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As if that's not impressive enough, Camille Leblanc-Bazinet is a Chemical Engineering graduate, who coaches aspiring CrossFit athletes and boasts the co-ownership of a luxury gym called ICE in New York.
W24 got a chance to get to know the winner of the 2014 CrossFit Games better, while also getting some insight into what keeps this athletic Trojan horse motivated.
Did you decide to strive for the title “fittest woman in the world” or did it just happen?
I definitely think that it just happened. I've always love pushing myself and after I was done with gymnastics I tried to find a new challenge. In a way, I feel like CrossFit found me and then I just got addicted to improving myself.
How do you motivate yourself? I mean, surely you sometimes feel tired or lazy? What do you say to yourself to push through it?
I think people don't really understand that I am not the superhuman that just always has this insane motivation. I don't. I’m just like everyone else.
I would much rather spend my day snuggling my husband and my dog, but I also know that there is an amazing amount of pride that can be only found him through hard work and dedication. I focus on becoming a better person every day and not so much on how I might feel or what I would much rather do.
Image: Carlo Cruz/Red Bull Content Pool
How many hours do you train per week? Give us a breakdown of a typical day.
A typical day for me would be between two or three sessions of one to two hours of training.
A lot of female athletes have a complicated relationship with food. Would you say this is true in your case?
I do not have a very complicated relationship with food - I love food and use food to fuel me. I think once you are able to see how important fuel is for your body and no longer see it as a way to quantify and qualify yourself, you are much happier and healthier.
Have you ever been shamed for being muscular or not “girly” enough? How do you respond to such ignorance?
(laughs) Yes, I guess I've been attacked about my physique. I wouldn't say shamed because to be shamed you have to feel ashamed which I am not at all. I feel like people who judge others are the ones who are most likely not happy with who they are and I think seeing it this way helps me not get affected by it at all.
I also think it's extremely important for young women to see people being proud of who they are because what they offer.
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What are you the proudest of?
There are two things I am the most proud of. The first one is being able to graduate from chemical engineering while being a professional athlete and not letting all of this said that stop me.
The second thing I am the proudest of is being a wife to my husband that I love more than anything.
Have you ever found it difficult to assert and exercise your femininity in the previously male-dominated fields such as weightlifting and engineering?
I think especially with my stature and the way I look, men often have a made up idea about who I am. I think it's extremely common for women to be underestimated or being pushed aside just because we are women.
As an engineer and a professional athlete if think I am definitely a target for that type of behaviour but I like to see it more as a challenge.
It also brings me a lot of compassion towards those people who obviously have been raised with the lack of knowledge about my gender, I guess. I think they are missing out by maybe not having an open mind to realize how much stronger we can be altogether as equal.
What is the simplest way to fit exercise into a busy schedule?
I think you just have to do it. If you have five minutes you go for five! If you have more time then you have the luxury to be able to do more. Maybe instead of watching TV or being on your phone, which most people do for a lot more than five minutes, then you can definitely exercise and you can do it anywhere at any time.
The easiest way to do it is literally just to do it. I think that anyone who set their mind to something that truly comes from within can always find away.
Image: Carlo Cruz/Red Bull Content Pool
Do you use supplements?
Yes, I do. I like to drink Red Bull Sugarfree before my second session to give me extra energy, especially when I get tired. I also supplement my diet with vitamins and minerals and some Xendurance products.
Do ordinary people compliment you on being strong?
Let's not say ordinary people like I'm not ordinary. We are all the same - we are all just people. I don't know if people compliment me about my physique or how strong I am but I do feel like often people just feel the need to say something.
Most of the time it's awkward for me. I don't know why people think they can comment on my physique because I'm muscular, but it's not okay to comment on any other type of physique.
It's always weird when someone tries to squeeze my biceps. Just don't touch, people! Ha Ha Ha!
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Does it ever irritate you when people just comment on your body?
Yes, I guess sometimes it does irritate me because I feel like people see my physique is something that is not normal but being healthy should be normal.
Does being strong make you feel safer?
Being strong makes me feel in charge of my life, like I can make decision for myself and there is no limitation produced by my physical ability.
It's quite wonderful to be healthy and fit enough that when someone asks you to do an activity you can say yes or no as a personal choice and not bound to say no because you simply cannot do it. It’s empowering.
Do you have a cheat meal? If so, what do you indulge in?
Yes,I have lots of cheat meals. My diet is pretty strict but also flexible so I can stay healthy and balanced. Anything chocolate will make any girl feel better.
