Suriname’s Dongo wins Strong Man Challenge at GTM Health and Fitness Expo

Suriname’s Donovan Dongo in action in the Strong man Challenge competition at the GTM Health and Fitness Expo Sunday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
Suriname’s Donovan Dongo in action in the Strong man Challenge competition at the GTM Health and Fitness Expo Sunday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

A pulsating Cross Fit style competition and the highly anticipated ‘Strong Man’ contest brought the curtain down on the successful two-day GTM Health and Fitness Games which concluded Sunday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Among the booths stacked with supplements, apparel, magazines and nutritious snacks and smoothies, there were several activities that had the venue and the streets buzzing over the weekend.

The activities on Day one were highlighted by a Zumba Party and a 5K Cancer Awareness walk which was illuminated by glow sticks.

Before Dillon Mahadeo and Semonica Duke reigned supreme as the mixed pairs RX champions in the grueling Cross-Fit like event on Day two, there was a three-point shoot out, a slam dunk contest and a squat challenge.

The tireless pair of Duke and Mahadeo bested the competition which included Shawnell Warner and Timothy McAndrew, Dolice Adonis and Stephen Fraser and Anis Thomas and Christine Rahman after completing feats like burpees, dead lifts, lunges and box jumps in the fastest time for their respective categories.

Donovan Dongo of Suriname won the ‘Strong Man’ challenge ahead of Julio Sinclair, Carlos Peterson, O’Ryan Joseph, Thomas, Christian McRae, Joshua Dendeo, Colin ‘Mr Clean’ Chesney, Baul and Wilson Balance.

The burly built men were tasked with throwing a 250-pound sand bag over a four-foot log, shoulder pressing 250 pounds, flipping a 600-pound tire and pulling a Macorp Back End Loader which weighs in excess of 22000 pounds.

Omisi Williams, Kishan Baul, Colin Reddock, Tonica Arthur, Melissa Stewart and Jamila Gasper were the top three men and women in the scaled division of the CrossFit-like challenge.

The event which is in its third year, received the corporate backing from GTM, Banks DIH Limited, Fitness Express, Genesis Fitness Express and the National Sports Commission.