Kymani Kirby dedicates bodybuilding win to late mom

When 25-year-old Kymani Kirby took the stage at the 2025 Mayberry/JABBFA National Senior Championships last Saturday night, he displayed more than just muscle and determination. There was love, grief, and the spirit of a mother who never stopped believing in him. Kirby’s triumph at the Little Theatre, where he was named Overall Bodybuilding Champion, was not only a personal victory but also a tribute to his late mother, who passed away earlier this year after a courageous battle with breast cancer.

“She was here tonight in the front row watching me,” Kirby shared with Lifestyle, his voice filled with emotion after his win. “And I believe that’s why I won. My mother left this earth in April of this year due to breast cancer, but I wear her cancer symbol tattoo proudly on my neck every day. I got that tattoo before she was diagnosed for the third time. She was always a fighter, and it was for her that I came out and did this tonight” he said, adding, “Every championship, every trophy that I will get after this– because she asked me to fulfil my dream and continue– will be in her name.”

This was Kirby’s third year entering the national championships. Last year, he walked away as Classic Bodybuilding Champion – a title he successfully defended this year. He also claimed the Middleweight title before going on to take Overall Champion for the very first time.

For Kirby, this journey began in an unexpected way. After looking for a fresh start, he stumbled across an Instagram post advertising for a gym receptionist. He applied and he got the job, which allowed him free access to the gym. Already fit from his high school track and field days, he quickly caught the attention of his present coach, Clifton Lee.

“Coach saw me then and he was like, ‘You want to do bodybuilding?’ And my answer was, ‘Me ago get abs?’” Kirby recalled with a laugh. “And him seh ‘yeah man’, and that’s all I needed to hear; and that’s where the journey started, [in] May 2023.” Two years later, he is now one of Jamaica’s top bodybuilders.

Lee, who is a certified strength and conditioning coach for Jamaica and co-founder of TUFF Strength Systems, shared he is extremely proud of Kirby.

“Kymani came into this season with a hunger to prove himself, and seeing him capture the Classic Physique, Middleweight, and Overall Mr Jamaica titles is proof that hard work and the right system pay off,” Lee said.

Now, Kirby is setting his sights on the global stage. In October he will travel to Las Vegas to compete at the Amateur Olympia competition, one of the most prestigious bodybuilding competitions in the world. There, he will enter the Classic Physique Class A division in pursuit of his pro card, a milestone that would place him among the very few Jamaicans to ever compete at that level.

Lee added that although time is short, Kirby’s preparation will continue with precise refinements to his physique, conditioning, and detail.

“I have no doubt I will come home with it,” Kirby declared confidently. “I’ll be representing myself and my country proudly.”

Though Kirby has developed a genuine love for the sport and looks on to winning more trophies and titles, he attributes each rep, each pose, and each victory as a living memory of his mother’s unwavering strength and love.

o’brian.wynter@gleanerjm.com