(Posted 9:30 a.m., Sept. 3)
Orléans gymnast places 12th at first Ms. World Fitness competition
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online

Orléans gymnast Lisa Joyce placed a respectable 12th at the Ms. Fitness World competition recently held in Reno, Nevada. Fred Sherwin/Photo

Lisa Joyce's first trip to the Miss World Fitness competition in Reno, Nevada ended with a respectable 12th place finish in a field of 30 girls.

Despite placing outside the top 10, the reigning Ms. Fitness Canada couldn't be happier with her performance. Joyce's plane had barely touched the ground in Ottawa and she was already thinking about how she could improve her fitness routine which the judges ranked fourth among the 30 competitors.

Unfortunately, the fitness routine is the third of three judged elements in the competition with the others being physique and presentation.

As a first-timer, Joyce was at a distinct disadvantage in comparison with many of the other girls who the judges already know and have seen compete. Her fitness routine, however, managed to raise the judges eyebrows and she's now on their radar for next year.

"To them I was really a nobody coming in. They didn't know anything about me or who I was. But for sure I'll be ready to show them next year. The competition was a lot of fun and I can hardly wait to come back," says Joyce.

Mentor, trainer and fellow eastender, Vanda Hadarean, won her fourth straight Ms. Fitness World title in Reno. The jury is still out on whether or not she will compete for a fifth title.

The two women plan to work closely together in developing their routines for next year. They already push each other in the gym and they constantly trade nutrition tips.

(This story was made possible thanks to the generous support of our local business partners.)

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