Dublin resident Latisha Wilder got her inspiration to become an International Federation of Body Building athlete while attending the Arnold Sports Festival in 1999. Ten years later, she is one of Ohio’s top figure competitors and a regular in the prestigious Figure International competition at the Arnold Sports Festival.
Wilder, 34, has competed at the Arnold five times and in the Ms. Figure Olympia contest four times since turning professional in 2003.
“I got married on Christmas Day in 1998, moved to Columbus a few days later and then attended the Arnold Classic in 1999,” Wilder says. “I paid special attention to the fitness athletes that year and told my husband that I thought I could that. That fall I did my first show and I’ve been doing it ever since.”
Wilder has worked as a personal trainer since 1999, including the past four years at Metro Fitness Dublin, The job allows Wilder to get in the workouts needed to remain in peak physical condition to compete in elite figure events.
Wilder is striving to be in top shape for this year’s Arnold Sports Festival, where she will try to improve on her career-best fourth-place finish in the 2007 Figure International.
“Just being invited to compete in the Arnold was huge. It is my favorite show since I live in Columbus and my clients and close personal friends can come and see me compete since it is the only local pro show,” Wilder says. “And finishing fourth in 2007 was definitely a career highlight so far. That was just a great, great day and a great weekend.”
Figure International is one of three women’s professional IFBB events held each year at the Arnold Classic. Ms. International, the female equivalent to the Arnold Classic, features the world’s best female bodybuilders, while Ms. Fitness features female athletes who are judged both on their physique and an up-tempo, high-energy fitness routine. Figure competitors have similar body types to fitness, but are not required to do routines.
“For the most part, figure is a little softer than fitness, but if you came to a show for the first time and you saw girls on the stage you might not notice the difference,” Wilder says. “But the trained eye would.”
Wilder has competed in about 25 professional events since earning her pro card by finishing second at the National Physique Committee (NPC) Figure Nationals in 2003. She has finished second as a professional twice: at the IFBB Pittsburgh Pro in 2006 and the 2007 IFBB Palm Beach Pro in Palm Beach, Fla. She earned professional status in 2003, and hopes to continue competing for several more years.
“Competing is one of those things that I really enjoy and I have not put a time one when I want to retire,” she says. “I will continue as long as my body will cooperate and I feel good about it. When I wake up and it is not fun, I will stop.”
When not at the gym – either working or working out – Wilder spends her time in Upper Arlington, where she will be an assistant track coach at UA High School this spring after being coach at Hastings Middle Schools for the past 10 years.
Coaching track comes naturally to Wilder, a former Tennessee high school star who first came to Ohio to run track at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. She competed in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes and various relays for two years before transferring to Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn., where she earned a B.S. in exercise physiology in 1998.
“I am really excited to be moving to the high school and having the opportunity to work with the same group of kids for four years instead of two,” Wilder said. “I had been at the middle school for so long, so I already know many of the kids that I will coach. I am nervous and excited at the same time about the opportunity.”
Brent LaLonde is a contributing writer for Dublin Life.
BONUS: The Arnold Sports Festival
The Arnold Sports Festival is the largest multi-sport festival in the nation, with more than 18,000 athletes competing in 44 sports and events, including 12 Olympic sports. New in 2010 are skateboarding, amateur strongman, figure skating, amateur mixed martial arts, an art competition and a sports photography seminar.
WHEN: March 4-7
WHERE: Greater Columbus Convention Center, Nationwide Arena, Veterans Memorial, Dispatch Ice Haus, Lifestyle Communities Pavilion
MORE INFO: Daily tickets are $10 and include admission to nearly all sports and events. Some events are ticketed separately. Visit www.ticketmaster.com/arnold or www.arnoldsportsfestival.com.