Sam de Maître · Personal trainer in Guatemala City Rebuilt. Refocused. Ready to coach.

Hi, my name is Sam. I'm 36, originally from Belgium, and last year I made the move to Guatemala permanently — after a couple of years of going back and forth, drawn here by the people I love most, my family, and honestly, by a feeling that this is exactly where I'm supposed to be.

I've been working in fitness and strength coaching for over 10 years. I have a Bachelor's degree in Physical Education and Sport Science with a specialisation in personal training, and I've coached everyone from complete beginners to competitive athletes. But the reason I got into this field isn't just academic — it's personal.

I spent 11 years competing in track and field at a national level in Belgium, primarily in the decathlon and long jump. The decathlon is ten events across two days — it teaches you that you can always do more than you think, and that consistency beats talent every time. Then an injury took that away from me. At the time it felt like losing a big part of my identity. What pulled me through was strength training — and that experience of rebuilding, both physically and mentally, is something I carry into every session with every client. I know what it feels like to start over. I know what it takes to keep going. That transition led me into powerlifting, which is still a big part of my life today.

Outside the gym, adventure is never far away. I've solo travelled the world for three years, climbed mountains in the Andes, and freedived next to shipwrecks in tropical waters. I train hard, I eat well, and I try to live the things I ask my clients to do. Guatemala has given me a new home, a family to build something for, and a reason to create something here that I'm truly proud of.

If you're ready to work — I'm ready to coach you.