Bodybuilding fraternity mourns passing of former President, founder

The sudden passing of Steve Victory, former president and founder of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Amateur Bodybuilding and Powerlifting Federation (SVGABBPFF), has shocked the local bodybuilding fraternity.{{more}}

Victory was 64 years old.

Current president of the SVGABBPFF, Korean Williams, with whom Victory had had some administrative run-ins recently, expressed sadness at his death.

When SEARCHLIGHT broke the news to Williams last Saturday, she said was “devastated” on hearing of Victory’s passing.

“I am saddened by his passing; he will be missed”, Williams said in a forlorn voice.

“We had our differences, but that was only on bodybuilding, otherwise we were friends”, Williams admitted.

However, Williams regretted that her last conversation with Victory was not a good one, as they had argued on the telephone about an interim committee being formed for the sport, without her knowledge.

Prior to that, on March 26, 2011, Victory opposed Williams in a two-way run-off for the presidency of the SVGABBPFF.

Williams noted that in 1993, Victory appointed her as the recording secretary of the federation, which, in effect, got her bodybuilding administrative skills off the ground.

“Steve loved the sport; he loved bodybuilding, that was Steve. It means now that we as a Federation should work harder in the sport in his honour”, Williams noted.

Former Mr St Vincent Matthew Llewellyn described Victory as “an asset to the sport”.

Llewellyn disclosed that on hearing the news last Friday, he went to the Fitness Quest Gym at Villa to train, but was too distraught to do so.

“He meant good for the sport, despite him having lots of opposition; he was a determined man who you had to convince with facts about bodybuilding. He liked the body and encouraged others to do likewise”, Llewellyn recalled of Victory.

Llewellyn claimed that Victory had a lot to do with the progress of the sport, especially in the 1990’s.

Under Victory’s presidency, St Vincent and the Grenadines won the OECS bodybuilding titles in 1988, 1993 and 1994.

Additionally, while Victory was at the helm of the sport, Lynette Baptiste emerged Miss OECS on three occasions, while Odley Spence copped the Bantam weight title for seven consecutive years.

Victory’s lifeless body was found last Friday at his home at Arnos Vale.

An autopsy was expected to be performed yesterday, to determine the cause of death. (RT)