As the island awoke from its slumber Wednesday morning, sad news slowly began to travel around Guam: One of its pioneer and premier female bodybuilders, Florencia “Flo” Burke, had died. She was 48.
For more than a decade, Burke inspired numerous women both in and out of the gym by living a healthy lifestyle.
When Burke first started working out and would go to the gym ritually to stay fit, she never thought about being a bodybuilder. She later became motivated when she saw other women training at the gym. She also was inspired by her friend Terry Debold to work harder and compete in a contest.
Debold, a longtime friend and former bodybuilder, recalls Burke having a lot of discipline and being more intense than the other women in the gym.
Gradually improved
“Flo constantly tried to improve and learn as much as she could about the sport. You can see that she really enjoyed working out, so I suggested that she should take it to the next level,” said Debold. “It’s similar to how a distance runner gradually improves, gets better times, sets goals and suddenly they become a marathon runner.”
Debold felt privileged that Burke entrusted him with guiding her. He shared her happiness because he knew she had passion for the sport.
“It was more rewarding for me to see her enjoy bodybuilding. But it was certainly her other coaches, Tony Morrison and Steve Oshiro, who brought her to the next level,” Debold said.
Oshiro, a former bodybuilder, said he knew Burke for more than 30 years, but they didn’t start hanging out as friends until he began working at Gold’s Gym in 2000. Oshiro said he felt bodybuilding and fitness made them really good friends, and he became Burke’s coach in 2008.
Burke was a flight attendant and her occupation made it harder for her to train. According to Oshiro, Burke had to work out at different gyms in different cities, and sometimes the only place was the gym located at the hotel where she was staying. Often facilities at hotel gyms are not fully equipped for the type of workouts needed by bodybuilders.
“Flo always worked hard and did everything I asked. She tried to make do with what she had. She worked harder than the other athletes who were fixed in one place and worked out in one gym,” said Oshiro.
Selfish sport
Oshiro said bodybuilding is such a selfish sport and you rarely see people coaching their competition. Burke, he said, would often go out of her way to help people with their posing, help applying their tanning makeup on the night of the show.
“She helped people even if it meant giving advice that could possibly beat her,” he added. “She was gracious and giving, that’s why everyone loved her, even the people she competed against.”
Leading up to the 2011 Guam National Bodybuilding & Body Fitness Championships, Oshiro coached Burke for the bodybuilding category and April Cain in the fitness category. Both Burke and Cain won their respective categories. Prior to that show, Cain had the opportunity to train with Burke.
“Talk about motivating,” Cain said. “I was tired, depleted and nervous, but I had this legend next to me looking like a Lululemon model pushing through and encouraging me to do the same. She really was so supportive and encouraging. She didn’t have to be. I was so humbled that she believed in me.”
She had grace
Cain said she believes the greatest thing about Burke was her grace on and off the stage.
“So often, in this sport and among women in general, there is constant competition and a sense of eliteness that athletes carry with them,” Cain said. “This was the opposite of Flo. She was never afraid to encourage others and help them be a better athlete.”
Two weeks after the Guam Nationals, Cain competed at the Paradise Cup in Hawaii and Burke arranged her work schedule so she could be there to cheer Cain on. Cain said she will never forget that moment.
The 2011 Guam national bodybuilding men’s champion, Richard Rosete, and Burke were members of the 2007 and 2011 Guam national bodybuilding teams at the Pacific Games.
“We were all supposed to do it again this August in the 2015 Pacific Games, but unfortunately we can’t now,” Rosete said. “I am still in shock by her passing.”
Rosete paused briefly before he continued.
“Flo was uplifting, free-spirited, helpful, a good teammate, a great person to travel with because she always had fun and had a lot of team spirit. We were like best friends whenever we traveled. We were always there for each other. She will truly be missed,” he said.
“Flo was like a big sister to me and we have been friends for a long time. I can’t believe she is gone,” said another teammate, 2007 and 2010 Guam national men’s bodybuilding champion Brando Quejado.
“Flo was so strong, you just didn’t see it coming. It’s like a nightmare, it happened so fast and now she is gone. She was an inspiration to everyone and promoted all sports. I will always think of her when I am competing and when I am in the gym. She will always be with me.”
Morrison knew Burke before she decided to compete as a bodybuilder. He recalls her being very positive and dedicated, with the commitment needed to compete and to represent Guam when given the opportunity in contests abroad.
“The one trait she never lost was the charisma and character that only an athlete gets when they achieve a certain level of success. And the beautiful thing about Flo was she didn’t just inspire the local athlete, she was also kind and positive to the regular gym-goer and always had encouraging things to say,” Morrison said.
“She didn’t only care about winning for herself, she cared about representing the island and the community full-heartedly. This was my experience with one of Guam’s top athletes and ambassador of sports for Guam, Florencia Burke. A beautiful woman and a wonderful person above all.”
Fond memories
Former Guam National Physique Committee president and Guam bodybuilder Lori Cruz Haden Marino, who currently resides in California, also knew Burke well.
“Flo was a bright star in this world,” Marino said. “We shared a passion for training and competing in bodybuilding. She made training seem so easy with her bright smile and warm and humble nature. Training with her was fun because she had a great sense of humor and was so encouraging. Her many achievements was a testament to the high goals she set for herself in competing against the best in the world of bodybuilding.”
During Marino’s tenure as president of the GNPC, she was proud to watch Burke win her first international competition at the 2004 South Pacific Bodybuilding Championships. As a previous winner, Marino knew how Burke felt as she was presented the overall winner trophy.
“It was a special bond we shared,” Marino said. “I remember when she was getting ready for the 2011 Pacific Games, she told me that she was trying her best to make the team and was hoping for the gold just like the last time. She wanted to know if I had any advice for this one. I had long retired from competition, but Flo said she had learned a lot from me and missed my advice. I, however, thought she far surpassed me and didn’t need my advice, but she wanted it all the same.
“She really knew how to make a person feel loved and was able to connect with people in a special way. I admired her so much. Her beautiful spirit will remain with me. May her light shine in the hearts of those who knew her so that others may know her also. Flo was a true friend and one of Guam’s finest sports enthusiasts and competitors. I shall miss her, but I will treasure our friendship and cherish our times together.”
Courtesy of: GuamPDN
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