Each month we highlight one or more of our members in our member of the month feature. For the month of November we’ve selected David Lopez & Ari Pandini as our Members of the Month. The couple are core members of the Athletic Lab Weightlifting Team. 

Athletic Lab provides evidence-based, field-proven training to competitive athletes and fitness enthusiasts alike. Athletic Lab is the trusted training home for dozens of elite professional athletes and trusted by both local and international teams. These same training methods are available to high school athletes looking to excel on the field, court or track in our Scholastic program.

Athletic Lab is one of the top fitness and performance training centers in the country. We have a vibrant and diverse community ranging from fitness enthusiasts looking to get in the best shape of their lives to elite professional athletes. You can read about previous members of the month here.

What city were you born in?

  • David: Havana, Cuba
  • Ari: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

What do you do when you’re not training at Athletic Lab (occupation, hobbies, etc)?

  • David: Outside of working as a software engineer, I like to run long distances, take the pups hiking, and drink coffee
  • Ari: When I’m not working on car warranties, I enjoy reading/listening to audiobooks, spending time with our dogs and trying to save cats.

What’s your favorite exercise? Least favorite?

  • David: Clean and Jerk is my favorite. Lateral Lunges are my least favorite.
  • Ari: Snatch is my favorite. Thrusters are my least favorite and I’m very glad to not do those anymore.

What do you feel has been your greatest accomplishment since you started training?

  • David: Cleaning and Jerking 100kg in competition (so far)
  • Ari: Learning to control my nerves instead of the other way around.

What motivates you in your training?

  • David: Seeing my teammates continue to get better! Can’t slack behind
  • Ari: Yes, being surrounded by people who are constantly pushing themselves, definitely leaves me inspired and wanting more.