Date of birth: June 8th 1975
Birth Place: Lillestroem, Norway
Height: 5’2”
Weight: 147

I was born and raised in Lillestroem, Norway, not far from the capitol Oslo.

I moved to the US in June 2002. Worked as a personal trainer at Golds Gym Venice until November 2006. Now I live Monterey in Northern California, and are now doing my personal training here at T-Muscle gym and Garden Health and Fitness.

I started doing gymnastics when I was 5 years old, and it soon became my life and passion. I loved it! I was competing with Oslo Gymnastic Club and my coaches were Unni Holmen and Valentin Pintea. I participated in a lot of contests, and being only 13 years old I made it to the national team. In 1992 I sadly had to stop gymnastics because of injury.

Not long after I'd quit the gymnastics, I was convinced by a friend to go to a gym to give weight training a try. After three months of training I did my first power lifting contest, the Norwegian Championship for juniors. I placed 1st!

In 1999 I injured my chest muscle. I lost the motivation for competing in power lifting and quit. After a short while of aimlessly working out I was inspired by Lena Johannesen to try Fitness.

I have become Norwegian Champion in all the three events I have competed in, gymnastics, power lifting and fitness! I have also participated in the World Championships in all three events!!

Late 2003 I started doing bench press meets! I have now broken the American record several times!!! My American Bench press record in the 148lbs weight class is now 308lbs, and in the 165lbs weight class 347.5lbs.

I have also done a Strong Women competition! I did my first competition on May 15th this year!! I placed 3rd!! I had so much fun!! I will for sure try it again.

Here are my contest results:
2006 APF National Bench press champion. USAPL Californa State Bench press champion. American record holder
2005: USPF National Bench press champion, California State Champion USPF and APF. American record hoder
2004: California ProAm 2004 Strong Women 3rd place!California State Champion, West Coast Bench Press Champion & American record holder
2003: Southern California Bench Press Champion
2001: Norwegian Fitness Champion
2000: Norwegian Power Lifting Champion • 5th at the Norwegian Fitness Championship
1999: 9th at the Power Lifting World Championship • 4th at the Bench Press World Championship
1995: 3rd at the Power Lifting European Jr. Championship
Two times Jr. Norwegian Power Lifting Champion, first time in 1993
Two 2nd places in the Nordic Bench Press Championship
Participated in 1991 Women’s Gymnastics World Championship, Norway placed 25th
Nordic Gymnastics Champion (team competition)
Jr. and Sr. Norwegian Gymnastics Champion, vault

Please contact me at
fitmari@yahoo.com
www.fitmari.com

Please note:

Mari does not do sessions or wrestling of any kind. Please don't ask!!