Overview:
This week ‘Did You Know’ is about the inspiring story of Dayana Cadeau, a trailblazing figure in the world of bodybuilding. Born in Haiti in 1966, and raised in Quebec City, Quebec, Cadeau's journey to becoming the most successful Canadian bodybuilder is nothing short of remarkable.
Did you know that Haitian-Canadian Dayana Cadeau is regarded as the most successful Canadian bodybuilder in the world?
Cadeau, born in 1966 in Haiti, migrated with her mother to Quebec City, Quebec at the age of seven. Raised in Quebec, she attended a private Christian school where her mother aimed to have her fluent in English.
Her journey in bodybuilding saw her earning her pro card in 1997 by clinching the overall title at the Canada Cup. Throughout her career, Cadeau showcased versatility, competing in different weight classes ranging from heavyweight to lightweight.
Cadeau earned her pro card in 1997 by winning the overall title at the Canada Cup. When the IFBB introduced weight classes in 2000, Cadeau first competed as a heavyweight at the 2000 Ms. International. Afterwards, she competed as a lightweight. During her pro career, her home country would appear in the competition scorecard as both Canada and the United States. In the 2003 Ms. International, she competed as a lightweight, only to compete as a middleweight in the 2003 Jan Tana Classic.
Notably, her peak came in 2004, when she secured the lightweight title in both the Ms. International and Ms. Olympia competitions. She ranked 2nd place at Ms. Olympia from 2006 to 2008. Despite facing stiff competition, she consistently ranked in the top six in numerous IFBB pro competitions, except for the 2009 Ms. International and 2011 Ms. Olympia.
In 2011, Cadeau announced her retirement from bodybuilding, transitioning into physique.
Today, Cadeau Cadeau is the most successful Canadian bodybuilder in the world, being the only Canadian to win the Ms. Olympia lightweight title and the most successful bodybuilder of Haitian descent.
While never clinching an overall pro title, she boasts four class titles to her name, —lightweight at the Ms. International in 2001 and 2004, middleweight at the 2003 Jan Tana Classic, and lightweight at the Ms. Olympia in 2004, solidifying her legacy in the sport. Beyond her achievements, Cadeau’s influence extends to promoting bodybuilding through events like the NPC Dayana Cadeau Classic, which she helped create and promote from October 2009 to August 2013.
[Source: Wikipedia]