Against all odds: Peterson-Griffith grateful for a successful year 2019

By Timothy Jaikarran

When the year 2019 began, work and training were top priorities for Guyana’s top strong man, Carlos Peterson-Griffith, especially as he was preparing to participate in the World’s Classic Powerlifting Championships which were set for early June in Helsingburg, Sweden.

As his preparation continued, he received an invitation from the Barbados Fitness and Strength Association to compete in the StrongFit 2019 Competition. He won overall in the Strength segment and placed 3rd in the Strong Man event.
The Guyana Team that participated in that Barbados event was comprised of himself; Junica Pluck, who placed second overall in the Strength Segment and third in the Strong Woman event; and Julio Sinclair, who placed third overall in the Strength Segment and won the Strong Man Event.
When Peterson-Griffith returned home, the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation issued him with a suspension letter for a period of 12 months, because he had not informed the GAPF of his whereabouts.

He, however, continued making preparation for the trip to the World’s Classic Powerlifting Championship, being sponsored thereto by Fitness Express, Space Gym and GYSBI.
Speaking to this publication, Peterson-Griffith detailed the subsequent train of events:
“About a week later, the Federation hosted a meeting with myself, coach (and) manager, along with Junica Pluck, who had faced the same penalty. (They) followed (that up with) a press conference (a) few days later, without my presence, to inform the public that they will stand firm with their decision for me to (not) compete at World’s Classic Powerlifting Championship. A few days later, my name was no longer on the International Nominated List.

“I felt a bit down and sad (dispirited at) not being able to compete at World’s. About a week later, myself and Miss Kathleen Paul departed Guyana en route to Helsingburg, Sweden to witness and cheer on the other top-ranking athletes.”
With the suspension in full effect, Peterson-Griffith returned home and continued to work and train as per normal, but with a different mindset. As time went by, he asked his coach and manager if it was okay for him to participate in the Senior National Bodybuilding Championships, since he was in good shape and couldn’t compete in Powerlifting until May 2020.
On August 12, Peterson defied all odds, as he took part in the Bodybuilding Championships and again retained the crown in the Heavyweight Class.
“Myself and my coach had a good talk, mostly about the upcoming event, which was the Guyana Strong Man Competition. The Strong Man Competition was the main light (at the end of the tunnel), because all I was doing was just training hard and no big competition for me, so I decided to compete at the Strong Man Competition, along with Julio Sinclair (former Mr Strong Man title-holder) and O’Ryan Joseph (2nd Runner-Up) as Team Guyana.
“The event was, quite surprisingly, gruelling and very challenging due to its course of events, one of which was to ‘deadlift’ a car under one minute for as many ‘reps’ (repeats) as possible. On that event, I dead-lifted my way through as if there was nothing in front of me for a count of 19 ‘reps’, giving me the Guyana Strong Man Title.
“I can only imagine what I could’ve done at World’s; but it is what it is. We all learn from mistakes, moreso, there’s only some who keep moving forward; that’s how winning is done. Through hard work, dedication, time, sacrifice, commitment, consistency, passion, patience, perseverance, and above all discipline, anything is possible.
“Thank You, God Almighty, for bringing me this far; and thanks to my sponsors, because without them I won’t be able to compete, much less reach places. I can only look forward to 2020 and what great fortunes it holds for me,” an emotional Peterson-Griffith has declared.