Guyana’s bodybuilding renaissance hit new heights in Barbados as a rampant national contingent secured a staggering 13 medals, headlined by a career-defining professional status upgrade for Roley Chandler on day one of the Roger Boyce Classic.
The Guyanese delegation, managed by Guyana Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation President Roger Callender and Vice President and National Coach Videsh Sookram, completely dismantled the international field to plunder seven gold, five silver, and one bronze medal.
It was Chandler who stole the show, emerging as the standout performer of the championship. The phenomenal youngster completed a golden hat-trick across the divisions, asserting his dominance by claiming gold in both the Junior Physique and the Men’s Physique 179 cm categories.
Chandler then returned to the stage to capture the coveted Overall Men’s Physique title, a monumental achievement that officially earned him his IFBB Pro Card and cemented his place among the global elite.
The golden surge was heavily supported by Romelton Siland, who enjoyed a highly lucrative day on the stage. Siland secured a pair of gold medals with flawless performances in the Men’s Fit Model and Men’s Fitness categories.
Showing remarkable versatility, he also added a silver medal to his haul in the Masters Physique division, while pushing hard in a deeply contested Men’s Physique 176 cm class to finish sixth.
Guyana’s veteran muscle also delivered handsomely in the heavier divisions. Lindon Burnett produced a masterclass in the Men’s Masters Bodybuilding category to strike gold, before returning to the stage to fight his way to a hard-earned silver medal in the senior 85kg Open Bodybuilding class.
Powerhouse Colin Chesney mirrored that dual-medal success in the upper weight classes, flexing his way to a pair of silver medals across both the Masters Bodybuilding and the fiercely competitive Over 85kg Open Bodybuilding divisions.
The youth and female competitors ensured the medal tally kept ticking over from the very inception of the tournament.
Javier Cespedes sparked early celebrations by capturing a spectacular gold medal in the Youth Division, closely followed by teammate Suraj Jahaman, who put in an exceptional performance to claim the silver.
In the women’s ranks, Weslyn Gonsalves brought grit and elegance to the stage, securing a podium spot with a bronze medal in the highly competitive Women’s Wellness category.
While just missing out on the rostrum, Guyana’s depth was further illustrated by a string of agonisingly close fourth-place finishes.
Sabita Stephenson delivered a stellar display to place fourth in the Women’s Bikini category, while Christopher Anthony proved his durability by securing fourth place in both the Classic Physique and the Up to 70kg bodybuilding categories.
Federation officials attributed the historic haul to the vital, unwavering financial backing of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport alongside the Guyana Olympic Association.
The celebrations, however, will be short-lived as attention immediately shifts to the prestigious Pro Show, where Guyana’s elite professional ranks, spearheaded by the renowned Rosana Fung, prepare to take centre stage.
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