James, Morrison CAC Bodybuilding champs
Published:Saturday | December 12, 2020 | 12:16 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
National bodybuilders Ricky James and Ashane Gordon-Morrison both expressed delight at their victories at the Central American and Caribbean Championships of Bodybuilding and Fitness held recently in the Dominican Republic.
James and Gordon-Morrison were among the standout performances from the five-day tournament which began on December 3, winning the Men’s 176cm Physique Class and the Women’s Open Class, respectively. James, who placed fourth last year, was pleased with his win, considering that he had to adjust to the restrictions that the COVID-19 pandemic presented.
“To win my category, it was amazing because we had challenges to prepare for shows due to work and I [couldn’t go to the gym regularly]. It was a minor setback but I kept consistent and kept working, and listened to my trainers, and I followed exactly what they said,” James told The Gleaner. “I was motivated by family and team members, so the energy I had, I felt like I enjoyed going onstage. I felt really great knowing that I achieved the first place that I wanted.”
James said that he paid close attention to the feedback he received from last year’s competition to put himself in the best position to win.
“The weakness area I have is that I was undersized,” he said. “[So] we worked on the weak areas and also ate a lot more. We had the team and support, that’s all we needed to get ready for the stage. So when we went onstage, we could perform the way we wanted.” James also placed third in the Overall Men’s Physique category.
SURREAL MOMENT
Gordon-Morrison, who was participating in her first international tournament, said that while she takes pride in having fun while she competes, the win was a “surreal moment”.
“I was just giving it my best because I could tell the audience was enjoying it,” she said. “When I got offstage, I was like ‘How did I do?’ Because I had no idea how well I had done until I actually saw the videos.”
Although she had to juggle the demands of motherhood and her job as a personal trainer, she said that she benefited from being able to consistently train at her gym near her home in Old Harbour.
Jamaica accumulated 108 points, finishing fifth overall out of 12 countries in the tournament. The other top-three performers consisted of Rajae Grandison and Deidre Lewis, who placed second in the Junior Open Class, and the Women’s Bikini Fitness 164cm class, respectively.