Bryant brings home medals, state record

Davy BryantIn October, Davy Bryant, Naples, traveled to Spokane and brought home medals after taking third place in men’s open bodybuilding and fourth in men’s physique in a qualifying round of the National Physique Committee (NPC) Night of Champions at Northern Quest Resort and Casino. On the last weekend in January, he traveled for two days of competition in the U.S. Powerlifting Association competition in Kennewick, and when he came home, he brought home two more medals, this time in weightlifting in both the open and masters divisions of the raw bench press.

And it’s more impressive than it sounds; four medals in two sports in just three months. That’s because his latest medals are both for first place and both of them set new Idaho State records and he achieved both with a single lift!

The open division is for competitors aged 18 to 40 and masters is for those ages 40-plus. Those in the open division can’t compete against masters, while masters are allowed to compete against their younger and most often stronger counterparts, which is Davy, age 41, did, and it paid off for him.

“I would just like to say I give the glory to God,” Davy said Sunday. “And would like to thank my trainer Shawn Nemean and Iron Mike’s Gym. And the Bonners Ferry community for all their love and support. Always believe in yourself and you can do anything.”

Weighing in at 176 pounds on Friday morning, the first day of competition, on Saturday the magic moment came when he lifted 325 pounds on the bench, breaking the previous state record of 308 pounds by 17 pounds.

He’ll be back to bodybuilding on his next trip, traveling back to Spokane on Saturday, April 20, for the Empire Classic Bodybuilding Competition at the Spokane Convention Center. Tickets are available online, $20 general admission for the prejudging, which begin at 10 a.m., and $40 general admission or $45 VIP Reserved for the finals beginning at 4:30 p.m., and he’d love see a Boundary County contingent there to cheer him on.