look for symmetry, shape, proportion, muscle tone, and poise. Competitors will perform a 90-second individual posing routine to music as part of the final judging.

In the Bodybuilding category, competitors will be somewhat of a total package with a balance in size, symmetry, and muscularity. This is by far the most difficult division, and it takes a tremendous amount of dedication to build, maintain and perfect a physique and routine.

Unlike the Figure and Physique division, where muscles are more for show, the Fitness division is about strength. A unique fitness routine is performed, whether it’s dance, strength moves, or gymnastics, to the music of choice. 

For more information, contact the JABBFA via email: [email protected]