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| November 2006 |
A MOMENT IN TIME |
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Dear Savage Sistahs,
There are moments in your life where everything happens in slow motion and you wish you could freeze the moment and
let it play over and over. Your weddng day, and the birth of children are personal milestones of life that you fondly look
back on but there are different moments when perseverance, dedication and sheer wisdom all align into one special event. This
event took place this past weekend at the FAP World Championships. While I have been blessed in my career to coach girls to
various national titles dating back to NPC Nationals in 1999 to the Fitness Universe and Bikini Universe in 2004 and many
in between, there was a major accomplishment missing from my body of "work" and that involved a woman by the name of Dawn
Butterfield.
In the near decade of knowing her, we have experienced many ups and downs together. Its funny how much alike we are.
We are both married to men named John for whom we both feel are the "rock" of our existence. Our husbands both remain true
to our passion for the sport and never mind taking a back seat so we can travel to events and be with the "girls". We both
are in love with our sons something crazy-Although Dawn's "Jacob" is now a teenager and my Ryan is only 4, our philosophy
on motherhood and our connection we feel to our boys, is one in the same. My daughter Tori and my son Ryan are my first priority
in life just as Jacob is for Dawn. Sacrifice far beyond what most people see on the surface is something Dawn and I both share.
I consider all of my clients equal members of this fabulous team but I know that every one of you that knows Dawn, will tell
you that her crowning the other night was not only a well deserved win but a labor of love and a total team effort. | |
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TRUST AND FAITH | |
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After Dawn placed consistently high over the last few years, I wanted to try
something different this year. Immediately following Nationals last year, Dawn wanted to do a rock and roll routine this year.
Although I wasnt excited about this idea, I went along with it (which is so unlike me!) I typically get my vision ahead of
time and then we pick out music but Dawn went ahead and ordered the music and we awaited it to be completed. When the music
was delivered to me, I wasnt thrilled at all. I knew this wasnt going to be a good enough routine for her. Dawn and I had
an appt to begin choreography in January and as I walked in to meet her in our first session of the new year, I was a bit
worried. I walked in to see her stretching and then I pulled my notebook out and it was blank. Usually I have all my notes
and scribble there and she knew right away something was up. I said, "Hear me out". Knowing that Dawn always puts her faith
in me, she listened to my BIG idea. Of course the idea was her FITNESS CELEBRITY RETIREMENT HOME routine. For years, we collaborated
on everything from Mighty Mouse, to Wizard of OZ to Tinkerbell to the Little Girl theme and more! I wanted to take a new direction
and be more "comical" and "mature". Dawn wasnt sure of the idea but she said "I trust you if you have the vision". I picked
out this music as if I was being graded on it by one of my old college professors. I wanted the world to know that this phenominal
woman deserved a title more than anyone on the planet!
Dawn started the year with 3 wins in a row with incredible momentum leading up to the Fitness Universe in June. Dawn
performed incredible and everyone had her in the top 3 for sure in Miami. However, she didnt even crack the top ten. Her routine
score was 2nd but the judges killed her physique score in a sick and twisted series of events. Dawn was not the only casualty
of war that day but perhaps hers was the most heartfelt. What others considered a PERFECT body, was deemed to muscular. HUH?
Although disappointed, Dawn persevered and kept competing all year long,. I think I was hurt more by this one. Actually it
still stings! However, it soon fueled my fire and onward we all went with our season!
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GOOD KARMA | |
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When it came time for the Hollywood show, I mentally prepared myself for loss. At the universe it was so easy to have
picked the top 5 that night but being in the business since its inception, I knew that nothing was secure. I was prepared
for anything at this show. The event was packed with some of the best routines I had ever seen. After the routines, I would
have been happy with a top 3 finish. Sheri McCall Vucik was flawless as usual as was Nikki B (our own Savage gal). In the
physique round, Dawn appeared onstage to a gasp by the audience. She wore a new passionfruit designs suit and all or our jaws
dropped. Makeup was done by Paula and hair was created by um..me! It was so beautiful to see this team effort. What impressed
me the most about the night was when they called out top 5, and Dawn's name was called, most of the fellow athletes onstage
roared. Veterans like Allison Ethier and Sheri were genuinely thrilled as they have seen their share of disappointments like
Dawn in the past. The interview round was like a shining moment for Dawn. She answered so honestly and truthfully. It brought
a tear to my eyes as she talked abut her fellow athletes and how competing has been and always will be an incredible experience.
When we were waiting for final placements, I began to think back about when I first started working with Dawn and how far
our friendship and love for the sport had evolved. As they called out the names and it was down to the top 2, I no longer
needed that win. Taking 2nd to my friend Sheri is as good as taking first and I knew Dawn felt the same way. When Dawn's name
was called and she was crowned the winner, a roar came over the theatre. It was sheer magic- and it all started moving in
slow motion for me. Dawn's image soon was overcome by her felllow athletes who surrounded her with hugs and kisses. For me,
I sat with my fellow staff and teammates and cried. I didnt know what to say or do. I sat there and took it all in. The first
moment I met her, that Mighty Mouse routine, her sending me her Fitness Canada trophy for my 40th birthday as she said I deserved
it, our wins, our losses, our crazy road trips, our times with Wendi West and the other old friends, our sunday sessions,
and our never ending converations about our kids. This all came rushing to my head-it was overwhelming. One of my best friends
just won the World Championships.
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THE HEART OF A CHAMPION | |
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This moment was for anyone who has never given up, who has heard the word rejection and who has stared the risk of
failure straight in the eye. This moment is for anyone who has been knocked down only to get up with a smile on her face and
worked harder to make sure she wouldnt be a victim ever again. This moment was for anyone who has been told they are too old,
too short, too this or too that. This moment was for anyone who thought they could never win a national title without gymastics
or dance. This moment was for the underdogs who never stopped trying and persevered through, without negativity, cutting others
down and blame. I have witnessed a woman like you and I, achieve a goal that was ten years in the making. It was glory
and joy all wrapped up into one. I can only hope and pray we all have moments like this in our lives when we all have that
feeling that we are a champion. I truly know that we are all a part of this win as we all share this bond of sisterhood. You
may not have met Dawn yet but I can tell you that YOU all are a part of her win. Guess what, NICE GALS FINISH FIRST!
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