| Where and when have you been born?
London/England Where do you live now?
I spend time in New York, and Connecticut when I am in the US. Up to three months in the US and a few weeks in Europe in between.. What is your profession?
I do not have a particular one at present. I am playing with several options. I have a gym in London .. I teach others training and Diet. I am busy promoting my training videos also.. I guess I am still very much a professional Bodybuilder, though not competitive at present.. professional means to make a living from the sport.. it doesn’t pay to compete, so im working to make a living from the sport other ways, so that I can continue to do what I love.. What kind of activities/sports did you do before you started lifting weights?
I was into Judo in a very big way. I have a 1st Dan Black belt, and was in the British Olympic team.. (read all about this in my journey to Ms.Olympia and the about me section) Please tell me about what else you are doing when you don’t work out (profession, hobbies, etc.)
I am an artist. I love to paint and draw, and make things with my hands.. Presently I am working on putting some paintings together for a future gallery (art show). I hope to get some commissions in the future also… My latest craze has been climbing.. I always loved to climb, and found indoor rock gyms a real hit. I do this where ever I travel to. I do both bouldering and top-rope, and not afraid of heights.. It’s a good rush.. (see pics. Taken in Vegas, after the Ms.Olympia 2001) How and when did you get involved into lifting weights?
There was a little room with a few weights outside of where I took my Judo classes in a small community centre. I would go in a play around after my Judo session.. Was it a goal for you to compete in bodybuilding competitions right from the beginning or was it something that grew in your mind as time went on and you saw the progress in your body?
No, not at all. I went to the gym pure accident to begin with.. There was a little room with some weights, and I would play around not knowing what I was doing.. A guy that was a powerlifter noticed me, and saw the potential. He noticed my strength, as I easily heaved some big poundages .. We became friends, and eventually lovers, as well as workout partners. He had me deadlifting 200lbs for reps in a few weeks.. That’s probably where I got those huge traps, thet never go away, even when I am taking a break from training.. LOL (see picture) Which competition has been your first one and how did you place?
It was small local show held in London.. I won 1st place
The second contest offered a small prize.. about $100 I won that the following week.. Yippee…. That was back in 1986 (my entire contest history is online at my site) And which contest has been the biggest success for you yet?
Of course winning the Ms.Olympia.. That’s the biggest accomplishment.. Hey maybe I’ll do it again someday. Just taking a good rest for now.. Could you please add a history of all contests that you have entered so far?
2000 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 1st Place Lightweights
IFBB Ms. International - 2nd Place (Lightweights) 1999 IFBB Ms. International - 5th Place
IFBB Ms. Olympia - 7th Place 1998 IFBB Ms. International - 6th Place
IFBB Ms. Olympia - 6th Place 1997 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 7th Place 1996 IFBB Ms. International (Ohio) - 11th Place
IFBB European Pro Classic (Prague) - 3rd Place
IFBB European Cup - (Slovakia) - 3rd Place
IFBB Ms. Olympia - 8th Place 1995 IFBB Jan Tana Pro Classic (Virginia) - 6th Place 1993 IFBB European Championship(Hungary) - 1st Place
IFBB World Games (Holland) - 1st Place 1992 IFBB Women's World Championship (Rimini) - 3rd Place 1988 IFBB Women's World Championship (Puerto Rico) - 10th Place 1986 Miss Capital City - 1st Place
EFBB Qualifier (for the under 21s) - 1st
Place Junior British Championship - 1st Place
(This qualified me for the IFBB Junior World Championships)
IFBB Junior Worlds - 4th Place Please describe a typical day in the life of Andrulla Blanchette.
It depends on where I am. I have been travelling a lot, so nothing stays usual or typical..
Here goes though..I have always slept in late. I get up around 9am. Not working any usual job or hours either, so that’ allows me to get the sleep I need.. when I train for a contest, I wake up at 6am for a small protein shake, then hit the sack once more.. Extra hard training needs more sleep..I eat breakfast about an hour after I wake.. Takes me that long to realise I am awake.. LOL .. by 11am I am friendly..by noon, i am approachable! On a training day, I go to the gym an hour after eating breakfast.. so about 12noon.. Or if I got some important emails or phonecalls. I train later on..I do emails daily when I am not travelling, and answer all of them myself.. (no middle person) On the days I do not train, I try to get to see my friends, or if I am stuck in the house because of the weather, I will chat online and get some of my paintings worked on..Other days I go climb, especially if I feel very energetic which is very often.. I need to occupy myself with physical tasks.. Love those endorphins…I really enjoy taking long drives (I get lost often).. I have been using the latest Mercedes AMG convertible for about a year now.. its so awesome, and extremely meditative for me to drive.. My evenings are a movie once in a while.(I saw Matrix 3 and the latest Terminator lately). Long lazy, hot bath’s with all the trimmings, candles, incense and skin softening oils.. ahhh … Some nights dinner out at a nice restaurant. I love to eat. And mostly I would get caught up in a book and fall asleep with it in my arms.. or if I had someone daring enough to join me in bed.. I’d love a great massage. He he he…Hey maybe I better stop here… Please tell me something about your daily training routine.
I do not train daily.. I do it alternate days.. Rest has and is a big factor for me in attaining the results of my physique.. My latest video “Quest for perfection” discusses in depth my training routines, and the schedules I use..Plus shows my techniques. If anybody is interested in being inspired and motivated.. this and other tapes are available directly from me at my website www.andrulla.com How often do you train in a week?
Alternate days.. no weekly regime exists for me… What are the main differences when you train for a competition and in off-season?
The diet changes, and I add cardio near the end of my prep.. I keep the training the same, the weights do vary, as diet can cause some drops in strength around two weeks out.. If you don’t mind would you give me some stats (best lifts and some body measurements)?
Biggest arm measurement.. In 1996 at a bodyweight of 72kilo I had almost 17inches…
My heaviest curl with a barbell is 175lbs.. Heaviest bench was incline dumbell presses with 100lbers in each hand.. heaviest legpress, though I am sure I can do much more was 1100 lBS. Chest and lats flared was around 43inches.. Mostly lat width.. Which bodypart is your best in your opinion?
My back was pretty out of this world.. it grows very fast, and if I do not monitor it would get very overwhelming to my other bodyparts.. What is your favorite exercise in the gym and which one you don’t like so much (if there is any)?
I like legpresses a lot.. Now days they have so many different machines .. .. its also great because I get to lay down.. He, he.. Nothing I don’t really like. I enjoy the variety, and to try out new machines.. They are toys for me… the gym is fun.. its my playground.. Judging in Women’s Bodybuilding has always been criticised in one or the other way. But please tell me your honest thoughts about today’s judging in Women’s Bodybuilding.
I don’t think I can give you a perfect answer.. There will and has always been a lot of controversy.. Since I been in the sport the criteria has probably swung to and fro several times… One year they want hard as shredded steel bodies, another they want smaller, and softer,.. Then the women’s physiques change, and the judges can’t cope with it, as in their minds they been judging and looking for hardness all those years back.. So they end up picking the hard physique, and it messes up the other women, that then get fed up and quit or they get superhard for their next show, and then get marked down.(look at how they went for Anja Shriener whilst marking down paula Bircumshaw, and the very next year they put Kim Chizevsky ripped to shreds as Ms.Olympia) . its so catch 22 for the athletes and the judges.. Nothing is set in stone..My honest thought is, that you do it for yourself first, and do not worry about the judges opinions.. Some guidelines: Base the training around creating the most beautiful and shapely physique.. Aim for balance and symmetry, with mass to fill out your structure, and at contest time give lots of time to get in shape, as this will help the face and otherall healthy appearance.. Drop as much bodyfat as you feel is needed to display the cuts, and separations.. if you choose to be extreme, realise that you may risk being marked down..The last few years they have weight classes, which I feel has helped as it mean that the shorter girls are not completely overwhelmed by the taller , heavier women.. I remember trying to battle it out with them in Olympia’s gone by, and putting on so much mass, it was so expensive to eat all that food.. LOL What are your future plans for 2003/2004?
Competitively I do not have any at present.. I am looking to utilise my already having the Ms.Olympia title.. So, if any companies or individuals out their want to genuinely sponsor me, I am open to this..Other than, I am at present working towards getting a selection of pictures, and video footage, including wrestling and climbing, plus other activities which will be included in my website soon..On another note. I have taken certificates in Reiki..(Ancient hands on healing art) I am at the master level, and am offering treatments in this, and also plan to set up a class for level one in the near future I may be contacted by email at [email protected] My website: www.andrullablanchette.com | 
