The Tribune

By JONATHAN BURROWS

Tribune Sports Reporter

jburrows@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN professional bodybuilder Jason Johnson believes he deserved a top-five finish at the 2026 IFBB Pro World Championships in Santa Susanna, Spain, but is already looking towards another opportunity to establish himself among the world’s best.

Johnson placed seventh in the Pro Men’s Physique division, a result he felt did not fully reflect his performance against an international field of experienced professionals. Despite falling short of his target, he remains determined to return to the world championships, improve his placing and eventually challenge for the title.

Johnson, who has been competing in bodybuilding since 2019, has steadily established himself on the international circuit, becoming one of the country’s most accomplished professional competitors of this era. 

He said he was pleased with how he presented his physique in Spain but believed his overall package was strong enough to secure a higher placing.

“I was not satisfied with the results because I feel like I definitely should have made it into the top five based on looking at all the competitors and the criteria,” Johnson said. “My performance was really good. I feel like I showcased my physique very, very well.”

Johnson’s professional journey gained momentum in 2021 when he became the first Bahamian to earn professional cards in both the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) and the World Beauty Fitness and Fashion (WBFF).

He has since collected several notable international results, including a sixth-place finish in Men’s Physique at the Central American and Caribbean Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships before improving to second place in 2021. On the professional circuit, Johnson captured the IFBB Pro Mr Colombia title in 2023 before winning the Men’s Physique division at the Mr Mexico Pro competition in 2024. He successfully defended that title in 2025, becoming a two-time winner of the competition. He also secured third place at the IFBB Pro Sudamerica Show in Paraguay in 2025.

His latest world championship appearance marked another significant opportunity to measure himself against the best professional competitors internationally. Johnson explained that the field consisted of seasoned professionals and previous show winners from different parts of the world, making the competition particularly demanding.

He said the standard was considerably different from what competitors might encounter at smaller professional shows, with athletes arriving after winning competitions across various international circuits.

“These are not beginners. These are seasoned athletes. It is on a high-scale level, representing the country that they are from,” Johnson said.

The seventh-place result was especially meaningful given his previous experience at the championships, where he said he recorded a sixth-place finish in 2023. His ambition now is to move beyond the top-seven positions and establish himself among the top five.

Johnson identified his conditioning as one of his strongest physical attributes, explaining that he has always prioritised shape and symmetry over simply adding muscle size.

“One of the main factors that separates me from the rest of the athletes is my conditioning and my taper, my wide shoulders, small waist and very conditioned core area,” he said. “I always push more shape than size.”

However, he believes his posing is an area that requires more attention. The championships represented his first competition of the 2026 season, leaving him with fewer opportunities to practise his stage presentation and fine-tune his routine before facing the international field.

“The only thing I feel I need to improve on is my posing,” Johnson said. “I didn’t have much practice this year.”

His preparation also came after a challenging year away from competition. Johnson had planned to participate in the 2026 Mr Argentina Universe in September and had already arranged his flights, hotel and physical preparation, but was unable to make the trip because his visa was not approved in time.

Family responsibilities and financial commitments also influenced his decision to limit his competition schedule this year. Although he normally competes three or four times annually, the World Championships became his only appearance for the 2026 season thus far.

He spent approximately four months preparing for the competition, with eight weeks dedicated to more intensive preparation. As a professional personal trainer, Johnson maintains a disciplined approach to his nutrition and training throughout the year, which he believes allows him to avoid lengthy preparation periods.

Unlike bodybuilders who use the off-season to significantly increase their calorie intake and body weight through a practice known as dirty bulking, Johnson prefers to maintain his physique year-round. Dirty bulking involves consuming large quantities of food, often without strict attention to nutritional quality, to gain muscle mass while also adding body fat.

“I don’t dirty bulk. I always keep my aesthetics year-round because I’m a professional trainer as well,” he said.

Looking towards the next season, Johnson wants to become a five-time professional show winner and secure a top-five finish at the world championships. Ultimately, he hopes to challenge for the overall title.

“The next major milestone in my career is I would like to win one more pro show to make my fifth pro show win in the IFBB, and I also want to grab a top-five finish at the world championships,” he said. “Possibly push to win it.”

He is also considering a move from Men’s Physique into Classic Physique, which would present a different challenge in terms of training. After spending several years developing his Men’s Physique package, he believes a change of category could provide a new challenge and opportunity for growth.

Although he believes he has the potential to compete at the Mr Olympia level, Johnson explained that he is comfortable with the physical requirements of his current federation and does not necessarily want to add more size simply to pursue a different competitive pathway.

Beyond his individual ambitions, Johnson expressed concern about what he sees as a decline in bodybuilding participation and enthusiasm in The Bahamas.

He recalled a time when Bahamian bodybuilding teams travelling to international competitions could include 15 to 20 athletes, but believes the numbers have dropped considerably. He attributed some of the decline to divisions within the local bodybuilding community and what he described as excessive politics surrounding the sport.

“I don’t see a lot of people enthused by bodybuilding anymore like how it used to be,” Johnson said. “There is a lot of politics happening right now, a lot of separation and too much is happening.”

Johnson said he would like to see renewed interest in bodybuilding and believes those involved must take responsibility for helping rebuild the sport and creating better opportunities for upcoming competitors.

He also credited legendary Bahamian bodybuilder Joel Stubbs, his mentor and former president of the Bahamas Bodybuilding, Wellness and Fitness Federation, for playing an important role in his development. Stubbs, a former Mr Olympia competitor, has helped guide Johnson through his preparations, offering technical feedback and encouragement throughout his career.

Johnson described Stubbs as an important second set of eyes during his preparation and someone whose experience and influence have helped him continue to develop as a professional competitor.

“He has always been my mentor. He has always been my second eye, always being positive and giving me guidance,” Johnson said. “He helps me with my preparation and is always there to give me that extra push.”

With no additional competitions planned for the remainder of 2026, Johnson intends to use the coming months to prepare for a busier schedule next year. He expects to compete several times and return to the world championships with an improved physique and stronger stage presentation.