Latest update February 18th, 2025 1:40 PM
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Stoby peaking in time for World Powerlifting C/ships
Listed as the #1 ranked lifter in his weight category (74kgs M2 Class), which features the World’s best lifters from Japan, Great Britain, USA, France, South Africa and Peru; Guyana’s Winston Frank Stoby, barring any unforeseen challenges is set to give Guyana its first ever World Power lifting title.
Winston Stoby
The Masters athlete’s quest for ultimate glory lifted off back in 1996 when he was part of the National team at the 1996 Pan American championships in Canada where he captured an individual gold while setting a Pan American record in the open 75kg dead lift.
Ever since that performance, Stoby has been preparing for his inevitable date with destiny, returning to the International arena in 2010 and participating at the Masters level at the Caribbean Championships hosted by Guyana for the first time ever, Stoby captured Gold with a total of 652.5kgs and coincidentally, it was a better total than was recorded by the winner of the Open category (625kg) achieved by fellow Guyanese Ryan Williams.
Three months later, as part of a four-man team of competitors at inaugural Central American and Caribbean Power lifting Championships, Stoby stamped his authority as undisputed king of his class when he won Gold in the Open 75kg category which featured some lifters half his age; he recorded a total of 655kgs.
Guyana tallied 2 gold and one silver as well as the Best Lifter Overall Title which was won by Randolph ‘The Accomplisher’ Morgan.
Stoby next took aim at the World Championships in 2011, Canada. Were it not for the late receipt of his visa, Guyana would have already gained its first World Powerlifting title as the eventual winner, Lewis of the USA, total was significantly lower than Stoby’s best of 2011.
Another Champion, ‘Big’ John Edwards, gave Guyana a Bronze at the said Canadian championships, competing in the Heavyweight class.
In 2012, Stoby warmed up for this year’s World Championships by participating as a member of an almost full strength National team at the Caribbean Championships in April which saw Team Guyana recapturing the Team Title they won in 2010 in Guyana but lost in 2011 and this was as a result of limited participation in terms of numbers of athletes.
Stoby was in vintage form as he captured Gold in both the Open and Masters 74kg categories, setting new Caribbean, Commonwealth and World records in the dead lift 265.5kgs and total 645.5kgs in the Masters Category.
His dead lift record was only recently broken by a Russian with a lift of 267.5kgs. Nevertheless, Stoby has served notice that he intends to reclaim that record as well as capture the World Champion Title by warming up with commanding performances recently in the local National Masters Championships where he set a national as well as tied the current world record in the dead lift of 267.5kgs with lots of energy left in the tank.
It is appropriate to mention that Stoby has a best recorded official lift of 275kg set in 2010 (75kg class) at the CAC Championships. He is strategically peaking at the right time and in ominous form and as the old adage goes, he is ‘saving the best for last’.
Compatriot ‘Big’ John Edwards, who competes in the 120kgs class, has been withdrawn due to an injury.
According to the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) President Peter Green, all Guyanese patriots need to rally behind Stoby.
Meanwhile, sponsorship towards Stoby’s participation is welcome. Fund raising and promised (but not yet fulfilled) sponsorship has seen his expenses covered at the three quarter mark. Green has vowed to see this deserving son of the soil given the chance on the World stage and reminds all and sundry that since its re-emergence in 2008, the fast growing sport of Powerlifting has always delivered.
Stoby is scheduled to depart Guyana September 28. Persons interested in rallying behind the Champ are free to contact him on 624-8710.
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