By Jon Finkel | Photos by Ian Logan
SNAPSHOT - GINA ALIOTTI
Birthdate: July 20, 1984
Birthplace: Monterey, California
Current Residence: San Diego
Height: 5' 4 1/2"
Weight: 130 pounds contest, 138 off-season
Career Highlights: 2008: Figure International, 1st 2007: Figure Olympia, 2nd
To Contact: ginaaliotti.net, gfitsportswear.com
On the "goofy" side, you have guys like Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who, after winning the overtime coin flip in a 2004 playoff game at Green Bay, foolishly stated: "We want the ball, and we're gonna score." Moments later, Hasselbeck threw an interception to Al Harris of the Packers, who promptly returned the errant throw for the game-winning touchdown.
Predictions are funny things. When you come through on them, you look great. When you don't, you look goofy. On the "great" side, we have Gina Aliotti, who, in the May 2007 issue of Muscle & Fitness, said, "I definitely want to carry the Olympia and the Figure International titles." A year later, she won the Figure International title and placed second in the Figure Olympia. Some predictions just turn out better than others.
In this case, for Gina, they turned out a lot better. "When I took sixth in my first Olympia, I felt like my goal for the next year should be to get in the top five," she says. "When I got closer to the contest, I thought I could get top three. Being the runner-up to Jenny Lynn last year was a big thrill."
Of course, second place is one place shy of where she wants to be, so the fact that she won the 2008 Figure International, and is a favorite to win this year's Figure Olympia, means that she has a realistic chance of making her statement true inside of 18 months. But don't think that her training is based solely around impressing judges. Her goal, first and foremost, is to feel good about herself.
"After having competed in several contests, I have a better idea of what the judges are looking for," Gina explains. "Fortunately, the feedback they've given me to improve goes hand in hand with how I want to look."
And that look, apparently, goes hand in hand with titles.
"The jacket I won at the [Figure International] is on display at my gym," she says. "I walk by it every time I go to work out. It reminds of the time that I've put in and motivates me to keep working hard. I want to be the first woman to hold the Figure International and Figure Olympia titles in the same year."
With a work ethic like hers, it should be no problem. M&F
>> For a look at Gina's ab training program, click here.
