Ghana wins two gold medals at The Arnold Classic

Ghana won two gold medals at the just ended 2021 Arnold Classic Africa in South Africa.

The Ghana Bodybuilding and Fitness Association (GBFA), the body mandated by the National Sports Authority (NSA) to control the development of bodybuilding and fitness activities in Ghana registered 8 athletes (7 bodybuilders and 1 female bikini athlete) to participate in this year’s event.

The athletes; Godwin Frimpong, Joseph Ofolikwei, Arnold Aryee, Evans Amwagsi, Micheal Otu, Abraham Mawutor, Celestine Dogbeda, James Atsu and two GBFA executives are Charles Owusu Ansah and Rosemary Yayra left Ghana on the 16th of November to represent Ghana.

The Arnold Classic championship is a programme put together worldwide on each continent to celebrate bodybuilding great Arnold Schwarzenegger each year. It is the biggest bodybuilding event on the Africa continent.

After registration and the competition on the 21st of November, 2 Ghanaians; James Atsu and Michael Otu who were registered in the men’s Bodybuilding Up To 80kg placed 2nd and 4th respectively. In the men’s Bodybuilding Up To 90kg, Godwin Frimpong, Evans Amwagsi and Abraham Mawutor placed 1st, 2nd and 4th respectively. In the men’s Bodybuilding Up To 100kg, Joseph Ofolikwei placed 1st. Both Arnold Aryee (masters) and Celestine Dogbeda (female Bikini) who were competing internationally for the first time couldn’t make it to the top 6 in their respective categories.

In all Ghana won two gold medals, two silver medals and two 4th placed medals.

The president of the GBFA said “Ghana always perform very well, flying high the flag of Ghana anytime we travel out to represent the country in international events and Ghana bodybuilding is now given the needed respect when it comes to competing internationally. We’ve done some good job with bodybuilding in this country over the years with our own fundings and I think it’s high time the authorities above give bodybuilding the needed financial support to continue the development of the sport in Ghana”

“Going to South African as Usual, athletes and executives needed to raise their own funding to make the trip possible, which have continued for far too long and I believe it’s high time we change things”

Yartey said, “bodybuilding is the backbone of most sporting disciplines because most sports athletes go into the gym to develop their muscles and it is these same bodybuilders who are instructors who train these athletes and people of all works of life in Ghana to let them stay fit and healthy”.

"Next year will be a busy year for bodybuilding in Ghana and bodybuilding seriously need the support of the NSA and the Sports ministry.”