Ramirez for ‘Muscleshow’ | Local Sports

VENEZUELAN Víctor Ramírez is guest-poser at the NPC Trinidad and Tobago Muscleshow Regional Championship, which takes place on Saturday, at the Lord Kitchener Auditorium of the National Academy of the Performing Arts (NAPA), Port of Spain, from 5 pm

Ramírez is an IFBB Pro and two-time qualifier for the Mr. Olympia men’s physique competition, and is preparing for the upcoming Mr. Olympia, to be held in October.

While in Trinidad, the top Venezuelan athlete will host a posing clinic for current and aspiring athletes and coaches at tomorrow’s registration exercise, a day before the T&T Muscleshow.

According to the organizers, the NPC Trinidad and Tobago Muscleshow Regional Championship is the first official NPC worldwide/IFBB Pro League-sanctioned show to be held in Trinidad and Tobago.

The main draw for participants is the chance to compete at the Mr. Olympia South America 2024, scheduled for September 13-15 at Hotel City Center, Rosario, Argentina.

A total of 27 Pro Cards are at stake at Mr. Olympia South America, with the best athletes in the region expected to compete.

Organizers indicated that the two overall winners of the T&T Muscleshow will earn airfare and registration fee to compete at Mr. Olympia South America.

The T&T Muscleshow will see competition to be held in the bikini, wellness and figure division; men’s physique; women’s physique; bodybuilding, and classic physique.

An international NPC/IFBB Pro League Judging panel has been confirmed for the Muscleshow. Heading the panel are Fernando Loreiro, an IFBB Pro League & Mr. Olympia judge, as well as Pablo Rodríguez, an NPC International judge.

Promoting the event jointly are Dr. Trishanti Rocke and Alfredo Monger, both past competitors. Rocke is one of Trinidad and Tobago’s best ever fitness athletes, having previously performed consistently at T&T National Junior and Senior Champions over a decade.

She first earned pro card eligibility with the IFBB PRO league, after winning the overall championship in the Figure category at 2012 Caribbean & Central (CAC) championships in Puerto Rico. But because of administrative issues, it was some time before she finally became a professional.

Her co-promoter, Alfredo Monger, is a Mr. Olympia certified and IFBB certified coach, who himself has also competed as an athlete in Trinidad and Tobago, Curacao, Latin America and the USA, for over a decade.

Monger coaches both Rocke and local NPC T&T athletes Shazim Mohammed, who placed in his Men’s Physique class at the NPC Colombia Pro Qualifier.

And in 2023, he finished first in Men’s physique and Classic Physique and won the title of Overall Champion in Men’s Physique at the Center Podium Legion’s Sports Fest IFBB Pro/NPC competition in Reno, Nevada, USA.

Now in her early 40’s, Rocke is a certified medical doctor who specializes in Diagnostic Radiology at a public institution and is still based in T&T. She also still actively competes as an IFBB pro league athlete.

As recently as October 2023, she placed eighth at the Legion Sports Fest Pro Championship in the Women’s Fitness category.

Rocke said her inspiration to become a local show promoter was shaped by harrowing experiences trying to become a professional, and inspiration from other competitors.

The current seven-time Ms. Olympia, Cyd Gillon, is also a promoter for two of her own NPC/IFBB pro shows.

“I thought why not me, we need this here in Trinidad and Tobago more than the USA where there are multiple NPC shows every weekend in every state,” Rocke stated. She added that co-promoter Monger had also been instrumental.

“He (Monger) has been instrumental in building the international connections and nurturing the relationships which led to us being recognized as the official local T&T representative for the NPC South America/Latin America and by extension the NPC Worldwide.”

In a recent interview, Susana Hadad, president of the Trinidad and Tobago BodyBuilders Federation (TTBBF) had indicated of dire consequences for local athletes who compete at the NPC show, because of its affiliation to a rival international body.

However, Rocke is pushing ahead with plans of establishing the NPC in T&T and throughout the region.

“I think there is space for everyone who loves bodybuilding and being healthy and fit, and I hope to see the local calendar chock full of bodybuilding and fitness events year-round, regardless of affiliation,” she stated. “We also have another NPC T&T regional qualifier carded for the 23rd of November, 2024, and will add even more events to the bodybuilding calendar in 2025 as the community inevitably grows.”

The NPC is sure to thrive in Trinidad and Tobago and throughout the Caribbean because it is the only way to the Mr. Olympia,” Rocke said, adding, “Now that we have the rights to hold NPC regionals in Trinidad and Tobago it is much more affordable for athletes locally and regionally to compete here for a fraction of the cost and in local currency.”

Ticket prices are $250 (general admission), $300 (VIP Silver), $350 (VIP Gold) and $400 (Coach/Backstage Pass). Children under ten get in free. Tickets are available at several outlets nationwide and also at NAPA Ticket booth.