Combustible Elements with Marie Pontini
We can't control what happens to us in life but we can control how we respond to things beyond our control. Marie Pontini was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2016, has had multiple operations and gone through a lot of pain. On this episode Marie shares how instead of letting the pain from MS define her she choose to embrace the pain of exercise though bodybuilding, working to become the first Canadian female wheelchair competitor on an international stage, at the 2024 Arnold's Sports Festival in Cincinnati, Ohio. To follow along on Marie's extraordinary journey click the links below.
https://www.instagram.com/mariepontini
https://www.youtube.com/@mariepontini
This episode is sponsored by Community Living Trent Highlands and Job Quest https://www.clth.ca
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Until next time Keep Calm and Roll on.
Marie Pontini
Athlete, public personality
Marie Pontini is a medalist wheelchair athlete, public personality and disability advocate who loves fashion.
She is a former chemical engineer, director and business owner.
Marie was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2016. Within a few months, her condition degraded very quickly, leading to severe cognitive impairments and disabilities that forced the end of her career.
She then received her Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) diagnosis in 2017 and went through a weight loss of 165lbs after the paralysis of her digestive system.
She uses a wheelchair since 2017.
So far, she has undergone over 31 surgeries under complete anesthesia.
In 2018, with unbearable neuropathic pain, Marie started bodybuilding as a way to empower herself over the situation.
"I fight the pain of my body with the pain of the gym, because that pain, I CHOSE it."
Bodybuilding also gives her a feeling of fulfillment, personal achievement and harmony with her body.
She started competing in 2019, and won 2nd place at the prestigious Arnold Amateur USA competition in February 2024. She was the first Canadian female wheelchair competitor on an international stage, at the 2024 Arnold's Sports Festival in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Resiliency is in everything Marie does. Over the years, she has had to make adaptations to her training and nutrition as both of her conditions progress.
Her only way to train is by using a mind-muscle connection method without any external load.
Not only Marie … Read More