Legacy Manager & Instructor

If you want to know how Contenders became the community it is today, look no further than Yo. A graduate of Douglas College, Yo joined the team in 2008 and served as the engine behind the business for over a decade. From 2008 to 2021, she was the face of the gym, managing operations with a passion that helped build our foundation from the ground up.

In 2015, after years of managing the gym from the desk, Yo decided to test her mettle inside the ropes. She entered the Women’s Warrior Tournament and walked away the champion. A favorite gym legend: Yo was so disciplined (and perhaps a bit nervous!) about making weight that she actually showed up 10 pounds underweight for her first fight!

After taking maternity leave in 2021 to welcome her beautiful daughter, Gloria, Yo has transitioned into her most important role yet: Mom. While she’s passed the management torch to Marina, her heart is still in the gym. You can catch her bringing that championship energy to the floor every Friday as she leads our popular lunch-hour class.