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Haiti-Dominican Republic bodybuilding showdown

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Bodybuilders from Haiti and the Dominican Republic on Sunday flexed and strutted against each other on stage at the Haiti Bodybuilding Classic. It was the first of such a showdown between the neighboring countries, whose relations are often tense.

In this July 23, 2017 photo, a Haitian bodybuilder peers from behind the curtain to watch his competitors perform at the Haiti Bodybuilding Classic, an event with Haitian and Dominican Republican athletes, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. It was the first such showdown between the neighboring countries whose relations are often tense. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) In this July 20, 2017 photo, bodybuilder Spely Laventure flexes his muscles in the mirror as he trains for an upcoming competition in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Laventure gets to work out for free thanks to the owner of the local gym in Haiti's capital. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) In this July 23, 2017 photo, Raynold Junior Mendez gets help with his body oil before competing in a bodybuilding event between Haiti and Dominican Republic in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Sunday's event was organized by the Dominican bodybuilding federation and a local Haitian bodybuilding group to generate support for the sport and make it more accessible, especially in Haiti where a handful of bodybuilders struggle to become professionals in a country where people make less than $2 a day. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) In this July 23, 2017 photo, Haitian bodybuilders register to compete in a bodybuilding competition between Haiti and Dominican Republic in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Sunday's event was organized by the Dominican bodybuilding federation and a local Haitian bodybuilding group to generate support for the sport and make it more accessible, especially in Haiti where a handful of bodybuilders struggle to become professionals in a country where people make less than $2 a day. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) In this July 23, 2017 photo, Dominican Republic bodybuilder Jose Solano, who placed second in the super-heavy weight category, warms up for competition next to Tony Pena, right, president of the Dominican Republic Bodybuilding Federation, before the event between Haiti and Dominican Republic in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Bodybuilders from Haiti and the Dominican Republic flexed and strutted against each other on stage in the first such showdown between the neighboring countries whose relations are often tense. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) In this July 23, 2017 photo, Haitian bodybuilder Spely Laventure, center, performs alongside Dominican Jose Solano, right, and other Haitian athletes during a bodybuilding competition between Haiti and Dominican Republic in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. More than two dozen men and one woman competed in Sunday's Haiti Bodybuilding Classic. Laventure won the semi-heavy weight category, as well as first for overall show, and said he hopes it will lead to sponsors and more exposure. Solano placed second in the super-heavy weight category. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) In this July 23, 2017 photo, Dominican Republic bodybuilders Jose Solano, left, and Emmanuel Hidalgo pose for photos and prepare for a competition between Haiti and Dominican Republic in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Sunday's event was organized by the Dominican bodybuilding federation and a local Haitian bodybuilding group to generate support for the sport and make it more accessible, especially in Haiti where a handful of bodybuilders struggle to become professionals in a country where people make less than $2 a day. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) In this July 23, 2017 photo, Dominican Republic bodybuilder Jose Solano prepares backstage with other competitors before a competition between Haiti and Dominican Republic, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Sunday's event was organized by the Dominican bodybuilding federation and a Haitian bodybuilding group to generate support for the sport and make it more accessible in Haiti, where a handful of bodybuilders struggle to become professionals in a country where people make less than $2 a day. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) In this July 21, 2017 photo, Haitian bodybuilder Spely Laventure prepares a special breakfast at his home in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Laventure spends anywhere between $50 to $100 a week on a single meal plan, considered an exorbitant amount in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. "I was a skinny guy, but look at me right now," said the 30-year-old who won five competitions in the past year. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) In this July 20, 2017 photo, Haitian bodybuilder Spely Laventure makes a face in the mirror as he trains for an upcoming competition in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Laventure gets to work out for free thanks to the owner of the local gym in Haiti's capital. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) In this July 23, 2017 photo, Haitian bodybuilders Saintonge Pierre-Yves, right, and competitor Clement Whenael rehearse backstage for a bodybuilding competition between Haiti and Dominican Republic in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Sunday's event was organized by the Dominican bodybuilding federation and a Haitian bodybuilding group to generate support for the sport and make it more accessible in Haiti, where a handful of bodybuilders struggle to become professionals in a country where people make less than $2 a day. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) In this July 23, 2017 photo, Haitian bodybuilder Spely Laventure stands between Tony Pena, president of the Dominican Rep. federation of bodybuilding, right, and Fritz Gerald Fung, president of the Haitian federation of bodybuilding, after winning Haiti Bodybuilding Classic, an event with Haitian and Dominican Republican athletes, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Laventure wants to become Haiti's first professional bodybuilder and dreams about participating in Mr. Olympia, the world's biggest bodybuilding competition. "I know it's going to be very hard ... In Haiti especially, it's not easy," he said, adding that he believes he'll make it: "I was a skinny guy, but look at me right now." (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) In this July 23, 2017 photo, first place winner in the semi-heavy weight category, Haitian bodybuilder Spely Laventure, left, is congratulated by Dominican bodybuilder Emmanuel Hidalgo, who placed fourth in the super-heavy weight group, at the end of the bodybuilding competition between Haiti and Dominican Republic in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Hidalgo was only one of two Dominican men who participated in the event. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) In this July 23, 2017 photo, Haitian bodybuilder Spely Laventure, third from right, takes pictures with a fan and fellow Haitian bodybuilders before a competition between Haiti and Dominican Republic in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. "I spent all my savings on my body. I don't regret that," said the a 30-year-old. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) In this July 23, 2017 photo, Haitian bodybuilder Spely Laventure gets weighed before a bodybuilding competition between Haiti and Dominican Republic in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. "Most of the things that you eat to prepare for competition, they import it," Laventure said. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) In this July 21, 2017 photo, Haitian bodybuilder Spely Laventure arranges his trophies for pictures at his home in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Laventure wants to become Haiti's first professional bodybuilder and dreams about participating in Mr. Olympia, the world's biggest bodybuilding competition. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) In this July 23, 2017 photo, Dominican Republic bodybuilder Dalia Mordechay performs during a bodybuilding competition between Haiti and Dominican Republic in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. More than two dozen men and only one woman competed in Sunday's Haiti Bodybuilding Classic. AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) In this July 23, 2017 photo, Haitian bodybuilder Spely Laventure holds his trophy up as photographers take his picture after winning the first bodybuilding competition between Haiti and Dominican Republic in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. "I proved everyone that I'm really a champion," he said. Laventure won his weight category as well as the overall show. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) In this July 23, 2017 photo, Haitian bodybuilder Pierrive Lindon performs during a competition between Haiti and Dominican Republic in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Tony Pena, president of the Dominican Republic's Bodybuilding Federation, urged Haiti's government to support their local bodybuilders. "Haitians have very good genetics to be world-class champions," he said. "They just need support." (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) In this July 23, 2017 photo, Haitian bodybuilders take pictures before the start of a bodybuilding competition between Haiti and Dominican Republic in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Bodybuilders from Haiti and the Dominican Republic flexed and strutted against each other on stage in the first such showdown between the neighboring countries whose relations are often tense. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) In this July 20, 2017 photo, bodybuilder Spely Laventure trains for an upcoming bodybuilding competition between Haiti and Dominican Republic in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Laventure could not find a coach when he began training, so he studied YouTube videos and followed bodybuilders on Instagram to learn about the sport and imitate workouts. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) In this July 23, 2017 photo, Haitian bodybuilder Spely Laventure poses with his trophy after winning the Haiti Bodybuilding Classic, an event with Haitian and Dominican Republican athletes, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Laventure wants to become Haiti's first professional bodybuilder and dreams about participating in Mr. Olympia, the world's biggest bodybuilding competition. "I know it's going to be very hard ... In Haiti especially, it's not easy," he said, adding that he believes he'll make it: "I was a skinny guy, but look at me right now." (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)


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