Sylvan Gardner is continuing his climb in the sport of bodybuilding after placing sixth in the Pro-Class of this year’s Musclemania which was held over the weekend in Miami.
It was his first outing since gaining professional status last year and, according to the well-built Gardner, the feeling was stupendous.
The Hyatt Regency Hotel in Florida was the venue where the Guyanese competed against 13 other professionals but Gardner said that although he knew it would have been very hard, winning was the only thing on his mind.
He entered the contest weighing 158 lbs but on the night of the competition he had gained two more pounds and that alone, the Buddy’s Gym member noted, was a great accomplishment.
Gardner has won four Central American and Caribbean (CAC) gold medals and since his first competition in 2001, the heaviest he has ever weighed has been 143 lbs.
“First of all I think the fact that I was able to come in so heavy alone was a big deal for me because it’s not easy and everyone who knows would tell you that I was always small, all the CAC gold that I won in the bantamweight division I went in at 143 lbs, now for this competition I went in at 158 and put on two more on the day,” said Gardner.
“Coming in 6th at my first outing since becoming pro I feel is a great accomplishment for me because I worked very hard to get there. Also most of those guys have been there before so mentally it was easy for them and I held my own and I’m happy with my position,” he added.
The support, he noted, was good since the crowds at the show were really appreciative of all of the competitors because they knew what it took for them to get there.
When Stabroek Sport asked the professional bodybuilder, what’s next for him, he said: “Well since I came on the scene in 2001, I have not rested; I just keep going and going so I think I would take a little rest, probably until next year you know. I’m not too certain, but I have worked overtime so I certainly need a rest.”
Gardner said that it was through the efforts of Hugh Ross and corporate Guyana that his success was made possible.
“Well I must thank corporate Guyana and some friends for what they have done for me so I could have made all of this possible and also I must thank Hugh Ross very much for what he has done and is doing so far for me. He couldn’t have come across to Miami because of work commitments and so on, but he kept calling to see how I’m doing and giving his advice and so on,” Gardener noted.
Despite all the recent success, Gardner made it clear that the road ahead in the sport is long and would certainly be hard, but through determination and hard work he will succeed.
“I’m not going to stop anytime soon because to get a pro-card is very hard and this is just a beginning…I still have lots more work to do because I want to claim the top spot every time I step out there, so I am certainly going to continue working hard. But like I said, I think for me to be competing all the time since 2001, I need to take a little rest,” Gardener stated.
