Fiona Groves struck gold in Pro Masters Figure, earned two silver medals and finished fourth in Pro Open Figure at the WNBF Calgary Nationals on Saturday (Oct. 24).
CANMORE – Even Hercules might have a thing or two to learn from Canmore strongwoman Fiona Groves when it comes to making a comeback.
After announcing her retirement from bodybuilding in 2022, the 47-year-old decided to step back onto the stage for one final shot at the World Natural Bodybuilding Federation (WNBF) World Championships, set for Nov. 21 in Calgary.
Her comeback has already paid off, with multiple podium finishes at the WNBF Calgary Nationals on Saturday (Oct. 24).
Her motivation: One final opportunity to compete on home turf.
“The world championships for my federation … have been [held] in the U.S. for the last 36 years,” said Groves. “They announced earlier this year that the world championships would be in Calgary this year. So, I decided, obviously, I have to do it.”
“And I came out of retirement.”
Having first stepped onto the bodybuilding stage in 2011, Groves, a seasoned bodybuilder and fitness coach in the Bow Valley, added a few more achievements to her career while punching her ticket to the world championships.
She secured gold in Pro Masters Figure, silver in Pro Masters Fit Body and Amateur Open Fit Body, and fourth place in Pro Open Figure.
However, the road to her medal-winning comeback wasn’t entirely smooth.
Groves said the final week leading up to the Oct. 24 competition, known in bodybuilding as “peak week,” was far from ideal.
She suffered a minor injury early in the week and dealt with stress and anxiety unrelated to the competition.
“It was definitely not the ideal lead-up week,” said Groves.
Despite the setbacks, things came together by the end of the week, allowing her to step onto the stage ready to compete.
“Thanks to my coaches, things came together as they should have by the end of the week,” she said.
Groves’ return to bodybuilding also meant a training routine change that had been focused on a different kind of strength.
After competing in the Alberta Strongman Corp provincials in July, she shifted her focus to bodybuilding in August, trading strongman-specific training for a program aimed at preparing her physique for the stage.
Since then, she has been lifting weights four to five days a week while following a macros-based nutrition plan that began Aug. 3.
Helping her make that transition were Matt Lavigne, her strength coach, and her Calgary-based coach Leo King, who oversees her nutrition and conditioning.
Lavigne, who began working with Groves nearly six years ago, has witnessed her move between different competitive disciplines, from CrossFit to bodybuilding and strongman.
He says her determination and willingness to adapt have been key to her success.
“Once she sets a goal, she’s really good at executing it and sticking through the process,” said Lavigne.
In 2025, Groves punched her ticket to the Natural Strongman World Championships in Ireland after earning a top-five spot in her weight class.
Lavigne says Groves’ ability to compete successfully across different disciplines, particularly as a masters athlete, is what makes her achievements remarkable.
He said Groves entered strongman against athletes who had spent years developing their skills in the sport, yet managed to find success relatively quickly.
While bodybuilding and strongman demand different approaches to training, Lavigne says Groves’ time competing in strongman may have given her an advantage when she returned to bodybuilding.
During her strongman training, Groves focused on building strength and working with equipment specific to the sport. When she returned to bodybuilding, that focus shifted toward developing individual muscle groups.
But the strength she had gained remained.
“I think just being able to move more weight has also helped in terms of improving her physique,” Lavigne said.
Despite her experience in competitive sports, Groves approached the Oct. 24 bodybuilding competition with a different mindset.
Having spent the previous couple of years focused on strongman rather than bodybuilding aesthetics, she wasn’t sure what to expect from her return to the stage.
Instead of chasing a particular placing, she wanted to enjoy the experience.
“My main goal was to enjoy every moment of it, and anything else was a bonus,” said Groves. “So my placings were a bonus, and I’m still on a total high from the weekend.”
Groves described the Calgary Nationals as her favourite bodybuilding competition to date, not simply because of the medals but because of the atmosphere and the opportunity to reconnect with the WNBF Canada community.
Now, her attention turns to Nov. 21, when athletes from around the world will gather in Calgary for the WNBF World Championships.
“The calibre of athletes is next level. These are the best of the best,” said Groves.
Groves says she will compete in three divisions, including two masters categories for athletes aged 40 and older and an open category against athletes of all ages.
But this time, her focus isn’t on the podium.
Groves just hopes to bring an improved physique to the stage while enjoying every moment of what she knows will be her final bodybuilding competition.
“I think it’s going to be quite an emotional experience and rather bittersweet,” she said.
Although Groves is preparing to close a 15-year chapter in bodybuilding, she isn’t stepping away from competitive sports.
She plans to return to strongman training after the world championships, with her next strongwoman competition pencilled in for Jan. 30.
She also intends to remain involved with WNBF Canada, an organization she describes as family.
Closer to home, Groves says the support from her clients, friends, coaches and fellow gym members in the Bow Valley has made her comeback even more meaningful.
“My clients have been so supportive and my biggest cheerleaders,” she said.
Lavigne says seeing Groves’ return to bodybuilding and tp finish her career competing at the world level is a testament to her ability to remain competitive across different disciplines over the years.
“To see her be able to then compete kind of at the highest level, to close out her career, I think, is quite special,” he said.
Groves previously ended her 2022 bodybuilding season with a sixth-place finish in Pro Open Figure in Los Angeles.
But this time, she will have the opportunity to finish her career much closer to home, surrounded by the people who have supported her journey.
“I just don’t think anything could top finishing a 15-year sport career on home turf,” she said.
