Multi-talented athlete Alisha Fortune is optimistic about her chances when she represents Guyana at the 40th annual Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships in Puerto Rico next month.
The 37-year-old sprint queen will leave her running shoes and starting blocks at home and don her swimsuit when she competes at the championships.
The three-time female Hugh Ross Classic (HRC) overall winner told Stabroek Sport in a recent interview that her preparations at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) gym have been going smoothly and she is looking forward to bringing home a gold medal.
The mother of three stated that although it is a tough task to be a parent and an athlete at the same time, she does not have any intentions of giving up athletics.
When asked how she keeps up with parenting while being involved in a number of sports, she simply said: “Even though it is hard at times, you have to focus on what you have to get done and get it out of the way, then you have all the rest of the time for yourself.”
She also stated that she is now a football referee and is also involved in rugby.
She also said that she believes that with her potential she would have been able to represent Guyana at the recent 2012 Olympics, had it not been for an injury she has.
“I was trying my utmost to qualify for the Olympics but unfortunately last year I got an injury. Had I not been injured I believed I would have been able to qualify in the Olympics this year,” Fortune said.
In her daily preparations, she explained, she spends an hour and a half every day in the gym and then she would go to rugby or football practice.
“It is going good so far with all these practices and workouts I have going on every day. It all coincides with my training for the CAC.”
“When I’m participating in track and field I usually train for three days a week, bodybuilding four days so now that I have a bigger competition, I’m training five to six days a week.”
Fortune stated that she is going to the CAC championships in a positive mindset and hopefully she will do her country proud.
She also stated that her confidence level for the championships is very high, and she is fully prepared for her competitors.
“I’m working pretty hard for that and I believe that I will come through because I have the confidence and the potential,” Fortune said smilingly.
The local athletes for the CAC championships were selected by a panel of judges recently. The panel included current Guyana Amateur Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (GABBFF) Vice President Hugh Ross, former GABBFF President and current Chairman of Flex Night Inc., Donald Sinclair, and former GABBFF President Frank Tucker.
It was noted that all the athletes were chosen based on their ability and the probability of winning medals in their respective categories.
However, the GABBFF currently has enough funds to send only two athletes to Puerto Rico. The Federation is therefore looking for local sponsorship and support to send the other three members in order to maximize Guyana’s chances of a successful showing at the upcoming championships.
“The cost to go to CAC is over four hundred thousand Guyana dollars so we have sent out sponsorship letters and are waiting on replies from willing sponsors,” Fortune mentioned.
