Power
Play
Madison
weightlifter Salib
makes big plans for future
Rockstar
Gym owner
competes nationally in bodybuilding
By
Nichole Osinski
Contributing Writer
(December 2011) Bodybuilding means giving
up time and energy. Running a gym takes time, energy and a knowledge
about business and clientele necessities.
Hany Salib, owner of Rockstar Gym on Miles Ridge Road in Madison, Ind.,
has experience in both these areas. He has worked his way through losses
and injuries while keeping his eye on his goals and future plans.
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Photo
by Nichole Osinski
Personal
trainer
and gym owner
Hany Salib recently
won the competition
at the Kentucky
Muscle Show in
Louisville and placed
11th in a national
competition Miami.
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Not only is he an active bodybuilding competitor, but
he also has a desire to help others get in the best shape of their lives.
And what better way to do this than by buying a gym and providing an
atmosphere centered around looking and feeling healthy?
When Salib took over as owner of Rockstar on July 1, he had a vision.
He was already a personal trainer in Louisville, but his plan was to
expand. In addition to this, he has continually been preparing himself
for bodybuilding competitions. Now he has two main goals: make the gym
even more successful and win more competitions.
I wanted to do something more, said Salib, 33. My
goals are always getting bigger physically, mentally, financially.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Salibs passion for bodybuilding and fitness
began at the early age of 13. His father was in the U.S. Army and was
dedicated to physical training.
When his father used a weight bench in the garage, Salibs previous
interest was piqued. This, along with his fascination with World Wrestling
Entertainment wrestlers, started a life long passion.
When Salibs family moved to Fayetteville, N.C., he started pursuing
a career in fitness. A pivotal moment for him was when he was working
at a gym and a bodybuilder encouraged him to compete in the North Carolina
teenage bodybuilding competition. Salib began training with his new
mentor. He won the competition and was hooked.
While studying physical education in college he also sold gym memberships
for extra money and continued training on the side. Soon he began to
transition into personal training and found that not only was it rewarding
but something he enjoyed doing.
Salib stopped his university classes to be a full-time personal trainer
and continued competing in bodybuilding competitions. When he entered
the mens level in bodybuilding, Salib faced a completely different
challenge.
Now he was up against competitors with more experience and more muscle.
Though daunting to some, Salib continued working out and eating right
to physically attain his goal.
As Salib trained and matured he also began looking for new ways to help
others attain their physical goals.
After moving to Louisville, Salib began working for the owner of a personal
training studio. In less than a year, Salib bought the gym and started
working with clients.
I liked seeing people accomplish their goals, said Salib.
Whether its pounds, inches or winning competitions, its
very rewarding.
The work didnt stop in Louisville. A few years later Salib was
ready to expand. When an ad highlighting a gym in Madison showed up,
Salib looked into it.
The previous owners, Nick and Brandi Navas, knew Salib and sold him
the gym. He wanted to create an environment that was professional yet
didnt intimidate people.
Vivian McIntosh-Gregory, owner of Miss Vivians Tanning Salon and
the original owner of the gym, has seen the progress Salib has made.
She also does personal training with him twice a week.
Hany really knows his stuff, she said. He knows what
to do and hes educated me.
Salib has now been a personal trainer for 15 years. He has a full schedule
at the gym, especially during these colder months. Between his training
sessions in Louisville and position at Rockstar Salib, he clocks in
about 90 hours each week including 70 to 80 personal sessions.
Being the owner of a gym also means Salib does the bookkeeping and secretarial
work. Even though there are days that can be challenging, he says that
its not hard because he enjoys what he does.
And its because of this passion that he has inspired and trained
others. However, he makes sure to be honest with clients and let them
know that what they put into it is what they will get out of it.
He uses the motto, Champions do what competitors dont,
to challenge those around him.
Salib clearly explains to anyone working with him that even if they
think they dont have time, they do. He uses his own day as an
example, pointing out that he drives from Louisville to Madison for
work then afterward works out himself.
Salib has been perfecting his own fitness regime since he started competing
at age 18. He considers nutrition one of the major factors in what he
does. At the gym he can be found with what he calls his meals
on wheels: a cooler stocked with health food to keep his metabolism
up throughout the day.
Between Salibs commitment to nutrition and fitness he has found
a way to do well in bodybuilding competitions. He won the overall show
at Kentucky Muscle fitness in Louisville and placed 11th in the national
competition in Miami.
With these accomplishments under his belt, Salib isnt ready to
slow down just yet. He hopes to win the national competition and eventually
open another gym. The future is wide open with possibilities. But at
this moment he feels that he couldnt ask for more.
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2011 Articles.