Latest update March 28th, 2024 12:59 AM
Nov 03, 2012 Sports
-creates history as Guyana’s first
Guyana’s most decorated powerlifter, Randolph ‘The Accomplisher’ Morgan achieved yet another milestone and made further history when he overcame the challenges of Hurricane Sandy to win individual gold in the Deadlift at the 43rd Men’s World Powerlifting Championships, October 29 to November 04 in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.
In his debut year at this level, Morgan, competing in the 83kg class overcame an unexpected delay and potentially major obstacle to his goal of a gold medal, arriving mere hours before the start of his competition to lift his way to a gold medal in the Deadlift, while placing 8th overall.
Morgan achieved a commanding lift of 330kgs (727.65lbs) proving that he was stronger than Todor Vasilev of Bulgaria (325kgs / 716.62lbs) in second and Jose Castillo of Ecuador (322.5kgs / 711.11lbs), third.
Hurricane Sandy had stranded Morgan and Coach Denroy Livan in the city of New York on Monday which meant that they could not have gotten the connecting flight to Puerto Rico the same day.
But sterling efforts by the Federation’s official travel agents Millennia Travel Agency saw the duo being re-routed through San Juan on Wednesday night with another three hours driving to Aguadilla Thursday at 04:00hrs which meant that they only had just under nine (9) hours to prepare for competition at 13:00hrs.
With the 83kg Category attracting over 24 of the World’s best, it was always going to be tough, but as the saying goes, ‘when the going gets tough, the tough gets going’ and that is exactly what Morgan and Coach did.
He dug into his reserves and experience and his indomitable never say die attitude, managing to dominate Group B which featured lifters ranked 12th to 24th. Although putting in decent efforts in the squat and the bench press, it was not until the Deadlift that all eyes were unavoidably placed on Morgan.
Fans at the venue and those following the action online were amazed by the Guyanese strongman’s second and third attempts (Deadlift) as he smashed his own national and Caribbean records of 322.5kgs.
His final effort of 330kgs being good enough to clinch his (and Guyana’s) first World Open individual Gold Medal.
The Overall Total winners, Eugeney Vasyukov of Russia (925kgs / 2,039.62lbs), Gold, Andrei Naniev Ukraine (915kgs / 2,017,15lbs) and Volodymyr Rysiyev (910kgs / 2,006.55lbs) underlined the dominance of the Eastern European bloc.
Morgan’s best ever yet (national record) total overall of 850kgs / 1,874.25lbs surpasses even Guyana’s Heavyweight Champion ‘Big’ John Edwards recent best total of 845kgs / 1,863.22lbs with a bodyweight of 82.03kgs to Edwards’ 116kgs making him undisputedly Guyana’s top gun, pound for pound.
Morgan is slated to arrive around November the 11th due to the rescheduling of flights.
Also in Puerto Rico for the championships was Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation President Peter Green and in an invited comment said he is extremely elated that the federation’s goals and plans implemented in 2008 under his leadership has borne tremendous fruits.
“I am very gratified and proud with the performance of Morgan against the odds. Himself, Winston Stoby, John Edwards and Dawn Barker have led the way at the World level followed closely by a host of young and determined Regional top guns led by Vijai Rahim, Gumendra Shewdas and Anis Ade Thomas among others.”
Green, who attended the World Congress noted that had Barker not pick up an injury prior to the Worlds, Guyana would have been shouting from the roof tops about her Girl Power.
“Even more satisfying is the emergence of the settled position of a capable Coach with competent Managerial skills in the form of another youngster in Denroy Livan who has proven to be extremely capable in providing the positive, calming influence and efficiency in preparing the athletes before their lifts.
Guyana definitely is the winner, having the opportunity to showcase herself on the World stage, along with the federation’s untiring efforts at promoting the Country as a Sports Tourism destination.”
At this year’s Congress, President Green took the opportunity to have ongoing discussions with various member federations lobbying for sports assistance in the form of training and equipment. His efforts were favorably received and several proposals were discussed for implementation by 2013.
He informed that it has definitely been agreed that International Championships will be awarded to Guyana once the necessary infrastructure and equipment is in place.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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