Nicole Latulippe: Goliath Games Champion

Nicole is a friendly face you’ll see almost every day at A Foot Above Fitness. We’re very proud to have her as a cornerstone of our community. Not just because of her strength, but because of her energy. She is very encouraging and is a huge part of what makes our gym in Orleans so special. Nicole knows what it takes to better herself and regularly chooses to take on challenges that inspire others. She brings a competitive edge to every workout, yet she’s just as focused on lifting others up as she is on improving herself. Whether someone is brand new to fitness or pushing toward their own personal best, Nicole is quick with encouragement, a smile, and the kind of support that makes a gym feel like a community.

What makes Nicole especially inspiring is how recent her journey into strength training really is. She only began training seriously in early 2026, yet in a short time she has shown what is possible with consistency and determination. For anyone who feels unsure about starting their fitness journey, Nicole represents a simple but powerful idea: you do not need years of experience to build strength, you just need the courage to begin.

Now, Nicole is stepping onto a bigger stage by competing in her first strongman event at the Goliath Games. Her story is about more than physical strength. It is about resilience, showing up through doubt, and discovering what you are capable of. Nicole reflects what fitness is really about, growing stronger inside and out, while inspiring others to believe they can do the same.

A strongman competition is a type of sporting event where people compete to see who can lift, carry, and move very heavy objects. While it might look extreme from the outside, the basic idea is simple: it’s about testing different kinds of strength using movements that are closer to real-life tasks than typical gym exercises.

Instead of focusing on just one lift, like in traditional weightlifting, strongman competitions include several different events. Each one challenges a different aspect of strength, such as how much you can lift, how far you can carry something heavy, or how quickly you can move under load. Competitors earn points based on how well they perform in each event, and the person with the highest total score at the end wins overall.

At an event like The Goliath Games, athletes might be asked to do things like lift a heavy barbell from the ground as many times as possible, carry a large frame of weight on their shoulders while walking, or hold heavy weights in each hand and move as fast as they can. They may also need to drag or pull heavy objects across the ground. These challenges are designed to reflect practical, full-body strength rather than isolated gym movements.

One important thing to understand is that strongman competitions are not just for elite or professional athletes. Most events include different divisions based on experience level, body weight, age, and gender, so beginners can take part as well. In fact, local competitions are often designed to be an entry point for people who are new to the sport.

What makes strongman different from typical fitness training is that it emphasizes functional strength—being able to handle awkward, heavy, and sometimes unbalanced objects—rather than just using machines or standardized equipment. It’s less about appearance and more about what your body can do.

Overall, a strongman competition is a multi-event test of strength and endurance that is surprisingly accessible and often very community-oriented. Even though the weights are heavy, the environment is usually welcoming, and it’s common to see competitors encouraging each other throughout the event.

For her first strongman competition, Nicole competed in the Heavyweight Women’s Open Novice category in the Goliath Games. She spent from January to April of this year training intensely for it. She was already strong, but this required her to take on something radically new and stick with it to see results.

Nicole stepped onto the competition floor at the Goliath Games on April 11, 2026, for her very first strongman event, competing in the Heavyweight Women’s Open Novice category. Just three months into her training journey, she faced five demanding events that tested not only her strength, but her endurance and mental toughness. From the fast-paced dumbbell ladder to heavy deadlifts, a grueling yoke run, farmers carries, and a final sandbag run into a sled drag, each challenge pushed her to dig deeper and keep moving forward.

What stood out throughout the day was not just Nicole’s performance, but the support system around her. She had the pleasure of being coached and supported by her trainer Zach, the owner of A Foot Above Fitness, who helped guide her through every event and kept her focused when it mattered most. She was also encouraged to take this leap into competition by Thor, another dedicated member of the gym community, whose belief in her played a meaningful role in getting her to the starting line. Moments like these reflect the kind of environment Nicole trains in, one built on encouragement, trust, and shared goals.

At the Goliath Games, Nicole took on five demanding events that tested strength, endurance, and determination:

• Dumbbell ladder: 40 lb, 50 lb, and 55 lb dumbbells for as many reps as possible in one minute
• Deadlifts: 265 lb for maximum reps in one minute
• Yoke run: 50 feet down and back for time
• Farmers carry: 115 lb in each hand for maximum distance in 75 seconds
• Sandbag run into sled drag: 150 lb sandbag carry immediately followed by a sled drag for time

Each event challenged a different aspect of her strength, from explosive power to grip endurance and full-body resilience.

The experience also gave Nicole the opportunity to connect with the broader strongman community in a powerful way. She met athletes who share the same passion, including someone she considers a personal idol in strength training, making the day even more memorable. Surrounded by supportive competitors and fueled by the energy of the crowd, Nicole rose to the occasion and finished at the top of the podium, earning first place in her category and qualifying for provincials.

For Nicole, this competition was about more than the result. It was about showing up despite the nerves, embracing the challenge, and discovering what she is capable of alongside people who believe in her.

Seeing Nicole continue on to the Ontario Provincial Championships on July 18 is something we are incredibly proud of as a community. This is not just another competition. It brings together some of the top athletes in the province, all competing across demanding events like deadlifts, yoke runs, and loading medleys that test every aspect of strength and resilience.

What makes Nicole’s progression so meaningful is how quickly she has earned her place there. In a matter of months, she has gone from starting her journey to qualifying for a provincial stage. That kind of growth does not happen by accident. It reflects discipline, consistency, and a willingness to face challenges head-on, even when they feel overwhelming. For a new athlete, stepping into this level of competition speaks volumes about her mindset and her commitment to improving every single day.

Nicole also represents something bigger than results. She shows what it means to embrace the process. She competes with intensity, but she also brings positivity, humility, and support for others around her. Those qualities are what truly define a strong athlete, especially in a sport like strongman where community and camaraderie are such a big part of the experience. As she heads into provincials, we are proud not just of what she has accomplished, but of how she has done it. Nicole is still at the very beginning of her journey, and already she is setting a standard for what is possible with hard work and belief. This next step is not the finish line. It is proof that she belongs, and a sign of even bigger things ahead.

At A Foot Above Fitness, the focus is on helping people at every stage of their fitness journey take meaningful steps forward. Whether you are brand new to training or an experienced athlete aiming to reach the next level, the environment is built around proper coaching, progressive programming, and a strong sense of community. Beginners benefit from guidance that builds confidence and solid technique, while more advanced members have the structure and support needed to push their limits safely and effectively. Located in Orleans, the gym has become a place where consistency, accountability, and encouragement come together, making it easier for anyone to start, improve, and keep progressing over time.