CANADIAN PHYSIQUE ALLIANCE November/December ISSUE | страница 12

The perfect example of this is IFBB Pro purchased and I’d watch it in my
Cindy Van Empel-Popowich. Cindy bedroom and did his workouts daily. I
started her competitive bodybuilding had the goal of one day purchasing a
journey in 1994 and is going strong to gym membership. That’s how I met Ron
this day. She has faced many curveballs Hache, he owned the gym I went to and
throughout her life but has stuck strong it wasn’t long before I was trying to learn
to her goals and is a warrior in every as much as I could about the industry
aspect of her life. Anybody in the CPA (or from him. In 1989, I volunteered at the
the previous OPA) knows that Cindy is at Sudbury show, ran the canteen and I’d
many of the events and she adds a life to sneak in to watch the show. I was in awe,
the events that cannot be described. the woman on stage had the most
Cindy’s story is a story of how hard work incredible physique, that’s what I wanted
can truly pay off.  to achieve. In 1994 I did just that. I
competed in bodybuilding at the
We live in a society of instant Sudbury and Northern Bodybuilding
gratification. Where individuals join the Championships where I won my class.
gym and want to have a six pack the Ron Hache was the promoter and the
next week. Where people want to lose emcee. I’ll never forget hearing: “…and
weight fast. Where as a society we want the winner is Cindy Van Empel!” From
everything NOW. The reality is that that day on I developed a newfound
anything worth having takes a lot of hard confidence and total passion for fitness.
work and persistence. I had the privilege
of interviewing Cindy as she is coming off
an amazing win at the North American
Championships where she earned her
IFBB Pro status. 
Juan: Hello Cindy! It is such a pleasure to
have you on here chatting with us about
your journey. Please tell me what got you
into weight training, then competitive
bodybuilding and  how your first show
prep was.
Cindy: I was a terribly skinny little thing
to be honest. I came across a Tony Little
video tape that my parents had