After months of intense training and gruelling hours spent among barbells in the gym, Guyana’s most decorated bodybuilder, Hugh Ross, representing the USA, contested against 11 of the world’s top bodybuilders and was able to capture bronze in the Masters Over 50 category of the National Amateur Bodybuilders Association (NABBA) World’s 2019, held at the Ulster Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
The 60-year-old Ross fell short of grasping gold, as he lost to Brendan Surgenor of Balleymena, Northern Ireland.
The last time Ross officially competed was almost three years ago –in the 2015 National Amateur Bodybuilding Association’s 60th Mr. Universe Competition, when he won the coveted title of Mr Universe.
He is the first Mr. Universe contender from Guyana as well as from the Caribbean, and the first athlete from the USA to have won that competition since 1994. The win therefore places him in the same league with the illustrious Arnold Schwarzenegger, Steve Reeves, Frank Zane, Reg Park and Bill Pearl.
At the age of 60, Ross continues to defy the odds by breaking barriers. This is his fourth outing. His journey began in 2005, when he placed 9th in that competition. In 2007 he came in 5th; in 2010 he won the Mr Universe title for the Masters Over 40 Category in England; and in the 2015 World Championships in Malta, he again won the Mr Universe title.
Having stood impressively against elite level contenders anywhere in the banding world, Ross’s mantra of always keeping himself fit and not relaxing during off-season has made him able to bring himself into peak condition within a matter of weeks; thus he was able to make the podium in his illustrious career.
The bodybuilding icon, who resides in the United States, is also the recipient of Guyana’s fifth highest national award, the Medal of Service (MS).
The Irish people were amazed and fascinated to see so many bodybuilders from all over the world enjoying the great city of Belfast.