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 âdevastatedâ on hearing of Victoryâs passing.
âI am saddened by his passing; he will be missedâ, Williams said in a forlorn voice.
âWe had our differences, but that was only on bodybuilding, otherwise we were friendsâ, 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.
âSteve 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 honourâ, Williams noted.
Former Mr St Vincent Matthew Llewellyn described Victory as âan asset to the sportâ.
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.
âHe 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 likewiseâ, Llewellyn recalled of Victory.
Llewellyn claimed that Victory had a lot to do with the progress of the sport, especially in the 1990âs.
Under Victoryâs 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.
Victoryâs 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)
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