Guyana’s Stage of Champions awarded IFBB Pro Qualifier status

Bodybuilding in Guyana is set for a significant new era following confirmation that the ‘Stage of Champions’ event has been granted International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation (IFBB) Pro Qualifier status.

The new status means the Stage of Champions will now offer three coveted IFBB Pro Cards for the bodybuilding, men’s physique, and bikini categories.

These cards serve as a golden ticket, allowing athletes to compete in the prestigious IFBB Pro League and potentially reach the sport’s highest levels.

The first Stage of Champions event under the Pro Qualifier banner is scheduled for June 7, 2025, in Georgetown.

An IFBB Pro Card is a professional accreditation, typically earned by achieving high placings in recognised amateur contests such as those sanctioned by the National Physique Committee (NPC).

The Stage of Champions, trainer Videsh Sookram’s initiative, has garnered considerable support locally and regionally. Its elevation to Pro Qualifier status is seen as a major leap forward for the development of bodybuilding in Guyana and the wider Caribbean.

The decision, confirmed on Saturday evening during a meeting at the Roger Boyce Classic in Barbados, marks a historic milestone for the sport in the country.

Those key officials at the meeting included the President of the Guyana Bodybuilding & Fitness Federation (GBBFF), Roger Callender, National Coach and CEO of Stage of Champions, Videsh Sookram, alongside the President of the IFBB, Dr. Rafael Santonja, and the President of the Central American & Caribbean Bodybuilding Federation (CAC), Tony Peña.