Team Belize looking to make a statement in bodybuilding.
The Central American Games are a multi-sport regional championships event, held quadrennially (every 4 years), typically in the first year after Summer Olympics. The Games are open for member federations of the Central American Sports Organization and have been running since 1935. Among various athletic competitions, The Games feature competitive bodybuilding.
Team Belize Manager Guy Neal told News 5 Belize, that after several rounds of vetting, he is confident in his 5-member team: Clayton Greenidge, Oyinkro Akpobodor, Abu Sesay, Gina Lovell, and Annlyn Apolonio.
“The training is very vigorous, for the past four months, they’re at it. We just went to Cancun and did very well. We have a strong team to bring back some hardware for our country. The training continues. As the team manager, I have to make sure they put in the work and so I check with them every now and then. We have vetting that we do to see their progress and so far they are doing well.”
One team member, Anlynn Apolonio, is headed to the games for the first time. She is extremely excited to represent Team Belize in the Bikini fitness division.
“I want to bring that gold. I love gold so that is the only thing on my mind. Preparation has been rigorous, my last competition here was maybe a month and a half ago and since then I have been in the gym committedly. It is hard to fit it in my daily schedule but I have stuck it out and I have an amazing coach. He is a genius – Clayton Greenidge. He took me under his wings and I am grateful for that.”
She discussed how the demands of bikini competition differ from the expectations of traditional male bodybuilding:
“Of course, it is a very feminine category but they also want to see a toned body, they want to see symmetry. They want to be able to know that I know how to model the muscle that I do have.”
Team Belize will represent at The Central American Games in Nicaragua on December 11-12.
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