Passion drives people to their full potential even when things seem impossible. Yes, you may be dedicated and hardworking, but unless you have the desire to move ahead, you never truly get where you want to be in life. While some people sit around all day making excuses, others fight through the most challenging circumstances to attain success. And even during that time, they tend to inspire thousands of people.
Having to leave his country at the age of 16 due to an attack that was intended to hurt his family, Elie Paivan is one such person who did not let circumstances define him. Elie continued his education, overcame racial biasness, and became a renowned fitness model who inspires people of all ages to stay motivated through their fitness journey because nothing happens overnight.
Born and raised in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Elie soon had to flee his childhood home with his two brothers due to a political attack made on his family. They needed to find safe ground and hence decided to migrate to the United States, but it was not that easy. Elie, along with his brothers, had to travel from DRC to Angola, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Mexico before they could finally reach the United States. However, the difficulties did not just end there, and he still had a long way to go. As soon as Elie came to the US, he resumed his education and completed high school. He was a bright student who ended up winning several awards, including a scholarship to Eastern Michigan University, where Elie is currently in his second year majoring in Aviation Management Technology and minoring in Business.
The biggest secret to Elie’s success is, in fact, that even in times of difficulties, he has always managed to focus on the positive and learn something from it. While he was migrating from the Democratic Republic of Congo all the way to the USA, he picked up multiple languages like Portuguese and Spanish. When he came to the land of opportunities, he also learned English, and it was here in the US that his wrestling journey started.
Elie began wrestling while he was going through a rough time, trying to blend in a completely new country. “I was struggling with a lot of things, especially my identity; I was trying to fit in, to embrace a new culture and make new friends, so I joined the wrestling team,” he explained. But little did he know that he would eventually fall in love with the sport. Despite his instant connection with wrestling, there were times when he doubted himself and thought that he was not ready for it, both physically and mentally.
Today, Elie has been a part of numerous fights, taking his biggest inspiration from WWE superstar John Cena and former boxer Mike Tyson. Although in a short period, Elie has achieved great success, he still wishes to do so much more. This is what encouraged him to create online content as well. Elie has been creating fun videos on social media platforms like TikTok, showcasing his bodybuilding journey, motivating people, and encouraging them to kick-start their journey into the world of fitness. “I was creating content for fun even before I started my bodybuilding journey; it was just my own way of spending free time,” he shared.
An ambitious and passionate young man, Elie Paivan kept himself motivated and worked hard to turn his dreams into reality. He knew that nothing happens in a night and that success only comes to those who strive for it. As far as the future is concerned, he not only wants to work on his own wrestling career but also plans to train individuals to get into the fitness industry for which he is acquiring his certification. He is not afraid to take risks, and his strong leadership mindset will eventually get him where he is destined to be!
