Davis hopes NMI can medal in Pacific Games

Commonwealth Bodybuilding Federation president John Davis remains optimistic that someday the CNMI would win a medal in the bodybuilding event of the quadrennial Pacific Games.

Donivan Mendiola gained some experience in international competition after competing in this year’s XV Pacific Games in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. (Jon Perez)

Davis said that 30 medals, 10 of which were gold, were offered in the XV Pacific Games in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea last July.

The hosts went home with a 5-3-2 gold-silver-bronze haul to rule the bodybuilding event winning the lower (-65 kilograms and -70kg) and middle (-75kg, -80kg, and -85kg) weight categories.

A total of eight weight classes were contested in the men’s division, while the women’s side offered only two. Five to six bodybuilders competed from each country.

Davis said part of Papua New Guinea’s success is investing on its athletes. “They invested 500,000 Kina ($175,000) for their bodybuilding team in the Pacific Games.”

“I know we couldn’t match spending that kind of money but I think we could figure something out,” said Davis

He added that bodybuilding is a sport that needs a lot of discipline and nutrition and has no requirement in height, speed, or agility.

Tonga came in second with three gold and two bronze, while New Caledonia, the 2011 Pacific Games bodybuilding champions, collected 1-2-1.

Davis added that American Samoa, which has almost the same population size as the CNMI, managed to win a medal from its four athletes.

Ursula Teo Martin clinched the gold for American Samoa after ruling the women’s +55kg division and also clinched the overall women’s crown.

Papua New Guinea’s Misa Avefa and Haifa June Work of Fiji settled for the silver and bronze.

Virginie Foucault gave New Caledonia its lone gold in the -55kg weight class with Fiji’s Maryann Moss claiming silver. Pau Moses of Papua New Guinea bagged the bronze.

“Aaron (Tomokane) and Donivan (Mendiola) worked hard and I saw them train. They gave it their all but in all competition, there is always someone who is the best,” said Davis.

“Most of those who competed were huge. There’s this one guy that is I think is almost in his 50s and that guy is ripped,” he added.

And with Saipan’s power still not at 100 percent, Davis said all CBBF events and other programs are on hold for now. “All are suspended for now because of the power situation.”

Even the Dee Clayton Classic, which is a separate event and solely organized by CBBF vice president Dee Clayton, got cancelled early this month.

“We’re encouraging everybody to join every competition. As of now, we’re getting ready for the CNMI Championships in March,” Davis said.

He added that he also hopes to form a team that would train whole year round in time for the 2016 Pacific championships set in Tahiti.