Undaunted?by failing to make the top ten of last weekend’s Figure Olympia contest in Las Vegas, Barbadian Roslyn Vanterpool remains upbeat and vows to make amends at next year’s event.
Vanterpool finished joint 16th at the world-class event at the Orleans Arena, but is confident she can do better if she gets another chance to show her poise, shape and tone at the 2013 edition.
“I was in my best shape and I am quite satisfied with my performance,” she told the MIDWEEK?NATION.
“It was an experience and I learned a lot. The judges seemed to be looking for muscle detail in the back, V-taper shape, in addition to poise and tone.
“My team is already looking at qualifiers for next year’s event. Chances are I will try to qualify from one of the Canadian events. I know I have it in me to make the top ten or even the top six at next year’s Figure Olympia.”
Vanterpool, 47, the first Barbadian to stand on the Figure Olympia stage, returned home Monday night with three-time Mr Barbados Lyndon Belgrave, coach Carl Moore and manager Matthew Pilgrim.
The former St Leonard’s Girls Secondary student said she was delighted to make history.
“I?was grateful to be there and compete for my country. Several people came to me just after the end of the show and told me they thought I looked good and felt I should be higher.
“This was my first time and it was always one of my goals to compete on the Olympia stage. I thought my physique compared favourably with any of the girls in the top six. I am still upbeat and thinking towards next year.”
Belgrave took 14th place in the newly created 212-pounds-and-under class and said it was tough being an unknown.
“It was my first time, and I was pleased with my performance. Politics is still the name of the game and it is hard when you are not known,” said the 42-year-old. However, he admitted that he could do with more upper torso mass.
“One of my weak areas coming into the competition was arms and shoulders, but those have improved since I did a qualifier event last November. The judges had their eyes on the top four, who were in many of the comparisons.
“It was a good show, though, although I didn’t think that [Welshman] Flex Lewis should have won. David Henry [of the United States] looked good and many people seem to think the show was between Henry and [Brazilian] Correa da Silva, who was third,” he said.
Belgrave said he would seek sponsorship for next year in trying to qualify for the event.
“The aim is not only to qualify but to win a qualifier. It’s about recognition. I was happy to be among the best in the world and it would be great to get another chance.”
Miss Olympia was won for the eighth time by imposing African American Iris Kyle.
