The FIT Awards 2016 round-up

Denzil Pinto 22:56 26/11/2016
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  • The award winners pose on stage at The One and Only Royal Mirage.

    More than 330 descended on The One and Only Royal Mirage in Dubai on Thursday for the annual gala ceremony, organised by Sport360°, to recognise the achievements of the UAE’s top professionals and companies.

    With the fitness industry growing in the country at a rapid pace, it was no surprise there were more than 200 applications received which went through a rigorous process overseen by 17 judges.

    Fitness First collected two awards on the night with their Uptown Mirdif branch taking the ‘Ladies Only Facility of the Year’, while BurJuman won ‘Facility of the Year (3,001+ members)’.

    “The team has done a fantastic job to achieve this and we always thought that in whatever you believe in, you can achieve it,” said Shams Tabrez of Fitness First Bur Juman.

    “We have built a great team and now have over more 4,000 members in three years which is fantastic. Looking ahead, we want to make sure that everyone is happy and keep winning awards and ensure the standard is always high.”

    For Dana Campari Fabro, she says the latest accolade is proof that Fitness First’s Uptown Mirdif centre is moving in the right direction.

    “We are happy to have won this and we really change lives through fitness,” she said.

    “This award is out for all the members who believe in us.

    “It really does show that we are doing things right. We have an amazing club and it’s an amazing place that will continue to change lives.”

    Talise Fitness also scooped a double with their Jumeirah Beach Hotel and Madinat Jumeirah branches, winning the ‘GCC Recreation and Leisure Facility of the Year’ and ‘Facility of the Year (Up to 3,000 members)’ respectively.

    A great atmosphere here at @ooresorts in the build-up to the #FitAwards16

    A photo posted by Sport360 (@sport360) on

    Among the other winners in the event, presented by Emirates NBD and supported by Daman Active Life, Dubai Sports City, Juice Plus Company and REPS, were MEFITPRO (Supplier of the Year), Pura (GCC Health Food Operator of the Year) and Real Pilates (Yoga Pilates/Studio of the Year).

    For Charlotte Mathers, she ranked her ‘Female Personal Trainer of the Year’ trophy as among her best achievements.

    “A lot of hard has paid off and it’s real validation of all my clients’ hard work,” she said.

    “Their results speak for themselves but it’s important to continue working hard. This is by far the heaviest award I’ve won and definitely the one on top of my list.”

    Kaveh Bikoghli Kalkhoran got his hands on the newly-introduced Youth Trainer of the Year award and looked back at his achievement with great pride.

    “I’m very delighted because it shows that people have appreciated all the hard work that I’ve done,” he said.

    “I’ve always put my heart and soul in it and I wake up every day looking for new challenges, knowing you always have to push your limits. It’s important on delivering on quality not quantity.”

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