The Jamaica Amateur Bodybuilding and Fitness Association (JABBFA) ushered in a new era of leadership while reaffirming continuity at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at the Sports Development Foundation (SDF) on Saturday, March 1, 2025. The meeting, which ran from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., marked a significant moment for the organization as members gathered in person for the first time since pandemic restrictions were lifted. A key highlight of the event was the re-election of Audrie Allwood as President for a historic third consecutive term, underscoring the confidence in her leadership and vision for the sport.
After a 25-year break from competition, former fitness athlete and current president of the Jamaica Bodybuilding and Fitness Association (JABBFA), Audrie Allwood, is making an inspiring return to the stage. The 59-year-old, one of Jamaica’s most successful fitness athletes, will be competing in the Wellness Category, proving that age is just a number.
Jackson claimed the award for the first time after a phenomenal 2023 season which saw her successfully defend her World 200m title with a personal best 21.41, the second fastest time ever, in Budapest in August.
In addition to her 200m title, Jackson also ran 10.72 for 100m silver. She ended her season with the sprint double at the Diamond League Final in Eugene with times of 10.70 and 21.57, respectively, in September.
The 29-year-old also achieved a new personal best in the 100m with 10.65, the fifth fastest time ever, to defend her National title in July.
Antonio Watson shocked the world to become the first Jamaican man in 40 years to win 400m gold at the World Championships.
After running a massive personal best 44.14 in the semi-finals, the 22-year-old produced 44.22 to take gold in the final. Watson also ran 44.54 for second at the National Championships in July.
Watson also took home the people’s choice award for his gold medal winning performance.
Danielle Williams was named runner-up for Sportswoman of the Year while Hansle Parchment was runner-up for Sportsman of the Year.
Williams, like Watson, shocked the world in Budapest by claiming her second 100m hurdles World title, the other coming all the way back in 2015.
Parchment, the reigning Olympic champion, claimed his second World Championship silver medal with a 13.07 effort in Budapest. He followed that up in September with a new personal best 12.93 to win at the Diamond League Final in Eugene.
The recipient of the 2023 Icon Award was 400m hurdles Olympic and World champion Deon Hemmings-McCatty while West Indies Under-19 batsman Jordan Johnson was named the winner of the VM Group Y.O.U.T.H award.
Some other athletes receiving awards for their individual sports included CAC Games bronze medallist Tahlia Richardson for badminton, Ricardo “Big 12” Brown for boxing, Sherea Clarke and Wayne McCalla for bodybuilding, West Indies batter Rashada Williams for cricket and Sara Misir and Fraser McConnell for motorsport.
Arguably Jamaica’s two most successful sports teams, the Sunshine Girls and the Reggae Girls, were given special awards for their performances in 2023.
The Reggae Girls were rewarded for their historic performance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand from July 20-August 20.
They became the first Caribbean team ever, male or female, to advance to the Round of 16 at a FIFA World Cup.
The Sunshine Girls also had a historically good year with a gold medal at the CAC Games held in El Salvador from June 25-29 and bronze at the Netball World Cup held from July 28-August 6 in South Africa.
That World Cup also saw the Jamaicans get their first ever World Cup win over world number one and eventual champions, Australia.
A few weeks ago, revelations came to light that an athlete had returned an adverse analytical finding, but the details of the situation have been kept relatively close to the association.
According to the release, Lewis will face the disciplinary panel via a virtual hearing, on Thursday. The release also stated that the hearing, as is the protocol of JADCO, will be held in-camera.
Lewis, who competes in the Bikini Fitness Short Class category, won the national title last year, before competing in Aruba last August where she was second in the short class, finishing behind Febe Moreno of Mexico. Lewis was third overall in the Bikini Fitness category.
