The IDEA Health & Fitness Association honored the recipients of its annual IDEA World Fitness Awards at the 2016 IDEA World Convention on July 14.
The IDEA World Fitness Awards recognize individuals who strive for excellence, show an outstanding commitment to their clients and communities, and spread their passion for fitness across the world. The awards were announced at the opening ceremonies in Los Angeles. Bios of the winners are provided by IDEA Health & Fitness Association.
2016 IDEA Jack LaLanne Award, Tony Horton: Creator of P90X, best-selling author and motivational speaker, Horton has been spreading the importance of exercise and quality nutrition on TV for years. With a passion for fitness sparked early in life, Horton inspires people to get off their couches and influences healthier lifestyles with his brand of motivation and humor.
2016 IDEA Inspiration Award, Amy Van Dyken-Rouen: A six-time Olympic gold medal swimming champion, Van Dyken-Rouen severed her spinal cord in 2014, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down. This lifelong athlete has turned her injury into motivation, forming The Amy Van Dyken Foundation to improve the lives of those with spinal cord injuries and inspiring others to overcome the obstacles in their lives.
2016 IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year, Carol Michaels, MBA: Michaels is a leader in the field of exercise for cancer, lymphedema and osteoporosis patients. She founded Recovery Fitness, a nationally recognized exercise program designed to help cancer patients recover from surgery and treatments. Endorsed by major medical centers, she advocates for building relationships with health providers and wants to see the fitness industry develop more programming for special populations, particularly in low-income communities.
2016 IDEA Program Director of the Year, Grace DeSimone: As the national group fitness director at Optum, DeSimone oversees more than 150 on-site fitness locations, 900 instructors and 2,000-plus weekly classes throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. A member of numerous fitness advisory boards, she helps to guide and implement curricula that benefit group fitness instructors, older adults, club owners and managers, sales staffs and philanthropic endeavors.
2016 IDEA Fitness Instructor of the Year, Sgt. Kenneth Weichert: With more than 25 years of military service, Weichert is one of the first master resilience trainers from the Resilience Training Program offered jointly by the U.S. Army and the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania. Weichert specializes in the link between resilience and physical and emotional fitness, which he addresses with passion and a smile with both military and civilian participants.
