Marie Mahabir
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Marie Laure Mahabir | |
 |
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| Personal Info | |
|---|---|
| Birth | , Le Moule, Guadeloupe |
| Height | 5'4" (1.63 m) |
| Weight | (In Season) 130-145 lb (Off-Season) 155-160 lb |
| Professional Career | |
| Pro-debut | IFBB World Pro Championships, 1989 |
| Best win | NABBA World Physique Champion, Three Times, 1985-1987 |
| Predecessor | Gabrielle Sievers |
| Successor | Leisa Campbell |
| Active | since 1996 |
Marie Laure Mahabir is a retired professional bodybuilder and personal trainer of the French West Indies. As professional bodybuilder she became well known for exceptional development of the chest muscles, the biceps, and back muscles. Her highest achievement as a professional bodybuilder was reaching the top-five at both the Ms. International and Ms. Olympia in 1994[1]. Today Mahabir lives in France and works as a personal trainer.
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[edit] Biography
Marie Mahabir was born in Le Moule; a port in Guadeloupe in the French West Indies. At a young age her West Indian family who was not born to a brahmanic or any other prestigious family caste system lived in poverty with not much hope for a better existence in their native country they moved to the Guadeloupe Islands in the Caribbean in hopes of a better life. Born in a large family of three girls and two boys, Marie lived in poverty with her family in her early years in Guadalupe. Her father had quit the family and became an alcoholic, while her mother worked hard for most of the day in a sugar cane field. Since she was the eldest her mother depended on her for house responsibilities such as chores taught Marie to handle responsibility at an early age. Despite all these obstacles Mahabir had a happy childhood with her parents (especially with her mother who was a loving, courageous, determined, persistent, and patient person).
Despite living in Guadeloupe and been surrounded by beautiful beaches; Marie hated going to them, ashamed of her physique she would often refused to go to the beach or get undressed to go for a swim since she was ashamed of being made fun of due to her skinny physique. This all changed when at the age of sixteen Mahabir was old enough to work and was able to find a job as a cashier at a shoe store. And while she enjoyed working, the hours were long and she found that it was becoming disruptive with her goals of personal improvement. But she soon developed a close-friendship with the owner who soon began to rely heavily on her and even let her handle the book-keeping of the store. He would often give her a few extra bills from the cash register to show his appreciation of her. With the extra money she received Laure enrolled in dance classes in hopes to improve her physique. Her efforts were fruitless until one day she stumbled upon on bodybuilding when she saw a group of muscular men competing on a makeshift podium in one of the beaches in Guadeloupe. Dazzled by the muscular bodies, Mahabir decided to give bodybuilding a try. She befriended WABBA Champion Raymond Jollet who took her under her wing and became her mentor. Then she met and continued her training regimen with Thierry Pastel.
Mahabir quickly managed to master her new found passion and quickly managed to move up the amateur ranks by winning the Ms. Guadeloupe title in 1984 and the 1985, 86, and 87 NABBA World Physique Championships. She soon turned pro and switched to the IFBB in 1989. After turning professional in 1987 Laure decided to move to France in order to continue her career as a bodybuilder. She moved to Paris in 1989 were she soon became a popular and much-sought-out personal trainer. There she befriended Momo Benaziza who she kept a close friendship until his passing. In France Marie continued to compete regularly after joining the IFBB in 1989 while keeping a friendship with Thierry Wyfver. At the peak of her career she managed to reach the to-five at both the Ms. International and Ms. Olympia in 1994[1]; the two most prestigious competitions for a female professional bodybuilder in the world. After placing 13th at the 1995 Ms. Olympia, Mahabir retired from competitive bodybuilding.
As of 2007 she still resides in Paris, France. In a 1993 Interview with Musclemag International she expressed her desire to become a school teacher and is believed that today she is working in that field.
[edit] Vital stats
- Full Name: Marie Laure Mahabir
- Place of Birth: Le Moule, Guadeloupe
- Current state of Residence: Paris, France
- Occupation: Professional bodybuilder, personal trainer, model, actress
- Height: 5'4"
- Weight (In Season): 130-135 lb (Off-Season):140-150 lb
- Eye Color: Brown
- Hair Color: Black
[edit] Contest history
- 1984 Ms. Guadalupe, 1st
- 1985 NABBA World Physique Championships, 1st
- 1986 NABBA World Physique Championships, 1st
- 1987 NABBA World Physique Championships, 1st
- 1989 IFBB World Pro Championships, 10th
- 1989 IFBB Ms. Olympia, 9th
- 1990 IFBB Ms. Olympia, 8th
- 1991 IFBB Grand Prix Italy, 3rd
- 1991 IFBB Ms International, 5th
- 1991 IFBB Ms. Olympia, 12th
- 1991 IFBB Ms. International, 9th
- 1991 IFBB Jan Tana Pro Classic, 12th
- 1993 IFBB Ms. Olympia, 16th
- 1994 IFBB Ms International, 4th
- 1994 IFBB Ms. Olympia, 4th
- 1995 IFBB Ms. Olympia, 13th
[edit] Website references
[edit] Magazine references
- Shuey-Roche, Josette. Marie Mahabir Interview. Nebraska: Muscle Mag International (no. 134). August 1993. USPS 4601. (Lincoln, NE: Canusa Products/Foote & Davies, 1992.). Instruction Section: pages 50 and 51 cover 'Marie’s interview.
- Luoma, T.C. No-Nonsense Training: Marie Mahabir Back Attack. Nebraska: Muscle Mag International (no. 134). August 1993. USPS 4601. (Lincoln, NE: Canusa Products/Foote & Davies, 1992.). Biography Section: pages 44-46, and 48 cover Marie Mahabir’s article.
