The Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF) is mourning the sudden passing of one of its fierce competitors, Nigel Phillips.
The Berbice-based strongman who has been involved in the sport since 2007, and was both a weightlifter and power-lifter in his early career, passed away on Wednesday following a brief period of hospitalisation. He was preparing for this Sunday’s GAPLF Intermediates and Masters Championships up to last Friday, but was admitted to a private hospital that very afternoon and never made it out. Even though he never got a chance to represent Guyana, mainly due to finances, Nigel Phillips competed with the best of his time, including Carlos Petterson-Grifith, and is the holder of a number of National Records.
GAPLF President Franklin Wilson said that Phillips’ passing is indeed a blow to the powerlifting fraternity, but God knows best.
“I’ve known Nigel for his entire career and he has always been a cool competitor but fierce in his own way. His loss would no doubt be felt, especially by his immediate family and gym colleagues to whom he was very close there in Berbice. The fact that he was still training, even though not well, for Sunday’s competition, speaks to his discipline and fierce competitive spirit.
So, on behalf of the GAPLF, its members, and gyms, I’d like to extend sincere condolences to his wife, Shennie, children Hadiyah and Atiq, relatives, gym family, and friends.”
Following is the list of national records currently standing as achieved by the late Nigel Phillips.
