August 1, 2009

Meet 2009 SAF Elite Champion Silvana Salvati
by Doug Schneider

Every so often a competitor comes along and dominates the field. A few years ago Natalie Waples took the competitive figure and fitness-modeling world by storm; in a very short time, Natalie won a string of competitions, including the 2008 SAF Elite Championship, and earned pro status in the IFBB, which is where she’s competing today.

These days, another person has been enjoying similar success. Silvana Salvati won the first two figure competitions she ever entered – the 2008 OPA Woodstock Championships and the 2009 OPA Eastern Ontario Championships – and then she took the runner-up spot in the Fitness Model category at the Fall ’08 SAF Model Search, which earned her a spot on the SAF Elite. She’d only started training for those competitions earlier in the year. What’s more, that was just the warm-up.

Over the winter, Silvana didn’t rest on her laurels. Instead, she trained harder than ever and, on June 20 this year, she hit the SAF Elite Championship stage with a more striking and conditioned physique. The SAF Elite Championship is judged over two rounds, and Silvana was a convincing winner in both. Silvana is now the 2009 SAF Elite Champion.

But all this success hasn’t gone to her head. Talk to Silvana and you’ll find her to be surprisingly grounded and down to earth. In fact, you might even think she’s shy – a stark contrast to the larger-than-life presence she has on the stage.

I had a chance to talk to soft-spoken Silvana Salvati shortly after her SAF Elite Championship win so that our readers could learn more about her. Here is what she had to say:

Doug Schneider: You were the runner-up in the Fitness Model category at the Fall ’08 SAF Model Search competition in Ottawa last year, but you stormed ahead with a decisive victory at the 2009 SAF Elite Championship. How did you feel competing that day, and when you won?

Silvana Salvati: I felt great on the day of the competition. I made sure I was prepared in terms of my diet, training, outfits, and presentation, and, therefore, I was confident that I had done everything I could. However, when my name was called, I was still surprised. At this level of competition, all the girls look incredible, and they all came prepared to do an excellent job, which leaves me very grateful for my victory.

Natalie Waples, the 2008 SAF Elite Champion, interviews Silvana onstage.

DS: You also compete in figure and have had success there too. Figure is a little more rigid and less expressive than the SAF contests. Which do you prefer?

SS: I enjoy all competitions equally. I'm a shy person by nature, so for me to get up and put myself out, there is a challenge and it doesn't come easily. Having said that, when you have the support of the audience, it's easy to give back and give them a great show. People know that they will be entertained when watching a SAF show, and being a proud SAF Elite competitor, I put my best foot forward and I have to say I had a lot of fun.

DS: Which competition has been the most satisfying and rewarding so far?

SS: My first competition last October in Woodstock stands out because it was my first experience competing and I had no idea what to expect. I ended up winning the tall division, masters, and overall, which I wasn't expecting. The added bonus of having my entire family, the Emerge Team, and my close friends at the competition supporting me made it a very special competition.

DS: What are your future competitive goals?

SS: I recently qualified to compete in Vancouver this August for the Canadian Figure Championships, which is a dream come true. While it's an honour to have the privilege of stepping on that stage, I feel it would be better for me to take this year to work on improving myself before doing this show. I also want to go to the North Americans. These are my two goals now, and I'm constantly working to improve myself so that I will be able to be competitive at that level.

DS: I know I’m not supposed to ask a woman her age, so I won’t push you on this, but can you give a little hint about how old you are, which will likely surprise and impress people? Can you give any advice to women around your age, and who have children, who might think about following in your footsteps?

SS: Ha! Ha! I'm 37 and I don’t mind talking about my age because I'm living a good, healthy life. Not long ago, I was approached by a woman who commented on my physique and in the following conversation, she mentioned that she used to be in great shape long ago, before having children, but felt those days were long gone. I asked her how old she was and how many children she had, and she was shocked to learn we were the same age, and had the same number of children. She seemed genuinely amazed, and after asking a few questions about diet and training, she told me I had helped to motivate her to get back into training. I believe it's never too late to follow your dreams and to do something for yourself that keeps you healthy and young.

DS: Are you willing to give your height and weight, both in competition and out?

SS: I'm 5’8" and walk around in the 145-pound range. I compete at 135 pounds.

DS: I have to ask you about your background. You have a distinctive look. Are you originally from Canada?

SS: I have people guessing my ethnicity all of the time. My mother is of Spanish decent and my father is Italian. Right away people assume I'm hot headed because of the reputation Italian and Spanish women have for being hot-blooded, but the opposite holds true for me. I'm a very calm and quiet person who borders on shyness. I've lived in Canada my entire life and grew up in Pembroke, Ontario, which is a small town outside Ottawa.

The 2009 SAF Elite Championship lineup.

DS: You’re relatively new to figure and fitness modeling. Were you involved in sports or other activities before this?

SS: Yes. As a child, I did figure skating, gymnastics, and swimming. I also loved track. I picked up my first weight when I was 16 and I’ve continued with weight training on and off since then. Before having my children, I played a lot of golf and continued until I was eight months pregnant. It was the best golf I ever played. I remember the guys joking that they didn't want me playing anymore. After having both children, I played tennis for five years. So, as you can tell, I like to change my physical activity so it never becomes a chore but, rather, an enjoyable, healthy outlet.

DS: What brought you to figure and fitness modeling at this point in your life?

SS: It is something I've always admired but I never thought I could get into the same kind of shape as the girls in the magazines. Last year, I was speaking with a friend who is in her early 40s and also has children. I was really inspired because she looked fantastic, and she mentioned that she would be competing later that summer. Right away, I went to her trainer and learned a lot about dieting, which was something unusual for me to do, because being from an Italian background I had always indulged in food.

DS: Can you give us an overview of how you exercise in an average week?

SS: I train one major and one secondary body part a day, and I go as heavy as I can. I always work opposing muscles together. For example, if I'm doing back (pulling muscles), I will do 4 sets of 6-8 repetitions. In between sets, I will do some triceps (pushing muscles), and abdominals so I keep my heart rate up. When that rep range becomes easy, I increase the weight and go back to 6 reps.

I work out with weights five days a week for one hour and will also include three sessions of 20-minute interval cardio weekly. When I'm getting ready to compete, I will increase my cardio to 3-5 one-hour sessions. I feel wearing a heart-rate monitor is essential, and I wear one through every workout so I see if I need to increase my intensity to maximize my workout.

The best way to burn calories and increase your metabolism is by having more muscle, and, as most men will tell you, it is very difficult to gain muscle. Therefore, as a woman, I am perplexed when I hear other women say, "I gain muscle easily and, therefore, stay away from the weight section and stick with cardio." This misconception is hindering the goals of any female looking to make significant changes in her physique, as weight training combined with cardio is essential for achieving success.

DS: Would you train as vigorously if you didn’t compete?

SS: Yes, I'm addicted now. It makes me feel great about myself and gives me lots of energy.

DS: Whom do you look up to, male or female, in the fitness industry?

SS: I always thought Rachel McLish had an amazing body in the ‘80s. I saw her in a recent magazine and 20 years later she still looks amazing. I also admire Jenny Lynn for her physique and accomplishments, and, of course, Canadian athletes like Natalie Waples, who is doing incredibly well.

Stunning Silvana is the 2009 SAF Elite Champion.

DS: Who inspires you the most?

SS: I'd have to say my mother. She looks great, and at 60 has the energy of a child. When I was a little girl, I remember she would do the 20 Minute Workout in the living room, or any other exercise programs that were on TV. Watching her at such an early age really made an impression on me. She was also ahead of her time in the area of nutrition, always getting me to eat healthy grains like millet and muesli, and making sure I was eating a balanced diet.

DS: Finally, are there any people you would like to thank?

SS: I'd like to thank Darrin Robinson of Emerge for teaching me so much about dieting and training, and for guiding me in my endeavours. The entire Emerge team has been incredibly supportive. I’d also like to thank my children for accepting and being proud of me and what I do. I'd like to thank my boyfriend, Adam Lychak, who trains and competes in mixed martial arts. He understands my needs when it comes to nutrition, dieting and training hard. His continuous support in and out of the gym makes it easier for me to achieve my goals. Finally, I want to thank SAF for giving me the opportunity to compete in their shows and honouring me by choosing me as the 2009 SAF Elite champion. It's always been a pleasure competing in the SAF shows, and the organization has treated the girls exceptionally well in every aspect, from the potential for exposure to the cash prizes.

DS: Thanks, Silvana.

SS: Thank you!

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