Body World Gym...South Philly, Pa. When I was about 12 years old I would ride my bike there to see professional wrestlers working out there when they were in town. I met Roddy Piper...Hogan...Ultimate Warrior...etc. When I was 14 I tried to join and was told I was too small. So I trained at home for a year with plastic weights and went back and they let me join. Now my picture is on the wall from a couple of my bodybuilding shows and I went on to compete in National level powerlifting meets from training there. I learned from Rich Baretta, 1987 Mr. America, who introduced me to Bob Gruskin...a legend who helped me get ready for my first show in 1991, and Mike Palumbo, a world champion powerlifter there. I still hang out with Mike. I am retired from competition now while I finish my degree. I may un-retire at some point, but I won't be training there anymore because I got married and do not live in the city any longer.
