Jaydon Goddard took a huge step towards securing professional bodybuilding status competing in Daytona, Florida, at the weekend.

The Bermudian placed third in the men’s physique Class B category at the National Physique Committee/International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness Pro League Daytona Pro-Am Championship to earn the right to compete for a pro card, which he intends to do at the earliest opportunity.

“I actually participated in this show around two years ago,” Goddard told The Royal Gazette. “It was fun and I was able to get three first places.

“This year it was a lot bigger show. Each class had like ten to 20-plus people in a class, so it was a very big show this year and we had pros there.

“I expected to go in and have a lot of competition there. Unfortunately what we did learn, because this was the first time that they had pros competing in their show, is that they tried to take on too much.”

The 23-year-old believes the larger field at the national qualifying event put he and the rest of the competitors in his category at a disadvantage.

“A lot of people in my category, the men’s physique category, noticed that they rushed it,” he added. “They didn’t allow us to do our full routine. They didn’t allow us to show off or present everything we had to offer and everything we had trained for these last few months.

“But it was still fun and I managed to place third in men’s physique Class B.”

Goddard insists he might have placed higher had his routine on stage been allowed to go the full distance.

“I believe I had a chance to get either first or second if I would’ve had a better chance, if they would’ve allowed us to do our full routine,” he said.

“They actually allowed us to fight for it. But I think because it was so rushed, it didn’t give the competitors a better look.”

Goddard, who trains at Beast Gym under coach Mushin Nasir, conceded that he was not at his best going into the event.

“I believe I could have gone with a better physique as well,” he said. “But you live and learn, and I know what I need to work on.

“As of right now I just plan to put on a good bit of size until my next show and just stay lean while doing it.”

Goddard’s success follows closely on the heel of fellow Beast bodybuilder Danielle Foote, who won three gold medals last month on the way to being crowned as the overall figure champion on her debut competing in her first bodybuilding event at the NPC SouthernMuscle Showdown in Dalton, Georgia.