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By Samuel Peters
He has done what many have dreamt about – representing his country on the international stage where he has won titles and created his own tribe and following.
What Daniel Antonio has achieved in his relatively short career as a professional arm wrestler is nothing short of impressive. The first-time nominee for Sportsman of the Year opened up about his journey as the lone professional arm wrestler in the English-speaking Caribbean.
What enables someone to thrive under such isolating circumstances? For Antonio, the answer is rooted in faith and family. His parents instilled unwavering self-confidence from a young age, creating a foundation that no amount of loneliness or pressure can shake.
I fear nothing other than God, nobody other than God, Antonio states firmly. Once you approach things with that perspective, that when God is for you, who can be against you, I don’t think there’s anything that can bring you down.
This spiritual grounding proves essential in a sport where two losses eliminate competitors, where months of preparation can end in seconds, and where the mental game often determines outcomes as much as physical strength.
It’s a very nerve-racking experience. However, it’s all about silencing the negativity and just putting your best foot forward, Antonio explains. Not all the time you’re going to have your woman rooting for you, or sometimes you’re not going to have your parents there for you. Self-confidence is the number one thing.
While Antonio has established Antigua’s regional supremacy, his international journey tells a different story—one of isolation, mental strength, and unwavering determination. As the island’s only professional arm wrestler, he competes alone on stages where other nations arrive with massive support systems.
The contrast is stark and often overwhelming.
In Mexico City, Antonio watched as 200-300 Mexican competitors huddled together, coaches rubbing shoulders, teammates chanting in unison. In Costa Rica, he witnessed similar scenes with 300 Costa Ricans creating an electric atmosphere of national pride. Canadian teams arrive 100 strong. Brazilian contingents explode with passionate celebration after every victory.
Self-confidence is the number one thing.
And then there’s Antonio—alone with his headphones, preparing – via video call with his girlfriend, sitting by himself between matches.
You can imagine, I’m the only man from the Caribbean at these tournaments, he reflects. There’s a team of two, three, four, 500 Mexicans huddling up, chanting, rooting for each other. You have a team of Canadians, maybe a hundred Canadians, and it is just little old me from Antigua.
The emotional toll is significant.
After each win, they’re making noise and screaming and hugging the winner. I win and I just go to my seat and get ready for the next one, he says. There’s somewhat a sense of jealousy when you see the Brazilian team being huge and energetic and passionate.
Yet despite competing solo, Antonio has achieved remarkable success: gold medals at the North American Championship in Costa Rica on both arms, gold on his left arm in Argentina, and sixth place in the world in his weight category in Bulgaria—all while carrying the flag for an entire nation alone.
Yet still, the National Sportsman of the Year nominee’s ultimate vision extends far beyond personal glory. His goal is to transform Antigua’s solo warrior into a Caribbean army—to arrive at future North American and World Championships with dozens of competitors, coaches, support staff, and passionate fans.
The goal is that we have a big team. We have the support when we travel, because the confidence is unmatched when you have a team by your side, he explains. This vision drives his current work with the approximately 50-member Brothers in Armz club and motivates events like the upcoming Top 8 tournament on December 27th.
Antonio envisions a future where he arrives at international competitions alongside rising stars like Nivron Brown, who remains undefeated locally and will make his international debut in Canada.
Beyond arm wrestling, Antonio sees his mission as transforming sports culture in Antigua. He criticizes the lack of streaming services, highlight reels, and professional marketing for local sports, arguing that other Caribbean nations and international markets have created robust ecosystems that Antigua lacks.
Antigua is big on tourism, but Antigua is lacking when it comes to sports, not only sports, but the marketing of sports, he argues. There’s such a large market for sporting and marketing, and that marriage of the two that I want to showcase within arm wrestling.
His approach—heavy promotion, international referee standards, professional presentation—aims to raise expectations not just for arm wrestling but for all Antiguan sports. Even though arm wrestling isn’t the island’s most popular sport, Antonio believes setting a new standard will inspire other athletic programs to elevate their game.
Currently balancing his athletic pursuits with work in hospitality (where he’s also been nominated for customer service excellence), Antonio exemplifies the modern athlete-entrepreneur. He organizes, markets referees, and competes—wearing multiple hats because the sport demands it and because he believes in the vision.
Coaching is an international language he says, borrowing wisdom that applies equally to athletic excellence. When you know what you’re doing, you don’t have to look over your shoulder. No level should surprise you.
Although the path remains challenging, Antonio has proven that with faith as his foundation, family as his support, and an entire island’s potential on his shoulders, he isn’t just building an arm-wrestling program—he’s building a legacy.
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