Steve Jobs, the co-founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Apple Inc.; CEO and largest shareholder of Pixar Animation Studios was once quoted as saying, “No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new.”

Perhaps it is also one of the main reasons that those who have high aspirations are willing to make great sacrifices to achieve and surpass extraordinary goals in such a short time.

One such shining star is Camille Leblanc-Bazinet of Canada, the winner of the 2014 CrossFit games.

Camille speaks of sharing from a different perspective. During many of her numerous events, she has met a lot of kids and shares her experiences with them so that they don’t make the same mistakes as previous generations. Her advice to them is if you want something that you have to work extremely hard for it.

The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.…Vince Lombardi

Camille was born in Richelieu, Quebec.

There is a very interesting history to that part of the world.

The town’s name comes from the fact that it lies along the Richelieu River.

The Richelieu River takes its source in Lake Champlain, from which it flows to the north in the province of Quebec, Canada and empties into the St. Lawrence River. It was formerly known as the Iroquois River and the Chambly River.

This river was a key route of water transport for cross-border trade between Canada and the United States, until the arrival of the railway in the mid-19th century.

Because of its strategic position between New France and New England, several military fortifications were erected on the course of the river. It served as a key pathway for several military tours and was the scene of several battles between the end of the 17th and early 19th centuries, first between the French and the Iroquois, then between the French and the English, during the regime of the New France and finally between the English and the Americans after 1760.

Throughout her early years, she did gymnastics at a high level for almost 14 years. At age 16, her career as a gymnast was stopped after tearing her hip. After recovering, she played senior AA soccer and volleyball. She later was the captain of her flag football team in college.

She spent time running half marathons, skiing, and playing rugby. In an interview, she said she was introduced to CrossFit after a man told her she was not in shape at a team party. Prior to joining, Leblanc-Bazinet’s parents were “totally against it” and her friends believed that it was too dangerous. However, they all decided to give it a try and continued.

The energetic site clbfitness.com educates, “Camille Leblanc-Bazinet is the “Fittest Woman on Earth” earning this title as the winner of the 2014 Reebok CrossFit Games. Among the hundreds of thousands of participants, Camille has been one of the leading international competitors for the last four years, and the highest placing Canadian athlete, male or female, at the Games.

In order to excel, you must be completely dedicated to your chosen sport. You must also be prepared to work hard and be willing to accept constructive criticism. Without one-hundred percent dedication, you won’t be able to do this.….Willie Mays

Along with her CrossFit accomplishments, Camille is a member of the Canadian National Team in Olympic Weightlifting (she is the best 58 Kilo lifter in the country) while remaining a full-time student in Chemical Engineering at the University of Sherbrooke.”

The respected industry site roguefitness.com puts things in perspective. “The rise of Camille Leblanc-Bazinet from teenage gymnast to “Fittest Woman on Earth” would only have surprised those who weren’t paying attention. Since making her competitive CrossFit debut back in 2010, Leblanc-Bazinet has made a habit of dominating the Canada East Regionals and making waves at the Games, where she picked up three Top 10 finishes in her first four years. It was in 2014, however, that everything came together–as the 5’2″ Leblanc-Bazinet showed off her much improved weightlifting prowess in route to her first Reebok CrossFit Games title.

Even while simultaneously working toward a degree in Chemical Engineering, the former balance beamer has dedicated herself so much to the art of the barbell, that her routine now includes the goal of representing her native Canada in Women’s Weightlifting at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.”

Camille has been fortunate to come from a dynamic athletic family sharing a life with three siblings with competitive CrossFit experience. Her husband Dave Lipson is a CrossFit Coach and Trainer as well.

If you believe in yourself and have dedication and pride – and never quit, you’ll be a winner. The price of victory is high but so are the rewards.…..Paul Bryant

Camille’s strong beautiful form speaks to the new beauty that is being globally accepted in terms of how a woman can be fit, possess toned muscles and still be considered desirable.

That is a good thing.

It’s also a healthy thing.

In her interview with Fitness Magazine Camille passionately speaks to that sharing, “I had a dark moment where I fell into being anorexic, and in my head, beauty was being as skinny as you could be. Now I see women who are successful because they work hard and they dedicate themselves to things that they believe in. In my eyes, those types of people are the most beautiful ones by far.”

As she continues to rise in the Olympic and CrossFit worlds, we all in general and young girls in particular can learn from Camille’s work ethic and dedication to success.

She shares abundantly with others.

Sometimes the best things in life actually are free if we are willing to listen.

~ ~ ~

Sources: brainyquote.com, Wikipedia, fciwomenswrestling2.com, FCI Elite Competitor, photos thank you Wikimedia Commons.

https://instagram.com/camillelbaz/?hl=en

http://breakingmuscle.com/functional-fitness/camille-leblanc-bazinet-strong-real-and-less-than-perfect

http://www.roguefitness.com/athletes/camille-leblanc-bazinet

http://therxreview.com/camille-leblanc-bazinet-changing-regions-2015/

http://clbfitness.com/bio/

http://therxreview.com/interview-camille-leblanc-bazinet/

http://www.girlswithmuscle.com/pictures/camille+leblanc-bazinet