• CrossFit Level 1 since 2013
• USAW Level 1 since 2015

My name is Kathy and I am a proud momma to two babies, Wyatt and Olive, who are my world. I tried CrossFit for the first time in December 2011 thanks to my cousin who drank the CrossFit kool-aid that year and wouldn’t stop talking about it. I despised CrossFit at first because I wasn’t good at anything, but I was determined to try something new. I spent the first year of CrossFit focusing on form and slowly started to get the hang of things. I ended up falling in love with the sport, but even more so with Olympic Weightlifting, so in 2015 I obtained my USAW Sports Performance Certification, which is now known as USAW Level 1. I CrossFitted during both pregnancies and you will usually find my kids with me at the gym. My hope is that I am a good example to my kids so that they find a passion for any kind of fitness.

Turning Point

Growing up, my parents encouraged my siblings and me to be involved with sports and music. I honestly hated sports and loved music, but involved myself in sports, such as track and soccer, anyway. Around my 7th birthday my dad became really sick and he was in and out of the hospital. We found out that he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes that went undiagnosed for years. My dad struggled to take care of himself, even with the help of my mom and siblings. Our family changed our diet and exercise routines to support my dad. It was then that I realized how important it is to take care of your health, so I picked up running and extracurricular sports in college and soon after I found CrossFit, which showed me a level of strength I never knew I had. This passion also led my siblings and my mom to be more involved in the gym. In 2015, my dad suffered a quadruple bypass and lost several limbs due to his diabetes. Because I wasn’t living at home, and my sisters and mom were my dad’s caretakers, I taught them how to lift properly so they were able to care for him without injuring themselves. Over the last few years, my dad has been able to build up his strength to take care of himself and does his best to keep his health at the forefront.

Motivation & Passion

One of the things that my dad has taught me is to not take the little things we do for granted because one day we might not be able to do them. I lift and workout not only to take care of myself and my kids, but to be able to care of my parents as well. Life is too short to take for granted. Embrace every day and be grateful for what you are able to do in the gym because it’s more than what some people are able to do.