Who is Damion Ricketts?
From St Anns, Jamaica, Damion Ricketts is an IFBB professional bodybuilder, US Marine, and sponsored athlete.
He’s created waves in the world of professional bodybuilding and wants to dominate it.
Short Career of Damion Ricketts
Up until the age of 13, Damion Ricketts participated in sports and weightlifting at a nearby gym while still a child in Jamaica.
When he was 13 years old, his family relocated to Pennsylvania, and he started to seriously consider bodybuilding after seeing Ronnie Coleman on television.
Damion was resolved to become a pro after this day. After graduation, he enlisted in the Marines, but he didn’t give up on his bodybuilding aspirations, continuing to exercise while serving in Iraq.
Upon his return from his service, he participated in amateur events and won a number of them, earning a pro card in the 2012 NPC Nationals.
Today, Damion has achieved professional show victories.
He wants to help the young people just beginning out while simultaneously becoming a bodybuilder to rival the finest of all time. To this goal, he provides motivating speeches and personal training sessions.
Body Measurements of Damion Ricketts
| Full Name: | Damion Ricketts |
| DATE OF BIRTH: | 1993 |
| ERA: | 2010 |
| PROFESSION: | IFBB Professional Bodybuilder, Sponsored Athlete |
| NATIONALITY: | 1993 Jamaican |
| WEIGHT: | 145 – 155lbs (65.8 – 70.3kg) |
| HEIGHT: | 5’6″ (167.5cm) |
Accomplishments
Competitions
- 2008, 1st Annual NGA Natural Muscle And Figure Classic, Lightweight, 1st
- 2008 Georgia State SNBF, 1st
- 2008 NPC Eastern Seaboard Bodybuilding, 1st
- 2012 NPC Atlantic USA Bodybuilding, 1st
- 2012 NPC National Championships, 5th
- 2013 NPC National Championships, 1st place (pro card)
- 2015 Europe Phoenix 212 Pro, 17th
- 2015 Lou Ferrigno Classic, 15th
- 2016 Joe Lindsey Pacific USA Classic Physique, 1st
Biography
Young Years
Damion was born and raised in Jamaica’s sizable parish of St. Anns. Although he had a good upbringing and participated in numerous sports, his family felt that they would live better in America.
Damion was 13 when he relocated to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as a result. He took full advantage of the sports facilities and clubs at his American high school and played soccer virtually every day.
At this time, wrestling was his preferred sport. Damion went to regular classes and thought playing sports with his friends was the most enjoyable activity.
Becoming Interested In bodybuilding
Damion claims that when watching ESPN as a teenager, he first developed an interest in bodybuilding. He was astounded by the physiques he witnessed on stage while watching the Mr. Olympia competition.
He particularly enjoyed seeing athletes like Ronnie Coleman because he admired his fervor for the game and his enormous chest.
Along with his passion for the game and its heroes, Damion also had a desire to win the hearts of the ladies. He would frequently visit the beach and observe women gawking at attractive males, so he was motivated to get in on the fun.
Starting To Train
Damion began working out as hard as he could to get an attractive body the moment he watched his first Mr. Olympia on television. He began by doing bodyweight exercises in his bedroom before making the most of the school’s gym.
He would choose an active career after high school thanks to the fitness he gained in the school gym. On a career day at his school, he visited with a military recruiter and ultimately decided to enlist in the Marines.
US Marine Career
In 2003, Damion joined the Marine Corps right after graduating. He performed two international tours in 2005 and 2007, thoroughly enjoying the journey.
Damion chose to work in the corps’ supply division, which gave him more free time to exercise at the gym than any other infantryman.
He claims that even with only a few dumbbells and a bench in the little base gym, he was still able to achieve outstanding results. After this, he became addicted.
Amateur Competitions
After being back in the US, Damion developed an obsession with the idea of competing. For his first-ever tournament, the 2008 NGA “Natural Muscle And Figure Classic,” he put in a lot of intense training.
Damion had a lot of faith in his skills even if he was still a novice at this point. Standing on the platform, he experienced an “overwhelming” sensation of accomplishment. He won the competition easily and posed well.
Achieving His Pro Card
He won a significant award in the 2008 Georgia State SNBF after this triumph. Damion was just thinking about his pro card at this point.
He would need to take first place in a national contest to receive his professional card. He set his sights on the 2013 NPC Nationals, knowing that to even be eligible for this event, he would need to win several regional NPC contests.
But he did defeat them. He won the 2008 NPC Eastern Seaboard competition, and he added another victory at the 2009 NPC Atlantic USA competition.
His first national show didn’t go as planned; he placed fifth, but he was able to take first place the next time.
Damion has accomplished his goal of becoming a professional bodybuilder with this victory at the 2013 NPC USA Nationals.
His First Pro Show Victory
Damion’s first two paid performances did not go as well as he had intended. He finished 17th at the 2015 Europe Phoenix 212 Pro and 15th at the 2015 Lou Ferrigno Classic after that.
However, Damion was not deterred at this point. He decided the 2016 Joe Lindsey Pacific USA Classic Physique would be the show for him after taking a look at the competitions that were put out in front of him.
He stood on the stage after a long period of cutting, as assured as ever and aware that he might succeed in taking the tournament overall. He claims he was overjoyed when the judges announced his name as the winner.
Aiding Children
Damion is aware of how challenging it is to succeed in bodybuilding. As a result, he devotes as much of his free time as he can to mentoring aspiring young bodybuilders. When he can, he provides kids with motivational coaching and personal training.
Training
Favorite Training Locations
Damion enjoys working out his quads and back. His back has always been a weak spot for him. He enjoys hitting it hard and consistently because doing so enables him to produce a more proportionate look.
Squats, according to Damion, are the best exercise for enlarging the size of his already substantial quads. He thinks squats differentiate men from boys because they require him to work hard, dig deep, and feel the heat.
Routine
In Damion’s weekly workouts, complex and isolating exercises are combined. He avoids constricting his primary muscles collectively so as not to strain his central nervous system.
Day 1: Chest And Abs
- Dumbbell press (4 sets) (12, 10, 8, 6 reps)
- Incline dumbbell press (3 sets) (10,8,6 reps)
- Decline barbell press (3 sets) (10 reps)
- Cable cross-over (4 sets) (10 reps)
- Pec Deck Fly (4 sets) (10-12 reps)
Day 2: Back And Traps
- Wide grip pullups (5 sets) (10 reps)
- Dumbbell row (4 sets) (10 reps)
- Cable row (4 sets) ( 12, 10, 8, 8 reps)
- Lat pulldown (4 sets) (10 reps)
Day 3: Biceps, Triceps, And cardio
- Straight bar curl (3 sets) (10 reps)
- Cable curl (4 sets) (10 reps)
- Hammer curl (3 sets) (10 reps)
- Cable triceps extension (4 sets) (8-10 reps)
- Close-grip barbell press (3 sets) (10 reps)
- Weighted dips ( 3 sets) (10 reps)
- Skull crushers (3 sets) (10 reps)
Day 4: Quads And Calves
- Barbell Squat (4 sets) (12, 10,8,6 reps)
- Leg press (3 sets) (10 reps)
- Leg extension (4 sets) (10 reps)
- Thigh abductor (3 sets) (10 reps)
Day 5: Hamstrings And Deltoids
- Barbell lunge (3 sets) (10 reps)
- Romanian Deadlift (3 sets) (10 reps)
- Seated leg curl (4 sets) (10 reps)
- Lying leg curl (3 sets) (10 reps)
- Bent over dumbbell raise (4 sets) (10 reps)
- Arnold press (3 sets) (10 reps)
- Alternate dumbbell raises (3 sets) (10 reps)
Day 6: Cardio And Abs
Day 7: Rest
Advice For Young Bodybuilders
Damion enjoys supporting younger bodybuilders that share his aspirations. To the stage in your career where you are winning shows, he claims, takes a lot of effort and commitment.
He advises them to keep going even if they don’t immediately notice changes in their body; the long game rewards consistency, and those who play it well succeed.
Nutrition
The Marines’ Diet
Damion’s food options are significantly more constrained when he is deployed with the Marines than they would be at home. To maintain a regular diet of protein, he often has to supplement with protein drinks. The daily menu he often follows is as follows:
Breakfast
- Oatmeal
- Cereal
- 1 mix of protein shake
- 2 eggs
- Waffles
Lunch
- 1 mix of protein shake
- Baked Chicken
- 2 slices of pizza
Dinner
- 1 MRE (Meal Ready To Eat)
Food When Not On Deployment
Damion consumes a variety of foods that are far more nutrient-dense when he is at home and training for competitions as opposed to this basic military diet.
He tries to eat a lot of chicken and tilapia (a type of fish), and when he can, he also incorporates protein smoothies to increase his overall intake.
Damion Ricketts picks nutritious carbs like oats and sweet potatoes for his diet. He can rapidly refill with these very wholesome and practical choices. Below is his menu for this dish.
- 7:00 am (Meal 1): 6 egg whites 4oz Grilled chicken
Half a cup of oatmeal - 9:00 am (Meal 2): 50 grams of protein, 6oz of Tuna
- 11:00 am (Meal 3): 8oz of chicken breast, Medium sweet Potato, 4oz of mixed vegetables
- 1:00 pm (Meal 4): 8oz of Grilled chicken, 8oz of green beans
- 3:00 pm (Meal 5): 50 grams of protein
- 5:00 pm (Meal 6): 12oz of Tilapia, 8oz of mixed veggies
- 8:00 pm Dinner (Meal 7): 8oz of chicken breast & medium sweet potato
- 10 pm (Meal 8): 50 grams of Protein
Supplements
Damion Ricketts typically takes a pre-workout supplement to sharpen his focus before working out. He also regularly consumes whey protein shakes, generally with a dash of creatine to aid in muscle repair.
Influences and Idols
Damion cites the bodybuilding legends as his primary source of inspiration in the sport.
He enjoys watching classic videos of Mr. Olympia contestants Dexter Jackson, Ronnie Coleman, Gustavo Badell, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. In actuality, observing Ronnie Coleman as a young child inspired him to begin lifting.
Damion cites his wife as one of the biggest influences in his daily bodybuilding adventure. She provides him with the inspiration he needs to improve and challenge himself daily in the gym. She is also an athlete and is aware of his struggle.
What can Damion Ricketts Teach Us?
Damion Ricketts has demonstrated to us that hard work can turn a dream into a reality. His goal of becoming a bodybuilder began when he witnessed Ronnie Coleman perform during the Olympia Weekend.
After years of dedication, he was posing in events alongside the best in the world.
It will be beneficial to demonstrate the same amount of commitment that Damion has displayed if you truly desire anything. If you desire something, you will eventually succeed in getting it.