Latest update April 14th, 2026 12:38 AM
IPF/FESUPO South American Powerlifting C/ships…‘Big’ John powers to Masters M1 Gold; passes Cat. 2 Referee Exams with distinction
Like he has done on so many occasions in competition before, Guyana’s most accomplished powerlifter ‘Big’ John Edwards has yet again proven his class at the International level.
Putting aside a niggling shoulder injury which he sustained lifting at the 2012 Intermediate / Claude Charles Memorial Championships here In June, Edwards turned in a superlative performance to conqueror all and sundry and in so doing won the Gold medal in the Masters M1 category at the International Powerlifting Federation / FESUPO South American Champions in Cali, Columbia on Sunday afternoon.
‘Big’ John Edwards in action at the 2012 Intermediate / Claude Charles Mem. C/ships
Edwards overpowered H. Gomez of Argentina on his way to glory for the Land of Many Waters.
The Masters athlete, who also took the opportunity to sit the IPF Category II Referees Examination, also claimed ‘gold’; passing with distinction.
So impressive was Edwards’ performance at the exams that he was invited to officiate at the World Open Championships set for later this year.
Based on reports out of Columbia, there were efforts by the Brazilian federation to change the order of the results but they did not succeed owing to diligent work by President of the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF), Peter Green.
At the presentation, to the surprise of the entire audience except the Brazilians, Edwards was announced as the runner-up to a Brazilian athlete who had won the open.
According to Green, the IPF had earlier decreed that it was only possible for athletes to compete in one category so Edwards’ choice was the Masters along with Gomez, while the Brazilian opted for the open.
Strange enough, the Brazilian was called to the podium twice, first with Edwards then Gomez and Edwards. But the athlete and Administrator from the Land of Many waters were not contented with allowing such an injustice to befall them, so they went about protesting the decision.
It was then that the organizers were forced to recheck the results and it was confirmed that ‘Big’ John Edwards was indeed the winner and gold medalist of the Masters M1 category.
Kaieteur Sport takes this opportunity to congratulate Edwards, Rahim and the GAPF for continuing the rich tradition of excelling against the odds in the sport of powerlifting at the Caribbean, Regional, South American, Commonwealth and World levels.
Meanwhile, Gordon Spencer, another GAPF Executive and Masters competitor, also passed the IPF Referees Exams recently.
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