As the sixth Bahamian to earn professional status in bodybuilding and fitness, this year, and the first ever in body fitness, Grand Bahamian Dominique Wilkinson was a unanimous choice as the Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation's (BBFF) overall athlete of the year. Her gold medal finish at the 41st Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, sealed the deal.
"Dominique is one of those rare athletes who is just a natural at what she does," said BBFF President Danny Sumner yesterday. "Since she came into the sport, she has excelled in body fitness. She has been one of the best body fitness athletes in the Caribbean over the past three years, and it really showed this year as she was able to win her pro card in the event. Dominique is just phenomenal. She won the body fitness short class last year, and took the overall title this year. The body fitness short class has always been one of the most competitive divisions in bodybuilding and fitness, and Dominique always comes ready to perform. Her symmetry was good at the CACs and her poses were awesome. She captured her class hands down at the CACs, and as a result, was the first Bahamian to capture a pro card in body fitness. Hats off to Dominique for a tremendous job this year," added Sumner.
Wilkinson entered the sport about 10 years ago, and according to Sumner, always aspired to be a professional athlete. With her golden performance this year, the federation could now apply on her behalf to the International Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness (IFBB).
The other three main awards in bodybuilding and fitness went to two-time national champion Jimmy Norius, Lorraine LeFleur and Dawn Charlton. Norius took the Male Bodybuilder of the Year Award, Lefleur was named as the Female Bodybuilder of the Year, and Charlton won the Fitness Athlete of the Year Award. Kenny Mackey won the Male Physique Athlete of the Year Award, and Bernard Davis, from Grand Bahama, was named as the Most Improved Bodybuilder of the Year.
"When you look at the performances this year, you would see that a number of athletes did extremely well," said Sumner. "When you look at Lorraine Lefleur, she had a tremendous year in female bodybuilding. She was able to beat one of the country's top female bodybuilders at the Northern Bahamas Championships in Tammy Stubbs, and then she turned around and beat her again at the nationals. At the CAC Championships, she finished second in her division for bodybuilding. Also, we have to give honorable mention to a person like Amy Sands for her performance in the swimsuit competition. She won a bronze medal in her class at the CACs.
"Overall, Bahamian athletes did very well this year. We look good, and we look forward to better things to come in 2014. We're going to start the year off by focussing on nutrition and getting our bodies in shape through proper diet and proper training. Our goal is to always improve as a federation. One of the problems we faced this year was getting proper funding and training, and that was the reason why we were only able to field a small team for the CAC Championships. I think that sporting federations on the whole have to find a better way to generate funds on their own. If the funding isn't there, the athletes aren't going to get the proper training, so that is vital. Right now, we are just focussed on getting better for 2014 and beyond," he added.
The Bahamas' 15-member at the CAC Championships secured 10 top five finishes, a pro card from Wilkinson, and an overall fourth place finish for the second year in a row. Barbados won the overall title, Venezuela was second and host country the Dominican Republic placed third, just ahead of The Bahamas.
Wilkinson earned a pro card by winning a gold medal in Body Fitness Short Class, and the overall title in Body Fitness. In addition, The Bahamas got a bronze medal from Dawnitta Fry in Body Fitness Tall Class, a silver medal from LeFleur in women's light heavyweight in bodybuilding, a silver from Davis in men's heavyweight in bodybuilding, a bronze from Sands in women's bikini short class, a fourth place finish from Stubbs in women's masters in bodybuilding, a fourth place finish from Norius in men's bantamweight in bodybuilding, a fourth place finish from Mackey in men's physique short class, and a fifth place finish from Charlton in women's fitness.
As for Wilkinson, she joined Stubbs, Charles Kemp, Jay Darling, Gena Mackey, and Natasha Brown in fitness, as the only Bahamians to earn their pro cards at the CAC Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships. Next year's CAC Championships will be held in St. Maarten.

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