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Dec 07, 2008 Sports
Guyana’s first professional Bodybuilder Hugh Ross has continued to keep the Golden arrowhead aloft by copping the runner spot from a field of 41 competitors at the Musclemania World Championships held at the Golden Nugget Resort Las Vegas, Nevada.
The event was not on Ross’ calendar but was added as part of the arrangements he had made for Sylvan Gardner to be granted permission to compete in Musclemania where Gardener won his Pro Card, the second Guyanese to achieve this feat.
Initially, Ross, who also placed second at this event last year, finished 4th out of the top five but that was temporary pending the outcome of the drug tests which took more than a week for those results to be ready due to the fact there were in excess of 500 athletes that competed and all were tested.
When the results were concluded, the initial 2nd place finisher, Ricardo Plata of Columbia and 3rd place finisher Liu Xinggeng from China failed the tests and were disqualified which saw Ross moving up to the number two spot.
Plata had won this same event last year when Ross finished as the runner up. Tommy Alston and Randal Simms both of the United States placed third and fourth with Japan’s Nario Miyano, 5th.
Ross disclosed that his on stage presentation saw him wearing Rasta regalia while posing to the music of Mary J. Blige’s be without you and this presentation had the audience, estatic. “After my routine was concluded to the pulsating beat of the repeated chorus from Buju Banton & Elephant Man’s Give Them More, the audience was still on their feet.”
He also stated that it was very difficult psychologically for him at the beginning to motivate himself to train at the level of intensity that was necessary to compete at the high level he is accustomed to since he had to focus much time and attention on Gardner.
This situation was compounded by the fact that time was limited for him to be ready, exactly, Seven weeks.
“But being experienced, Sylvan realized my predicament when he arrived in New York and came to my training sessions while here and did his best to encourage me. With four weeks left I was way behind with my training schedule.
It was at this point that I switched into my soldier’s mode. It never fails! That is usually my last resort when I am pushed.”
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