Anguillian bodybuilding champion, Verdine Connor, 29, has captured first place in the June 15-16 Musclemania Universe Competition in Miami,Florida, and is now in the category of a professional athlete.
“I was in the middle-weight category with ten international competitors,” the former amateur athlete told The Anguillian on his return home. “I placed first and, automatically, once you placed first, in the open division, you get your pro status.”
His pro middle-weight status means that he is no longer an amateur competitor. In future contests he will be competing alongside other professional athletes both in his middle-weight category as well as in the heavy-weight category.
Connor, who financed his own trip to Miami and participation in the Musclemania Competition, said on arrival at the Blowing Point Passenger Terminal: “I would like to say a special thank you to my family, my longstanding supporters and friends, and the Anguilla Bodybuilding Association and all who continue to support me.”
He was proud of his accomplishment as he reviewed his past competitions. “This is my second big international show. My first was when I took part in the Arnold Classic in Ohio, but this one was a natural bodybuilding competition in which only natural athletes participated. It was really a very interesting and challenging competition.”
Another Anguillian bodybuilder, Duquaine Brooks, participated in the fitness category of the Musclemania Competition and placed third.
Meanwhile, President of the Anguilla Bodybuilding Federation, Joseph Pradel, commented: “Verdine’s success now means that he won’t be taking part in our local shows anymore as he is not an amateur. He is a pro so he will be preparing for bigger shows in theUnited Statesand elsewhere around the world.”
Pradel said he was proud of Verdine’s achievement. “I saw him competing from since he was a teenager – when he was one of our junior champions. I followed his progress in the various competitions throughout the Caribbean, including El Salvador, probably over the last ten years. I think his present success has been a long time in coming, so I wish to say congratulations to Verdine – and we are all proud of him.”
Asked whether Verdine’s absence from local competitions would be a loss to the Anguilla Bodybuilding Federation, Pradel replied: “It is a gain for us. It is a gain for this small island to see that we have such great athletes like Verdine and others. That is very good for us – for trying for the last eleven years to get a pro from Anguilla. We now have one so, as I said, that is very good for us. It is not a loss.”
The next local body building show will be held at the Rodney MacArthur Rey Auditorium in July.
