No one said it was going to be easy. But nothing worthwhile ever is.
Brandon Curry lived up to his advanced billing on Saturday night, rising to the top of the amateur ranks by winning the men’s overall title at the 2008 NPC USA Bodybuilding and Figure Championships is Las Vegas, Nevada.
In the process, Curry earned one of the two pro cards given out in men’s bodybuilding. Curtis Bryant won the light heavyweight division and earned the second pro card awarded at the show.
Curry first had to fight his way through the ultra-competitive heavyweight division and an extremely tough battle with Michael Liberatore. Liberatore, coming off a win in the heavyweight division at the Junior Nationals last month, gave Curry all he could handle. In the end, a single point separated the two, with Curry’s superior shape and thickness getting rewarded over Liberatore’s superior conditioning. “I knew it was going to be a tough battle tonight,” Curry said. “I knew I had to come out and perform, and be better than last night.”
Bryant dropped down to the light heavyweight class after placing 7th in the heavyweights at the 2007 Nationals. The move paid off, as Bryant earned a convincing victory against runner-up Brandon Ray.
Amy Lee Martin won the C Class and overall figure and one of the five pro cards. The win was a huge improvement from Martin’s last performance on the national-level, when she placed 10th in her class at the Junior Nationals.
“I’m surprised,” Martin said. But I put so much hard work into this. I just wanted to do as well as I could and have fun on stage. I exceeded that goal. It’s a wonderful feeling.”
In women’s bodybuilding, Isabelle Turrell won the light heavyweight and overall.
“It’s overwhelming,” Turrell said. “I have great structure and symmetry, and it was basically that and my conditioning that [was the deciding factor].”
