Want to work out with Olympic champ Damian Warner?
Warner has partnered to open two fitness centres in London, Ont.
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lululemon
OK, you might not be running laps with the Olympic decathlete and recent Canada Walk of Fame inductee. You may spot him, though, at one of two Damian Warner Fitness Centres, set to open on Jan. 2, 2023 in London, Ont. Warner is renowned for being the first Canadian to win gold in the decathlon at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where he set a new Olympic record of 9,018 points. He also set decathlon bests in the 100m, long jump and 110m hurdles.
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“Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined my name on the side of a building! Excited to share this new partnership,” Warner shared on social media Tuesday.
The two gyms were closed until a recent purchase by development firm Southside Group and its owner, Vito Frijia. Warner was brought on by Frijia and will have input into how the new fitness clubs operate. The clubs, both bearing the new name Damian Warner Fitness Centre, are currently accepting registrations.
The club website shares that Warner was born and raised in the Forest City and his success at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo “embodies the spirit of dedication and resilience” they hope to share with their members. Damian Warner Fitness Centres aim to “celebrate and embrace every body.” The clubs will have whirlpool, sauna and pool amenities, and offer spin, aqua and yoga classes with options for group training and one-on-one personal training.
“When Vito came to me, I thought it was a cool opportunity,” said Warner, the London Free Press reported. “It is not just my name. He wanted my input. I want it to be better than other gyms in the city. It won’t be easy, but there is a path to us being the best in London, and I am excited to see that come to light.”
“My focus is on the Olympics, but this is potentially an opportunity to do more when I age out of the sport,” Warner said. He wants to encourage include group-style circuit training with teams pushing one another. “It is a leap for me,” he adds. “There is pressure that comes with your name being on something, but that is just motivation for me to make this the best gym possible.”
Warner is currently training for the 2024 Paris Olympics and the 2023 World Athletics championships in Budapest, Hungary.
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