Barbadian professional muscleman Lamar Coward has secured an impressive second-place finish at the 2025 International Fitness and Bodybuilding (IFBB) Pro World Championships, held last weekend in Povoa de Lanhoso, Portugal.
Competing in the Classic Physique division, Coward tallied 16 points overall – scoring six in the opening round, four in round two, and another six in the final round.
His total placed him just behind France’s Maxime Ratier, who claimed the title with 11 points (3, 5, 3). Portugal’s Duarte Gomes rounded out the top three.
Speaking from Italy, where he is spending time post-competition, Coward told Weekend Sport that he made key adjustments in his preparation leading into the championship.
“I came second at the Roger Boyce Classic in May, and after that I knew some changes needed to be made,” he explained.
“I actually hired a coach this time around. I’d been coaching myself for the last few years, but this prep I worked with Darren Farrow from Ireland through J3U Coaching.”
Coward said he had “no issues handing the reins over” to a coach, noting that bodybuilding is “a long-term experiment” where results often take months to become visible.
“A lot of the preparation comes down to the last few weeks, when you start seeing the hard work pay off – but you’re not always sure of the path,”
he said.
“Coaches help with the plan and the reassurance, based on experience.”
Entering the competition, Coward felt confident, especially after adding roughly 20 pounds of muscle to his frame – a strategic move he believed would make him more competitive based on past feedback.
The 2023 Roger Boyce Classic Physique champion said he has grown seasoned enough not to be rattled by the bright lights. By the time his name is announced, he already has his posing routines mentally locked in.
Music choice also plays a major role in presentation, and for Portugal, Coward opted for a classical shift, performing his choreographed routine to Vivaldi’s Winter, a selection he felt allowed him to highlight his strengths.
Coward admitted that final announcements always bring a moment of suspense, but experience helps athletes read the stage.
“You can kind of size up guys faster,” he said.
“Based on the posing, pre-judging, and how they shift you around in the final comparison, you get an idea –okay, I’m in the middle next to this guy, so they’re comparing us for first or second.”
At one point, Coward genuinely wondered if he might secure the win. When he was ultimately named runner-up, he described the feeling as “almost” – but still deeply rewarding.
“The beautiful thing is that it validates that you made a huge improvement,” he said.
“Regardless of whether you win or not, the fact that you improved and earned a better placing is a big moment. Winning isn’t everything – but sometimes being close to winning is just as good.”
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