Mt. Lebanon grad finds success as competitive bodybuilder
Darrian Borello had been working toward this moment for years but it had to seem like a lifetime.
All the long hours in the workout stages had produced this moment at the Orleans Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Borello finished in sixth position in the International Federation of Body Building Olympia World Championships last year.
“The Olympia is the Super Bowl championship of the bodybuilding world,” said Borello, a graduate of Mt. Lebanon High School. “It’s the pinnacle of the whole sport.”
Borello is the acting director of the Gym Dandys Training Center in Meadow Lands. Her husband Aaron, a state police officer; Jason Janov, a former Mr. Pittsburgh and pro bodybuilder; and Dave Gratta, the owner of the Iron Factory Gym in Meadow Lands; train Darrian.
Borello has been in 11 competitions in her career but only seven have been on the professional level. She won the Pittsburgh show at the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall as an amateur in May 2012 before turning pro later that year. She qualified for the Olympia by winning the Toronto Pro Super Show in June.
Borello got involved in the sport because her mother was a competitor. Her mother never reached pro status but did compete in some national competitions.
“I was a competitive gymnast (at Central Michigan University),” said Borello. “Once I was done with my college gymnastics career, it seemed like a good fit and a good outlet for me. After watching my mom do it, it just seemed like the next step for me.”
Borello competes in the pro fitness division of the International Federation of Bodybuilding. Part of the participant’s score is based on physique.
“We show off the musculature, femininity and symmetry of our bodies, how well developed it is,” she said.
The other two parts come under the label of routine.
“It’s a high-energy, personal-display of the talents you have,” Borello said. “Mine tended to be very heavy on the gymnastic side, which is my background. I incorporated strength moves, dancing, flipping, jumping. You really want to wow the audience with your ability.”
To prepare for competitions, Borello goes through a rigorous training and dietary strategy. She spent five days a week doing various preparations for the competition.
“Competing on an Olympia stage takes years of lifting in the gym, making sure you are eating for your goals, whether it’s to gain muscle or lose fat. Also, there is lifting in the gym to sculpt the body and making sure you are doing the right exercises to build the physique you need,” she said.
Routines, which last two minutes during competition, requires a different type of training.
“You need to be agile, athletic, be able to hold your body weight up, do a lot of hand-stand training, a lot of flipping, a lot of flexibility training,” Borello said. “As your muscles tend to grow in size, it’s harder to keep them flexible. Prepping for any show is very difficult. Fitness adds a whole new component. Getting to the stage at Olympia is a whole other (routine).”
Borello plans to compete for a few more years before moving on to something else.
“I have a few more goals too achieve,” she said. “Getting to the Olympia was a goal. Placing top six at the Olympia was one. There are a few more things to check off my list.”