2012 Hall of Fame
The term Hall of Fame was basically originated in 1900 when the first U.S Hall of Fame was founded at Bronx Community College in the Bronx, New York (the same Bronx that Al Rosen is from). Since, Hall of Fames have been created for baseball in Cooperstown, New York; Football in Canton, Ohio and there are Hall of Fame for most other sports as well as other industries of entertainment, WWE, Rock and Roll, etc. In 2012 the Tri-Fitness Challenge started their Hall of Fame and they induct new members each year.
The prerequisites for the Hall of Fame are the inductees have been involved with Tri-Fitness for at least 10 years and have made an impact on the sport. In the sport of Tri-Fitness, the athletes compete in the Obstacle Course, Fitness Skills (Box Jumps, Bench Press and Shuttle Run), Fitness Routine, True Grit Challenge and the bedazzling Grace and Physique event. Thus, the following athletes are not only fit, but fast and fierce as well. The induction also includes photographers, magazine editors, judges, etc. The 2012 inductees include the following:
Torrie Wilson from Boise, Idaho, was the first Tri-Fitness Grace & Physique champion in 1998. In addition to winning the Grace & Physique event, Torrie excelled in the Fitness Routine and Obstacle Course. After the 1998 event, Torrie signed her first supplement company contract. In 1999, she entered the world of sports entertainment with the WCW (World Championship Wrestling) and in 2001 signed a contract with the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) where she continued to 2008. Torrie has been featured as a covergirl on many magazines as well as a model/athlete for many training articles.
Lisa Marie Varon was a top 5 finalist in the 1998 Tri-Fitness World Challenge. After challenging herself in fitness, Lisa has pursued a career in professional wrestling debuting with the WWE in 2002. She worked under the name of “Victoria” while with the WWE and is presently “Tara” with Impact Wrestling. This Chicago native’s career started as a personal trainer and as a Fitness America athlete.
Kelly Gignilliat Harderson, often referred to as Kelly “G”started her career upon graduating as a dancer for Disney (8 years including Tokoyo). In 1994 she went on to win the U.S. Aerobic Championships. Thus, a carreer in fitness was started. Kelly was the first Tri-Fitness overall champion in 1998. This Palm Beach Peach Garden, Florida resident repeated the title in 1999 at Tampa Convention Center in an event filmed for national television. She is the world record holder on the Tri-Fitness Obstacle Course with a time of 46.72 seconds which she set in Las Vegas in July 2004. She is the owner of KH Fitness in Juno Beach, Florida.
Jennifer Rosen At the age of 13, Jennifer was the youngest competitor at the 1998 Tri-Fitness World Challenge. In 1999, she won the Fitness Routine event. After a few years away from the sport, Jennifer returned in 2004 and won the overall Tri-Fitness title. Jennifer’s athletic career started when she started competing at the age of five in USA Gymnastic meets. When she was eleven years old, she was able to accomplish 36 pullups. In addition, she has choregraphed many of the sports top fitness routines.
Dick Smith – Co-Founder – 2012 Tri-Fitness Hall of Fame … In 1997, Dick Smith encouraged Al Rosen to start the sport of Tri-Fitness. The first event was held in the spring of 1998 in Tampa, Florida. Mr. Smith funded the first event which included a social event in Ybor City. It was the first official gathering of Tri-Fitness athletes. In 1999, Mr. Smith encouraged Al Rosen to stage an event at Tampa Convention Center which would include a trade show. Mr. Smith was a bodybuilder in the masters category and is an advocate of physical fitness and weight training.
Robert Kennedy – In 1998, Robert Kennedy attended the first Tri-Fitness World Challenge in Tampa, Florida. At the time, Oxygen Magazine had recently started and was a bi monthly publication. Mr. Kennedy devoted a full feature to the Tri-Fitness World Challenge in Oxygen Magazine which has covered every Tri-Fitness event thereafter. In addition to Oxygen Magazine, Mr. Kennedy’s Publishing company also publishes Muscle Mag, American Curves, REPS, Clean Eating Magzine and Maximum Fitness. Robert Kennedy was an advocate to proper nutrition, fitness training and bodybuilding. His wife Tosca Reno is the author of The Clean Eat Diet. Mr. Kennedy recently passed away in April 2012 in Ontario, Canada.
Debbie Baigre is the founder and publisher of Natural Muscle Magazine (since 1997). This magazine is dedicated to health and fitness. In 1998, Debbie attended and provided coverage for the Tri-Fitness event. Over the years, she has served as a judge at numerous Tri-Fitness Challenges. Natural Muscle Magazine has featured every event which Tri-Fitness has held, and has two pages dedicated each month profiling Tri-Fitness athletes. Ms. Baigre, a mother of two successful daughters, works out daily and is living proof of the benefits of exercise and nutrition
Francis “Skip” Faulkner was the first official photographer for the Tri-Fitness event. He covered the 1998 – 2001 events for Oxygen Magazine and Natural Muscle Magazine. Skip, from Maryland, was a creative photographer and the athletes loved working with him. He had a passion for Tri-Fitness and was an encouraging force to Al Rosen during the early years. Skip provided images for many of the top fitness publications in the U.S and Canada. Skip passed away in the summer of 2011