athlete profile image

Leanne Bartolo

Fitness instructor, personal trainer, gym owner and 2X WFF European Bikini Champion, my life is all about supporting people on their journey towards their health and fitness goals.

Read More

Follow @leannebartolo on Instagram for the latest updates

Follow Leanne
athlete interview image

Q&A with Leanne

We asked all of our athletes a couple of questions to get to know them better. Check them out for yourself!

  • How many days per week do you train?

    6

  • What is your approach to dieting?

    Clean eating all the way.

  • How many times per day do you train?

    1-2

  • Cardio or weights?

    Currently focused on weights, but can I say both?

  • Training alone or with a partner?

    I'm used to training alone.

  • What is your favourite thing to do on a rest day?

    Family time

  • If you could achieve anything you dreamt of in your sport, what would it be?

    Bring home the gold as a WFF Bikini World Champion

  • What is your go-to race day / competition song?

    There’s this one song that brings back instant memories of getting through the toughest times on Kilimanjaro with the team. High - Lighthouse Family. Not your typical song I guess, but it always puts me in a good mind frame and gets me motivated.

  • If you could have dinner with one athlete / olympian (dead or alive), who would it be and why?

    Janet Layug. I’ve followed her achievements for years, but I’d love to get to know the real person.

  • Use three words that, in your opinion, describe the charactaristics of a champion.

    Determined, consistent, focused.

  • If you could use one short sentence to motivate someone, what would you say?

    Mean it.

Leanne's Story


I first developed a passion for running and sports in secondary school. I later read Psychology at University and obtained a Psychology MA Qualifying Certification. I then started teaching at Chiswick House School in 2011 while also training others in fitness and aerobics at various gyms.

In 2015, I embarked on the Kilimanjaro Challenge. Together with other volunteers, I climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise funds for a school in Sorsa, Ethiopia. The experience ticked two of my boxes: my passion for voluntary work and my thirst for adventure. Meeting the love of my life – my partner David Schembri – at the same time was the cherry on the cake.

In 2017, I opened my own gym, Warehouse Fitness Studio in Gzira, and transformed fitness into her full-time career. Since then, it has become the go-to place for classes to suit all ability levels and ambitions. These include Circuit Training, HIIT, Tabata, TRX, as well as classes focusing on specific areas of the body, like Body Build, Abs & Core and Bums & Thighs. I also offer one-to-one, Personal Training sessions and Kids Bootcamp sessions.

I also don’t limit fitness to the indoors. My outdoor workout options include joining the Warehouse RUN team that trains for long-distance running and beach workouts at Riviera. And through Field Fitness, I saw another dream of mine come true: OCR Training to prepare teams for The Grid, Spartan, Hold the Fort and Tough Mudder OCR Races.

Once Warehouse was up and running, I set my sights on a new goal: becoming a World Fitness Federation champion. Entering the WFF competition was a daring challenge. Encouraged by a nutritionist friend, I took the plunge.

Not only did I compete but I also won the 2018 WFF European Bikini championships. I also successfully defended my title in 2019 and also participated in the WFF World Pro-Bikini Championship twice, placing 3rd in 2018 and 4th in 2019.

When COVID hit earlier this year, workouts and classes came to a standstill and clients were frustrated. At the time, I was on a sabbatical year, taking a break from teaching to concentrate on my fitness career and launch my new brand, Team Leanne. Rather than letting the pandemic hit pause on my plans, I pivoted my approach and got back to teaching fitness in a whole new way.

I also launched a series of free, live fitness classes that brought satisfaction and results to thousands of followers every day, keeping them active during lockdown.

It is these remarkable achievements, coupled with my enduring dedication to my clients that have moulded into the well-rounded, successful and inspiring person I am today.