Montreal mom shatters fitness goals on quest to become professional bodybuilder
Posted December 27, 2023 11:05 am.
A Montreal figure athlete who climbed to new heights this year after setting and reaching New Year’s fitness resolutions has her sights set on more.
There’s one thing that’s clear about Laurie Modugno: she doesn’t back down from a challenge.
The transformation of her body and mind since becoming a fitness fanatic has seen the addition of muscle, strength, discipline – and a handful of medals and titles.
The latest chapter in her fitness journey kicked off with a resolution at the end of 2021. Modugno, a mother of three boys, was determined to focus more on herself. That led her to begin bodybuilding, and her hard work was quickly recognized.
“I was never expecting to win gold medals,” she told CityNews. “I just wanted to learn more about myself and bodybuilding did that for me.”
Modugno’s first bodybuilding competition in 2022 was a regional one for all of Quebec. She won the gold medal in her figure and age category.
Later that year she triumphed yet again, this time at a national competition in Toronto.
“It was just about the confidence,” she said about competing. “The gold medal helps for sure, but it really was more about a journey about myself.”
Her love for the gym began 12 yeas ago but she had little interest in competing at first. Her trainer always tried to convince her to compete. Modugno finally decided to give it a go after a challenging time – hence that first resolution.
“I remember she called me, she’s like ‘Nick I want to do this.’ I’m like, ‘let’s get to work, then.’ Since then, we didn’t look back,” recounted Nico Vlachos, the owner of Big Daddy Gym.
When she isn’t in the gym, Modugno is often in the kitchen; she’s been a pastry chef for more than 20 years. She cheekily calls herself “the fittest cake lady” on her social media.
“I’m in front of cakes and pastries and delicious food all day long,” she said. “It’s like, let’s see how challenging I could make my life.”
Always ready for those challenges, Modugno didn’t stop at that first goal. She set herself another one the following year – the start of 2023 – and nailed that one too; she won first place in her category at the Natural Canada Pro Qualifier in August.
Her target for 2024? Competing at the Natural Canada Pro Qualifier to get her pro card, which would allow her to become a professional bodybuilder.
“It’s a goal and I just want to see if I can do it,” she said.
Her advice for those who want to attain their own New Year’s resolutions?
“Sometimes there’s failure, but failure leads you to other things or learning or pushing harder. And just don’t quit. Don’t give up. You only fail if you quit, right?”
