For Kerwin Clarke, Guyana’s gold medallist at the Central American and Caribbean Bodybuilding Championships, the year 2019 has been a major success.
Guyana’s CAC gold medallist Kerwin Clarke
Representing Guyana on an international bodybuilding platform, the Central American and Caribbean Bodybuilding Championships, Clarke has been able to demonstrate — despite his many personal challenges — that determination is the key to achieving one’s dreams.
Clarke’s quest for greatness in this sporting discipline has been beset by ups and downs, but he continues to strive determinedly in the face of dogged challenges.
Prior to obtaining his very prestigious gold medal, he had competed in this regional event four times, and in 2016 was able to earn a silver medal, bettering the fourth place he had earned in 2015.
However, in 2017, Clarke suffered a major leg injury that prevented him from competing, and although he had “got himself together” in 2018, he could not compete because of unforeseen circumstances.
He did not give up, though, knowing in himself that 2019 was his year and time to “bring home the gold”.
Kerwin Clarke
Finally, with his 175 pounds of striated muscle suspended on a stately and durable frame, Clarke was quite easily able to obliterate the competition in the under 176-pound class of nine musclemen at the 2019 CAC Championships, and win for himself and country the much desired gold.
Speaking with Guyana Times Sport, Clarke disclosed: “I am extremely proud of my performance in 2019. Knowing that I’ve been off of this level of competition for the past two years, I know that this (win) was a collective effort. A lot of emphasis was placed on the dietary aspect of my eating as it relates to training. With all these sacrifices, I am very pleased with my performances in 2019.”
He also disclosed that he knows his shortcomings relative to his training, but is determined to overcome them and repeat the feat of bringing home the gold again in 2020.
“First and foremost, I have accepted my shortcomings. Implementations were made, and I (am determined) to better these shortcomings. I decided to better them in order to have a better prospect or better sculpted physique in this year’s competition. 2020 is a great year, and I am thankful (to be alive in it). I intend to do great things on the international scene this year, so my focus is there.
“I will certainly invest in all the hard work, such as accomplishing each and every set at the gym, and accomplishing each target to return bigger and better.”
Clarke has said he is extremely grateful to his sponsors: Fitness Express; Xie Xie; Ministry of the Presidency, Department of Social Cohesion; Innovative Mining; Global Health Care; Prem’s Electrical; Attorney-at-law Sohan Poonai, and the Guyana Olympic House Association, for standing by him.
