Strength enthusiasts turned out for the Cayman Islands Powerlifting Organization’s third annual Strongman competition where they not only showcased power but also displayed heart, perseverance and grit throughout the various challenges.
“It’s been fantastic,” Tony McInerney, president of the local powerlifting organisation, told the Compass at the event, which was held at the Lions Centre on Monday, 13 Nov. “It would’ve been nicer to see more athletes, but like any sport, it takes time to grow.”
The event featured around 30 participants – both male and female – which included gym-goers, rugby players, firefighters and even those off -the-couch hopefuls looking to fill that competitive void.
The participants tested themselves in the Conan walk, carry-and-load medley, deadlift showdown, Atlas stones and truck pull.
“You can have fun with it and say ‘I’m a little weaker here, I’m a little stronger here’ and it helps you as a person to achieve something that you never thought possible,” McInerney said.
He went on to encourage more people to get involved in powerlifting and strongman, noting that many of the events are like carrying grocery bags from the store, with the only difference being there is more weight involved.
Imposing appearance
One of the highlights of the event was Travis Ortmayer, a pro-celebrity strongman, who has held world records during his competitive days.
At nearly 300 pounds of pure muscle mass and standing at 6 feet, 4 inches, Ortmayer, who hails from Cypress, Texas, was hard to miss among the participants and spectators at the Lions Centre – plus he was the only one wearing a cowboy hat.
He assisted most of the competitors with their technique, giving advice while officiating and judging alongside McInerney.
“Out here, it’s in its infancy… so we’re just trying to introduce people to the sport of strongman,” Ortmayer told the Compass. “I want to see other people share that passion. So, if I can introduce it to someone and have the sport drive them, like how it drove me – it changed my life 100% – that’s why I’m here.”
Through his own experiences, Ortmayer shared unique ways to get the best out of the competitors who didn’t believe in their abilities during the strongman event.
“You are competing against everybody else but really the big battle… is beating yourself,” he said. “Battling against your own doubts, your insecurities. A lot of people come out here and I can see them try and most people have no idea how to give it their all.
“Most people know how to try at 50, maybe 60%. So, I have to talk to them a little bit and find out how they tick, what’s driving them, what’s irritating them, those things that they are pissed off about – their boss, if they got bullied in school, frustrations in life – and you turned that on and then you get another 20, 30% out of that person and that’s what I love to do.”
To keep the Cayman Islands Powerlifting Organization’s strongman competition running for years to come, Ortmayer suggested that government entities should form teams to go against each other.
“Get a little strongman community going here,” he said. “Get one side of the island competing against the other side of the island, or the police versus the fire [service], something like that, and then you’ll have some true competitiveness coming out. But the thing I love the most about this sport is the camaraderie, from this level, up to the pros. It’s a brotherhood, everyone has respect for everyone because they know what it takes to get out there and do it – it’s hard, and it takes guts.”
Results
Jamalleo Ramoon was one of the many competitors who showed guts as he was trying strongman events for the first time.
“A colleague of mine got me into it, and I came out, participated and surprised myself with a few [things],” Ramoon said. “I haven’t competed against bodybuilders, so I expected some level of strength training against these guys. So, it was a little nerve-racking at first but once I got into it. I realised everyone was pretty encouraging, and supportive and I appreciated that.”
Ramoon’s humility and willingness to take advice saw him go on to tie second overall with Brendan Foley in the men’s lightweight division, behind first-place finisher Ricardo Brown.
In the men’s heavyweight division, Daniel Foley took first place, Shamal Williams was second and Travis Millwood third.
The ladies lightweight category featured Ingrid Garcia Baranjak took the win over Marlene West and Anna-Maria Kafizas, who tied for second.
Louane Silva earned the overall win in the ladies middleweight division, ahead of Clarice Diaz in second place and Amelia Gillespie finishing third.
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