TRAINING BY TONY

Big Tony

IFBB PRO

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I am Tony Gnap, aka Big Tony. I am a woman on a mission. I have spent so much of my life involved in Fitness. 
I was born and raised in Tottenham, Ontario, Canada. Both my parents are driven, athletic, and competitive. So, naturally, I grew up as a very competitive kid. I was in gymnastics since I was 3 years old (first coached by my mom). I grew to eat sleep and breathe this sport. I competed in gymnastics at an elite level up until the age of 17. 
After high school, I attended the University of Guelph where I majored in Human Kinetics. I competed on the All-Girl Varsity Cheerleading Team at Guelph. I not only fell in love with this sport, we grew so close as a team & as best friends. We won back to back to back National Titles (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013). 
In University, I faced my own struggles with an eating disorder, which I spent a lot of time rehabbing from. It wasn’t an easy process. It was hard to overcome something that took so much control over my life and my relationship with food. One day it just hit me, I couldn’t live like this anymore, I couldn’t be afraid of food and what people thought of me. I was determined to make a change for the better, and put my health first. 
In my final year at Uni, I met the love of my life... Steve. After graduating, Steve and I came to the realization that we do not belong in a cold climate and wanted to move somewhere warm, and somewhere by the beach. In 2014, we moved to Australia and we quickly realized this was the place we were meant to be. Brisbane, Australia is now home for us. 
I got fully immersed into the bodybuilding scene once we moved to Australia. I won a few IFBB amateurs shows in Queensland and qualified to compete at the Arnold Classic Australia Amateur Show. This was where I won my IFBB Pro card, in 2016. I love competing in the IFBB Fitness division because this division represents everything I am about. IFBB Fitness not only has a physique round, we also have a 2 minute routine round (showcasing our fitness skills, and our own personality with a theme and a costume). I love performing! ... I knew this since gymnastics, but I’m so happy I have found a sport where I can continue to share my talent and love of fitness.