2016 Trainer of the Year Winner

5th Annual Trainer of the Year Challenge

For the fifth year in a row, MUSCLE INSIDER put on its annual Trainer of the Year Challenge and the response was absolutely overwhelming. Never in the history of our company has a program gained so much worldwide attention within the fitness community and with mainstream news networks. Being a certified trainer is one thing, and there’s a lot of average personal trainers out there who are certified. But how does someone who wants the best results find the best trainer, and, on the other hand, how does a great personal trainer prove to the world that he or she is more than qualified to get the job done? It’s for this reason that MUSCLE INSIDER partnered with supplement giant Bio-Engineered Supplements & Nutrition (BSN) to hold the 2016 Trainer of the Year Challenge.

Recruiting the Best Trainers in Canada
The challenge kicked off by scouting hundreds of coaches from multiple fitness disciplines including bodybuilding, powerlifting, CrossFit, Olympic weightlifting, mixed martial arts (MMA), and functional strength training. Our editorial team then analyzed each candidate’s reputation in the fitness industry, academic background, criminal history (if any), certifications completed, awards achieved, and feedback from actual clients to ensure that each trainer had earned a solid reputation for getting the best results possible. Now, this was an exhaustive screening process, considering the number of truly exceptional trainers we have here in Canada, but the best rose to the top and 10 elite trainers were nominated to participate in the Trainer of the Year Challenge.

Trainer of the Year Finalists
CeeJay Byam
Ashlyn Merriman
Alex Bartlett
Kareem Rawlins
Rob Starr
Alyssa Coppolino
Brandon Corbett
Troy Thompson
Haley Almeida
Shawn Adair

BSN & MUSCLE INSIDER Partnership
This year, sports nutrition leader BSN sponsored our challenge and kicked in thousands of dollars worth of supplements for each trainer to test drive and give an edge to their clients. As a company, BSN prides itself on using science in the DNA of every formula it releases. Likewise, when we started MUSCLE INSIDER back in 2009, our mission was to be the leader in educating athletes on the science of building muscle. Both of our companies are committed to maximizing human performance, but it’s the commitment to science that both companies share that makes this a natural partnership.

The Challenge
Every elite trainer knows that the right diet and training program are the two most important factors in any successful body transformation. But adding the right supplements to the mix takes a transformation to a whole new level!

Each of our 10 finalists incorporated BSN supplements into their clients’ diet and training programs to see how much of a difference BSN products made to the transformation process. The challenge was clear: Whoever could get the greatest results and build the most hype about their diet, training, and supplement advice would be declared the overall winner. At the end of the day, this contest is about the impact these trainers are making on the health and fitness industry in Canada, one client at a time.

Troy Thompson – Overall Champion
Huge congratulations are in order for Troy Thompson of Sudbury, Ontario! This former competitive bodybuilder was a rock star from start to finish. His specialty is in athlete development, performance enhancement, and rapid body transformations. Just one look at how many competitors he puts onstage and in contest condition each year, how popular his boot camp classes are, and his involvement in the community, and you can see why Troy truly is in a class of his own as a trainer. Troy studied strength and nutrition from a variety of sources, including Olympic strength coach Charles Poliquin, sports nutrition and performance enhancement genius Dr. Mauro Di Pasquale, powerlifting coach Louie Simmons, and six-time Mr. Olympia Dorian Yates. Pulling from multiple disciplines gives Troy a broad dimension to his personal training style. Troy was relentless during the challenge as we watched him coach competitive physique athletes, train high school/college level athletes, and run strength and conditioning boot camps out of his gym that featured myriad people with different goals and body types. Troy even appeared on Canadian national television news, exponentially increasing the exposure he gave the the entire fitness community in Canada.

“It was so unexpected to be nominated,” Troy says. “As soon as I heard the news, I was ecstatic. MUSCLE INSIDER and BSN presented me with an opportunity to showcase what I do every day as a trainer and coach—to show my passion for fitness and getting the best results for my clients. I was happy to know that I was in control of my destiny, and that the contest was based on my skills as a body transformation specialist, athlete developer, and wellness coach. I have thousands of clients to track and to help achieve their goals. I was already working on the expansion of my training business, but this nomination made me even more focused to take T2trainingsystems.com to the next level and get more involved in the fitness community.”

Alyssa Coppolino – Runner-Up Champion

The runner-up champion this year was Alyssa Coppolino. She was our most diversified trainer with regard to training an equal amount of clients remotely and in person. We all wondered when she had time to sleep! Alyssa works around the clock to get her clients in top shape while always posting entertaining and educational material such as recipes, exercise demonstrations, nutrition tips, and contest prep secrets to share with her clients and connect with them on a personal level. Her commitment to taking care of her clients and their emotional and physical needs was almost unparalleled. If Troy Thompson hadn’t been in the running this year, Alyssa would have been our overall champion.

Congratulations to our winners and all our 10 nominees, and a big thank-you to BSN for its support and generous contributions to make this program happen!

For more information about BSN supplements, check out:
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