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Alina Popa General Overview

36-year-old Alina Popa was born on October, 12th 1978 in Braila, Social Republic of Romania. She is a Swiss professional bodybuilder but lives in Lakewood, Colorado, USA.

Alina Popa currently ranks as world’s number two professional bodybuilder in the women’s IFBB ( International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness) list.

Additionally, Alina Popa poses as a freelance fitness model for numerous e-zines and magazines. She is also a personal trainer to a handful of upcoming bodybuilders in Armbrust PRO gym located in Wheatridge, Colorado.

alina popa

Physically, Alina Popa stands 168cm or 5ft 6inches tall. The 2nd best female bodybuilder in the world maintains a contest weight of 165lbs, which places her in the women’s heavyweight category. Nevertheless, in her off-season, she maintains a weight of between 180 to 185lbs.

Early life and childhood background

Alina Popa was born and raised in Braila, Romania. On one of her personal websites, ( http://www.alinapopa.com) Alina says that her first encounter with athletics was when she started competing in field and track events to watch her weight. By the time she was 12, Alina Popa had joined the school team and was attending aerobic classes. In aerobics, she excelled in lifting weights and working with dumbbells.

However, it wasn’t until she was 19, that Alina Popa developed an interest in bodybuilding. Her interest in fitness and muscles perked up when she bumped on a fellow amateur bodybuilder training for an upcoming National Junior Championship contest. After a brief exchange, Alina was also inspired to start training as she had greatly admired the young woman’s physique. After two years of lifting weights and strength training, her gym coach suggested that she sign up for her first competition.

Career and Championships

Alina Popa first-ever competition was in the 2000 Regional Cup tournament which she was placed second in the women’s amateur bodybuilding category. Her stellar performance saw her advance to the nationals where she was placed third in her category.

In 2005, after competing for her country for more than two years, she relocated to Switzerland in a town near Zurich. Since then, Alina Popa has represented her adopted country in many bodybuilding platforms.

In 2008, at the age of 30, Alina Popa attended the famed IFBB Worlds Santa Susanna. After having trained as an amateur athlete for over 8 years, she felt that had by then refined her career and it was time to join the top echelons. Her long experience in the muscle industry saw her out do her competitors and carry the day by scooping both the heavyweight and the women’s overall title. To top it all up, she earned her pro card after this brilliant performance in Geneva.

Professional Status

Her new professional status meant she could now compete for the Miss International, which she did in 2010 and was placed at a distant 10th position. She contested again for the same in 2011 and was placed 3rd. The podium finish guaranteed Alina Popa a place in the same year’s Ms. Olympia, which she managed a 5th best finish.

Although, Alina Popa has never won a Ms Olympia title, the closest she ever came in winning this coveted prize was in the 2013 and 2014 competitions, where both times she finished behind Iris Fjord Kylie. Up to today, this has been her best rating. However, since the 38-year-old Iris Kyle is almost retiring from the arena, it is expected that either Alina Popa or Yaxeni Oriquen will take her crown in the coming years.

Further, Popa announced last year (2014) that she will be sitting out of the highly anticipated Wings of Strength Rising Phoenix World that is set to be held this year ( 2015). Apparently, this is as a result of an injury that she sustained while training. Nonetheless, Alina Popa confirmed in an interview that although she won’t be a participant, she will still attend the contest and also plans on competing in the 2016’s edition.

Personal life and relationships

Alina Popa got married in 2006 and later moved to the United States. She now lives in Lakewood, Colorado with her husband and the two have managed to lead very private lives.

In addition, Alina’s personal trainer is Dylan Armbrust- the owner of Armbrust PRO gym where she trains. Dylan Armbrust is also the husband to the professional bodybuilder Heather Armbrust.

Besides that, Alina Popa has pointed out several times in interviews that one of her biggest mentors is the current Mr Olympia -Phil Heath, who inspired her to contest in her first Ms. Olympia competition.

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