“I’m going all out to win this year because I’ve put in the work so I have to win again,” says Clint ‘Stone Cold’ Duke, one of the participants in this year’s Guyana Amateur Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (GABBFF) championships billed for Sunday at the National Cultural Centre.
Duke hails from Linden and is one of Guyana’s highly decorated local bodybuilders, having been undefeated in the lightweight class for several years and is also a Central American and Caribbean (CAC) silver medalist.
“I’m always working out because I don’t like to wait until a competition to start prepare, so I’m always doing what I have to do…I’m never worried about who I’m coming up against because I just focus on winning,” said Duke.
The Lindener is a one-time holder of the Mr. Guyana crown but has been the man to beat in his division.
With the reigning Mr. Guyana Mark ‘Uno’ Perry stating that he is not going to compete this year, the door is open for anyone to win since Perry is undoubtedly the country’s bulkiest bodybuilder.
Asked if he thinks he has a clear passage to the over-all crown with the exclusion of Perry from the competition this year, ‘Stone Cold’ said that it doesn’t matter if he’s there or not, he always comes out to win.
“To be honest, I never look at who is there or who is not, all I know is that when I step on stage, I only see me and the crowd, so with Perry in or out, I still have to work hard. Last year I got third over-all to ‘Sharpy’ (Lindy Sharp) and Perry, so now I have to keep focus for the crown,” Duke said.
Apart form winning on Sunday, Duke says that he hopes he can make the CAC team to Grenada and also unlike several times before, attend the championships.
“It’s strange because I only attended two CAC championships; once when it was hosted here and in Jamaica. I got a silver medal here but I’m always selected for Guyana, always and something always happening and I don’t get to go. Well I should say most of the time its finances but this time I hope to go because everyone knows I work very, very hard in this sport so I need to attend,” the former Mr. Guyana said.
The GABBFF senior Championships will feature approximately 20 of the country’s best musclemen and women, all vying for the chance to be called Mr. and Ms. Guyana.
Tickets for the event are already on sale for $1,500 at the National Cultural Centre and also at gyms countrywide.
