Shannon Siemer

Photo by Hart and Hill Photography

Shannon Siemer

AGE: 29     LOCATION: Effingham, IL     GIG: Trainer     SPORT: Fitness and Crossfit

NATURAL BORN ATHLETE: Being a badass might be in Shannon’s DNA. Her mother competed in bodybuilding in her early 20s, and passed her competitive spirit on to Shannon. “My mom is one of the reasons I fell in love with bodybuilding,” she says.

From a young age, Shannon shared her mother’s passion for athleticism and weight training. Beginning in gymnastics, volleyball and cheerleading, Shannon was driven to build more strength and skill. “The more I trained, the better I performed,” she says. But it wasn’t until her college’s recreation program hosted a campus-wide bodybuilding fitness competition that she felt the urge to follow in her mother’s footsteps: Shannon decided she would train for her first competition. She entered and never looked back.

Now, she ranks consistently in the top 10 in the IFBB Fitness division with more scheduled competitions on the way. In addition to traditional, set-style weightlifting, Shannon trains mostly in CrossFit, crediting its high-intensity, continuously varied functional movement for achieving her best physique. She even competes in the sport, earning her team the Overall Affiliate Champion title in the Rx division of a local competition.

When it comes to staying motivated, Shannon remains on course by staying humble, and constantly learning about her sport. “Strive to learn what you don’t know. Your future success and happiness may depend on it.”