This year marked the 16th anniversary of the North American Powerlifting Federation championships. Winners of this regional championship will then move onto the World Championships that will be held in November in Sweden. Powerlifting is a strength-based sport wherein athletes compete in different age groups and weight classes. Winners are determined by the combined results of three different lifts: the squat, the bench, and the deadlift.
Belizean powerlifter Ryan Bood-Usher, age 20, took home two gold medals, one for the 59kg/130lb junior weight class and one for the 59kg/130lb open weight class. Bood-Usher successfully lifted a total of 480 kilograms (1,058 pounds), yet he only weighs just 58.4 kilograms (128 pounds).
Kaylon Cadle-Godoy, age 23, took home a gold in the 120kg/264lb open weight class, lifting a total of 772kg (1,703 pounds). Khalid Usher, age 20, took home a bronze medal in the 93kg/205lb junior weight class, lifting a total of 570 kilograms (1,256 pounds).
Belize’s Powerlifting Association (BPA) was only formed in March of this year by Bood-Usher, Usher, and a third friend, Kevin Ake, who traveled to Mexico in order to compete but were denied participation because they are not Mexican citizens. The trio then returned home and formed the BPA and then organized all the necessary paperwork in order to be recognized by the International Powerlifting Federation for this year’s competition.
“Having literally just started earlier this year, it is an amazing success for Belize to have taken home any medals at all,” said Larry France, marketing manager of Chabil Mar. “And for Belize to win four medals, including three gold, is just phenomenal. We warmly congratulate all of the Belizean powerlifters for their amazing success!”
