SPORTS FLASHBACK 1998: Constant improvement goal for local fitness competitor

Tami Heinrichs, owner of TJ Fitness in Steinbach, recently finished fourth overall at the Canadian Fitness Championships in Calgary.

Although fitness magazine writers covering the event felt Heinrichs should have been placed higher, she didn’t complain about fourth place, saying as long as she continues to improve she is happy.

And it is precisely that positive, never-say-die, attitude that helps keep Heinrichs focussed as she trains for fitness and bodybuilding competitions. Her training regime is certainly a gruelling one. It includes two aerobics classes per day and an hour of training for her fitness routine, which includes gymnastic flips, dancing and taekwondo moves.

Rigorous training is combined with a year-round healthy diet of low-fat meats, lots of vegetables, fruit and rice. Heinrichs throws in a plug for a neighboring business, saying her favorite ‘treat food’ is Niakwa Pizza.

Heinrichs began training for competition in earnest, after achieving her dream of owning her own gym four years ago. Her love of fitness began when she was in grade 10, working out in her basement with weights. The main reason for the weightlifting at that time, Heinrichs said, was that she had always been thin and wanted to put on some weight.

“I started training for fitness competitions because one of the scariest things for me was to be in front of people and I wanted to overcome that fear,” she said.

All fitness competitions include a physique round, where the competitors are judged on muscularity and symmetry, and a second round involves the presentation of a routine.

Heinrichs’ routine is a veritable explosion of energy, a little bit like a gymnastic floor routine. The flips and kicks are made all that more exciting because of the music and dance components to her routine.

When she went to her first competition, Heinrichs said she was terrible because she had no background at all, no gymnastics and no dance.

Heinrichs has certainly turned things around since that first experience. Since then, she has finished first as Miss Fitness Manitoba in 1996 and 1997, and added a Miss Venus Swimsuit Manitoba 1997 title, as well.

TJ Fitness manager Kevin Peters says Heinrichs is definitely improving in every competition and it is just a matter of time before she reaches the top at the national level.

After watching Heinrichs at various competitions, Peters says he has never seen her flustered during a performance or losing her composure, or forgetting her lines during speech rounds.

Although he may be biased, Peters agrees she should have placed higher at the Canadian Fitness Championships in Calgary.

“The sky is the limit for Tami, because she has the drive, determination and energy to be the best.”

Heinrichs will be back into the swing of things very soon, as she is heading off to Montreal to compete at the Canadian World Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships later this month.