Morgan hopes to bring home gold

By Avenash Ramzan

Top 83kg powerlifter, Randolph Morgan, will be Guyana’s lone representative at the upcoming World Open championship in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, but the strong man is confident of toppling the competition, which will feature the leading athletes from around the globe.
Morgan and Guyana’s premier female lifter, Dawn Barker, were slated to represent the Golden Arrowhead, but Lindener Barker picked up a knee injury last month and will be out of action until the first week in November.
During an exclusive interview with this publication on Monday, Morgan, who is Guyana’s number one ranked 83kg lifter, said he’s pumped up for the October 29 to November 4 championship, despite being “alone.” “Preparation has been very good, it has been injury free and I’m going to be alone. My female companion, Dawn Barker, is injured, so she’s out.
President of the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation, Peter Green, will accompany Morgan on the trip, as he is slated to attend the World Congress, which will run concurrently with the championship.
Questioned on his chances at the championship, Morgan said he wants to leave a mark on the event, since he has set himself some lofty goals.
“Making a promise is really a tough thing, but I’m going to tell the country and all my fans who have been rallying around to expect me to come back as the gold medallist. If I have to lift the heart out I will do it… that’s what makes you a champion. I will attempt to break the world record at 762 pounds; it currently stands at 759 pounds,” Morgan, who has been representing Guyana since 2009, said boldly.
He added, “When you look at the athletes’ credentials and totals online, that’s on paper. My own is much lesser, but when we go there in person and when the race breaks then we will be able to decide who the best person is.
“My opinion right now is that the platform is level until the day of reckoning arrives. I’m confident; I’m always willing to represent the Golden Arrowhead and all my fans who are rallying behind me, most of all the Minister of Sport who has always played a significant emphasis on powerlifting. I know them and the Guyana Police Force, who has been giving me the time off, is also behind me. I see myself wanting to be the best in the world at the 83kg Class.
My goal is to deadlift 800+ pounds; bench press 600+ pounds; and squat 800+ pounds all at [a body weight of] 181 pounds.”
Despite exuding confidence, Morgan is cognizant of the level of competition he will be faced with, noting that it will be a challenging few days for him in the Spanish-speaking nation.
“It’s very difficult because those are the younger folks, they are much stronger, and they’re more vibrant and more dedicated so going up against the best in the world from Europe, Asia and lifters from all the other continents, makes it more challenging,” he explained.
Earlier this year at the Caribbean championship in the US Virgin Islands, Morgan broke his own record with a new Bench Press of 220kg (old 215kg), Deadlift 320kg (old 295kg) and total 835kg (old 807.5kg). He was crowned best lifter for the fourth successive year in the Open category.
Morgan, who is a member of the Guyana Police Force, is the number two ranked lifter in his division in North America, and number three in South America. The World Open championship is the final event local lifters will attend in 2012.