Quebec's Mr. Universe is no dope

It seems Montreal is becoming a major centre for chiselled bodies.

Following Montrealer James Lavigne's bodybuilding gold medal at the Gay Games in Amsterdam, our city can now claim a second title. Yanick Morin, 23, returned from Las Vegas earlier this month with the title of Mr. Universe.

"Montreal is definitely emerging as a major bodybuilding city," says Morin, a personal fitness trainer and consultant with Bodytech Gym at Ste-Catherine and Amherst. "Quebecers are dominating the Canadian championships right now and Canada came away with the most medals of any country at the Mr. Olympia competition earlier this year." Morin finished fifth at Mr. Olympia before winning Mr. Universe, both world-class events.

But Morin's achievement comes with an asterisk beside it: he won a newly created competition, Mr. Universe Natural, where anabolic steroid use is forbidden. This, in a sport which normally holds no prejudices against such things. "I respect any bodybuilder's decision to use anabolics," says Morin. "This is a personal choice that I've made. But there's no way I could compete against them, so I'm glad the Natural competition exists."

Even without the anabolics, Morin is no weakling. A quick summary of his measurements: Height: 5'10". Weight: 200 lbs. Bicep: 18.5". Thigh: 27.5". Waist: 30". And yes, he insists he's never, ever doped up since he started lifting at age 15.

--Philip Preville