Christine Pomponio-Pate
Encyclopedia
Christine Pomponio-Pate is a figure model and actress who has competed and placed at the Figure Olympia
and graced the pages of Muscle & Fitness
, Flex
, and Ironman magazines. Pomponio-Pate has always enjoyed pushing her body and was athletic and competitive at most sports she tried. Her primary athletic interest was soccer. She played soccer for ten years.
Following the lead of her brother who had begun powerlifting
, she began working out with weights while still in high school. In 1994, however, a serious car accident brought her workouts to an abrupt halt.
The former soccer player passed out due to low blood sugar. She was semi – conscious the next two days. Six years of difficult recovery have followed.
Christine was out of work for 2 months and it took 6 years and 11 surgeries to reconstruct her injuries to pre-wreck status.
as a way to be active after the accident and as rehab. By 1999, that part time training led to her competing in her first contest, the Colorado State Fitness Championships. Success was immediate, as she won the fitness overall title. She decided to move to the national levels where she competed at the 1999 USA Championships and the 2000 Nationals. At the 2001 Team Universe, she won the short class and was able to earn her pro card.
Being an athlete most of her life, early success on the stage came easy while success with the gymnastic heavy routines was more difficult.
The creation of the Pro Figure Division in 2003 gave an avenue more suited for her.
.
1999, Colorado Fitness Championship, Overall Winner
In 2005 she won the Tournament of Champions
.
In 2006 she won the California Pro Figure.
She also does consulting and modeling work through her website.
mom and baby
Figure Olympia
The Figure Olympia is an annual women's figure competition sanctioned by the International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness. The contest was first held in 2003. Davana Medina has won the most titles, with three.-Winners:-Notes:...
and graced the pages of Muscle & Fitness
Muscle & Fitness
Muscle & Fitness is an American bodybuilding magazine founded by Joe Weider, but now published by American Media, Inc.-History:Muscle & Fitness has a more mainstream focus than its companion publication, Flex...
, Flex
FLEX (magazine)
Flex is an American bodybuilding magazine, published by American Media, Inc.-History:Founded in 1983 by Joe Weider, local versions are now published throughout the world, in countries such as the UK and Australia.The premier issue was dated April 1983, and featured Chris Dickerson on the cover...
, and Ironman magazines. Pomponio-Pate has always enjoyed pushing her body and was athletic and competitive at most sports she tried. Her primary athletic interest was soccer. She played soccer for ten years.
Early start
Christine was born in 1975 to Phil & Michelle Pomponio in Denver, ColoradoFollowing the lead of her brother who had begun powerlifting
Powerlifting
Powerlifting is a strength sport. It resembles the sport of Olympic weightlifting, as both disciplines involve lifting weights in three attempts. Powerlifting evolved from a sport known as 'odd lifts' which followed the same three attempt format but used a wide variety of events akin to Strongman...
, she began working out with weights while still in high school. In 1994, however, a serious car accident brought her workouts to an abrupt halt.
The former soccer player passed out due to low blood sugar. She was semi – conscious the next two days. Six years of difficult recovery have followed.
1994 auto accident
Her car crossed the median and hit a truck head-on. Mechanical failure kept her seatbelt from being fastened, leaving nothing to prevent her from exiting through the windshield. She hit the steering wheel with her face causing severe oral damage on the way out.Christine was out of work for 2 months and it took 6 years and 11 surgeries to reconstruct her injuries to pre-wreck status.
Recovery
Despite the extensive damage she received in the accident, the only outwardly visible sign is a small scar on her lip. She suffered massive oral injuries in the wreck, damaging her teeth as well as cutting her lip off. On the day of the crash, her teeth were removed from the back of the roof of her mouth and moved forward without anesthesia due to the concussion she suffered in the accident. There was also a period of time where she was in danger of losing a leg.
"They took skin from the inside of my mouth to reconstruct my upper lip...It took more than two years until I felt normal again...I was self-conscious about the stitches and wires, but I kept it in perspective and was still thankful for the outcome. I could have been paralyzed or a lot worse."
"It's fairly numb (her face from nerve damage), but I'm so lucky to have my life and no physical handicaps. That's motivation to continue to work out and compete. I definitely don't feel sorry for myself. It makes me who I am."
"I will compete as long as it stays fun." "I feel lucky to have my life and abilities after the accident, so I need to take advantage of what I'm still blessed with.".
Fitness training
Christine began weight trainingWeight training
Weight training is a common type of strength training for developing the strength and size of skeletal muscles. It uses the weight force of gravity to oppose the force generated by muscle through concentric or eccentric contraction...
as a way to be active after the accident and as rehab. By 1999, that part time training led to her competing in her first contest, the Colorado State Fitness Championships. Success was immediate, as she won the fitness overall title. She decided to move to the national levels where she competed at the 1999 USA Championships and the 2000 Nationals. At the 2001 Team Universe, she won the short class and was able to earn her pro card.
Being an athlete most of her life, early success on the stage came easy while success with the gymnastic heavy routines was more difficult.
"I was a backyard gymnast. My mandatories were strong but I wasn't a well-trained gymnast, so my routines were entertaining but pretty basic.
The creation of the Pro Figure Division in 2003 gave an avenue more suited for her.
Early competitions
After semi struggling in early competitions, however, fate smiled on her in 2004 at the California Pro Figure Championships where she placed 6th. After this Pomponio - Pate achieved a runner-up finish at the New York Pro Figure. She finished the year by making the Top 6 at the sport's mega event, the Figure OlympiaFigure Olympia
The Figure Olympia is an annual women's figure competition sanctioned by the International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness. The contest was first held in 2003. Davana Medina has won the most titles, with three.-Winners:-Notes:...
.
1999, Colorado Fitness Championship, Overall Winner
In 2005 she won the Tournament of Champions
Tournament of Champions
The Tournament of Champions may refer to:* H&R Block Tournament of Champions, one of the four major bowling tournaments on the PBA Tour* Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions, a tournament of past major winners in the game show Jeopardy!...
.
In 2006 she won the California Pro Figure.
Outside interest
The figure pro athlete is currently working in local television commercials and modeling as well as competitions.She also does consulting and modeling work through her website.
Career pause
She recently announced that she would not be competing in the 2007 Olympia due to her pregnancy.
"In 2004 I was extremely excited to get 6th, then in 2005 I was pleased with 6th again although hoped I would move up, then in 2006 I was extremely happy and very content with placing 4th. All of the improvement depended on me, you can't predict how the other competitors will affect you and I don't believe in any luck in this situation. It is a lot of hard work and again a confident, positive attitude. My prediction for me in the 2007 Olympia is that I probably would stand out in an odd way since I will be 7 months pregnant at that time."
Career achievements
- 2004 Figure Olympia—6th
- 2005 Arnold Figure Classic—4th
- 2005 Figure Olympia—6th
- 2005 Pro Figure Tournament of Champions—1st
- 2006 Figure Olympia—4th
- 2006 IFBB CO Pro/Am—3rd
- 2006 IFBB CA Pro Championship—1st
Selected magazine covers and appearances
- Muscle & Fitness Hers magazine, August 2009
- Ironman magazine, November 2006
- Flex, September 2006
- Flex 2005 Swimsuit Issue
- Flex 2006 Swimsuit Issue
- Flex 2007 Swimsuit Issue
- Muscle and Fitness, September 2005
- CORE Magazine
- MuscleMag International, 2005
Personal
She is married (Jim) with two stepchildren and had her first child (Riley James Pate) December 27, 2007 . Christine currently resides in Colorado.mom and baby
