There are bodybuilders all over the world, and they come from many kinds of jobs. One of the best in the world is Ladawn McDay, a special education teacher at Ella Fitzgerald Elementary School in Detroit.
McDay, 37, attended Wayne State University. She said, “I got interested in bodybuilding from watching it for years on TV and being around competitors gave me the urge to compete.”
McDay won second place in the National Physique Committee’s National Bodybuilding Bikini and Figure Championships in 2009.
McDay’s biggest accomplishment was at the 2010 International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness North American Championship, where she placed eighth in North America.
“If some competitors don’t see results, they lose the urge to keep going,” said McDay. “I believe that bodybuilding is a sport often ignored by girls because of the negative thoughts of the use of steroids.”
My favorite part of body building is the individual posing routine because it shows that I am an individual and I am not being compared to the group.”
McDay has a very busy schedule. She goes to the gym at 5 a.m. and trains with Team Infinity. She works out on the weights for one hour and does her cardiovascular routine twice a day and walks at work during lunch.
She said it took her only 16 weeks to achieve her goal of becoming a bodybuilder.
McDay competes as a light heavyweight, where the weight requirement is 125-140 pounds. She also competes at the national level, for which someone must qualify by winning at the state level.
Ladawn is on a quest to become a professional bodybuilder. She has come in 2nd place in two national competitions. “I have not yet made money being a body builder due to the fact I have not become a professional,” said McDay. “But I will still be competing for years to come.”
Mirvat Chammout
Samira Maatouk
Middle School Journalists
Note: This story was originally published in 2013.
The story was really interesting but it would even be better if you incloud where she went to compeat.
Hadil Bittar
3-20-17. 1st hour
What made this article interesting to you? I need to hear your voice.
This article was interesting because I’m interested with the gym and the people that go to the gym to work out. I love people with muscles because their big and hard
Hadil bittar
1st hour
Abdulrahman nuseibeh 1st hour- after reading this article, and seeing the accomplishments that this women had made, I think that a lot of women won’t be a body builder because they don’t want to go through a rough road but on the other hand, you should do what you want to do, and set a goal. Overall I think that this is very helpful and hopefully a lesson that would be thought to all the women that are shy and embarrassed to take this stand.
This article is a inspiring one because when she watched the body builders on TV she wanted to be one so she did but when she competed she knew to never stop trying and to never give up and she didn’t and she became a body builder and a teacher so in all that is a lesson that teaches people never to give up.
Jenna Issa 7th hour
Wow this is a great story this teacher/bodybuilder must be a very inspiration to many. I find it very cool how she competes and gets to go show off her hard work and dedication to body building. I also noticed that she puts a lot of work and effort in to her training, because she wakes up at 5:00am and goes to the gym then she goes to school and does her job and in her free time she does workouts to benefit her self rather then just sitting around in her free time. I find it weird that she hasn’t won any money yet even tho she got 2nd place a couple times. I truly agree with her when she said that most girls arent into the body building thing because of the steroids and i find that to be very wrong. Not everyone uses steroids in a negative way some people including this teacher probably use steroids and not to harm them selves and not in a negative way. All in all i liked the story and its very interesting to see a modern day teacher on a mission to do what makes her happy and whats good for her.