ATHLETE OF THE MONTH-SOMMER ROBERTSON

CONGRATULATIONS TO FITNESS STAR, SOMMER ROBERTSON!

Sommer has been selected as TEAMOBRIEN'S athlete of the month.

Sommer has had an amazing 2009 competition season...In her interview Sommer explains all of the obstacles that she overcame this season to continue to compete and conquer her fears and achieve all of fitness goals. Sommer is a HUGE asset to our team...she is so caring and giving and when Sommer isn't competing, she is back stage helping her teammates prep for showtime. We are lucky to have Sommer on our team and part of our family. Love you girl...Sommer is now prepping for the 2010 competition season....good luck girl!!

1. DATE OF BIRTH: March 11, 1978

2. BORN/GREW UP IN? Born: Scarborough, ON

3. CURRENT RESIDENCE: Burlington, ON

4. MARITAL STATUS: Single

5. HEIGHT: 5'4.5"

6. WEIGHT: OFFSEASON: 120 lbs. COMPETITION: 110 lbs.

7. CURRENT OCCUPATION: Writer/Editor for bodybuilding/fitness magazines

8. FAVORITE HOBBY: Weight training

9. FAVORITE FOOD: Italian ... when I get a cheat, of course!

10. FAVORITE MUSIC: Hip Hop and R &B

11. BEST BODYPART: Back? LOL

12. YEARS TRAINING: 12 years, 1.5 years for comps

13. EMAIL ADDRESS: info@sommerrobertson.com

14. WEBSITE: sommerrobertson.com

15. HOW DID YOU GET INTERESTED IN FITNESS/WEIGHT TRAINING?I first started training to gain back strength lost as a result of injuries from a car accident around the age of 20. At the time, I was living in a small town that only had one gym. It was the tiniest facility with limited equipment. There were no TVs, no studios, and everything was segregated into one large open room -- nothing like the commercial gyms in bigger cities. It was always crowded with typical gym-goers but there were a handful of bodybuilders that trained there. I would watch in awe as these massive and shredded guys tossed around the weights. Then one day one of the guys approached me to give me some pointers on my training and as we began talking he asked me if I had ever thought of competing. His name was Jim McArthur (a.k.a sweetcheeks). Although I already had a basic understanding of weight training and proper athlete nutrition from my university studies (Kinesiology and Health Sciences), I had limited knowledge of fitness competition training and his tips began to make a huge difference in my physique. In the months that followed he continued to give me advice here and there, and eventually I started talking with many of the other bodybuilders that trained there. Andy Laird, Big Bill, Sean and Dean Crandon ... all of them were very helpful in giving me training and nutrition advice. I also started buying bodybuilding and fitness magazines looking for more information on competing, training and diet. I attended my first show as a spectator in the summer of 2002. It was the Canadian MuscleMania Championships held in Toronto, Ontario. Several us from the gym attended the show together to support Dean, who was competing in the show as a heavyweight -- a class he absolutely destroyed before also taking the overall!! I remember being so mesmerized as I watched all of the competitors step on stage, and from that moment I was hooked! I attend a few other shows in the years that followed, many of them put on by FAME, and knew that one day I would eventually gather up the nerve to compete. Not long after I finished my studies, I decided that I didn't want to work in a clinic setting anymore. I wanted to work in the bodybuilding/fitness industry with the athletes, so I went to MuscleTech and eventually that lead me to the magazines ... and finally, I took up competing with the encouragement of Mindi and Dennis.

16. HOW WAS YOUR FIRST SHOW? ANY INTERESTING EXPERIENCES? My first show was the 2009 Mississauga and South Central Fitness, Figure and Bodybuilding Championships, a provincial qualifier. To be honest, the show went way better than I had expected. Aside from being terrifeid of the stage to begin with, I also had a major set back to deal just days before the show.Two days before I was set to take the stage, I injured my wrist during routine practice. At the time, however, I had no idea how bad the injury really was. The friday morning before the show I went to see Mindi and Dennis, so that they could make any necessary final adjustsments to my diet. I showed them my brusied and swollen wrist, and right away they suspected it was fractured. I wasn't able to put any pressure on my wrist and because of that, I actually wasn't sure I'd even be able to compete at all. After a few minutes of speaking with them though, I decided I was going to take my chances and follow through with the competition. I had spent 4 months dieting, training and prepping myself emotionally to finally fulfill my dream of competing in fitness, and I wasn't willing to throw away all of that hard work. But in order to do so, I knew that I would have to make some changes in my routine. Mindi and Dennis didn't want me to put any more strain on my wrist before the show, so I spent the final hours leading up to pre-judging taking care of last minute details, icing my wrist and trying to mentally re-choreograph my routine. A few days after the show I went to the doctors to have an x-ray done on my wrist, and sure enough, I had fractured the schapoid (a small bone in the wrist joint). Because this bone receives little blood supply in comparison, I was told I would have to wear a cast a little longer -- up to eight weeks. This news was very depressing, as had just qulaified for the Ontario's. Although I wasn't able to train, I stayed on my diet. About a week later, I decided to remove the cast and take my chances once again for the June 20th show, which was the national qualifier. Thankfully, I made it through the show and qualified for the 2010 Nationals.
17. WHAT DO YOU LIKE OR DISLIKE ABOUT COMPETING?I've always loved to train and have wanted to compete in fitness for years, but I've also been very shy and lacked the confidence needed to take that plunge. As an ex-gymnast, I'm used to being evaluated on skill, not how my physique looks and how it compares to others. That's the part about competing in fitness that I've always found to be the most difficult. It's taken me a very long time to gather up the nerve to finally commit to getting over that fear, but now that I have, I can't wait to step on stage again.
18. FUTURE GOALS IN THE INDUSTRY?Ultimately my goal as a competitor is to be a contender at the Canada's for a pro card; however, I know that I need to add more muscle and regain some of my gymnastics skills in order to do so. I'm dedicated to the hard work involved, so the rest is up to the judges. At the same time, I have been blessed to work with so many of the industry's top athletes, coaches and/or nutritionists in my career as a writer/editor for bodybuilding/fitness publications, and helping others reach their goals and get recognition in this sport has always been my passion. I would like to continue doing so and in the future, maybe have my own publication.
19. WHAT DO YOU SEE YOURSELF DOING IN 10 YEARS?I've always tried to live by the motto: "You don't know what tomorrow brings." Although I would like to turn pro in fitness and maybe someday have my own publication, I am open to what the future has in store ... but I know whatever that is, it will be in this industry. I am truly passionate about this sport and couldn't possibly see myself anywhere else.
20. ANY ADDITIONAL NOTES? PEOPLE YOU WOULD LIKE TO THANK?Some of the words that have helped me through my journey thus far, have been: There will always be obstacles to overcome. Situations and people may try to hold you back, but never let it hold you down. This world will tell you who you are, until YOU start to tell the world who you are. That said, I have been blessed (especially this past year) to have the support and encouragement of so many people on my journey to becoming a stronger person and, in reaching my career and competitive goals. First and foremost, I want to thank my parents; no matter what choices I make, I know they will always love me and accept me for who I am. I'm thankful to Mindi and Dennis for coaching and mentoring me, as well as being true friends. They, along with the rest of Team O'Brien, have truly believed in me and have shown me how to believe in myself. I'm forever grateful for my little brother Michael for standing by me always and even more so during my competition prep; he helped me cook my meals, critiqued my posing, trained with me, and his artistic gift for music and dance kept me smiling (and tripping over my own feet!) when I was absolutely miserable and exhausted during countless 1 AM routine practices. Auntie Laurie, Nana, Rosie, Sabs, Berns, Denyse, Chrissy, Jaime, Cecilia, Rach, Yolanda, Gloria, Cindy, Renee, Liana and Ang, I'm blessed to have all of you ladies in my life. MUA, Valeria Nova ... you always ROCK! And last but not least, Robb Armstrong, Kevin Horton, Bill Wilmore, Tony Beason, Scheppy, Mike Lacomb, Allen Riley, Rob from BUC, Kris Gethin, Dwayne Jackson, Larry Pepe, Tony Monchinski, and my MT crew Bailey, Wynia, PK, G-Unit and Bigs, thank you for your support during my prep and shows, and for your continued words of encouragement. I'm sure I could go on, but Mindi only has so much room on her page!
21. COMPETITION HISTORY-PLEASE INCLUDE PLACINGS. 2009 Mississauga & South Centrals Fitness Champion2009 Ontario Fitness Champion