Sponsoring Michelle Palmer's 2020 Crossfit Journey
Michelle (Johnson) Palmer developed a passion for dance and sports at a young age. After dancing competitively from the age of 5, Michelle graduated from Idaho Falls High School in 2003, having participated in many dance competitions (both local and nationally), scholarship pageants, basketball and varsity softball. At the end of her high school years, she was dancing 20 hrs. per week and because of her achievements in academics and dance, Michelle received a dance/student government scholarship to attend Utah Valley University, where she attended school for 2 years. Transferring to Idaho State University, Michelle was a member of the 1st Place 2008 National USA Collegiate Award winning Bengal Dancers and graduated on the deans list in 2008 with a degree in Sport Science and Physical Education. She went on to receive her personal trainer and yoga/Pilates certifications.
LOVE OF FITNESS
Since graduation, Michelle's love of fitness has continued to expand. Growing up in a family passionate about sports and athletics, Michelle spent many hours at the baseball field. She met her future husband, Lucas Palmer, while he was playing professional baseball with the Kansas City Royal organization as a pitcher for the Idaho Falls Chuckars baseball team. Not only has Michelle grown as an athlete as she has trained, she has continued to share her talents and enthusiasm by teaching dance and encouraging her husband in his coaching efforts. Together they have enjoyed coaching and supporting their 3 children, as well as with other youth in the community, in various sports and dance. They hope, by example, to instill in them the love of living an active and healthy lifestyle and an understanding of the rewards that come with hard work, persistence and dedication.
INTRO TO CROSSFIT
In recent years, Michelle was introduced to CrossFit and competitive weight lifting...and it was "love at first sight”! Michelle fell in love with the challenge of becoming the best and strongest version of herself. She found that participating in CrossFit not only develops the body physically, it also helps to develop the individual mentally and emotionally. Having participated in local and regional venues with dedication and persistence, Michelle efforts have paid off as she has received multiple awards, including several 1st place finishes in both individual and partner divisions. She set a goal in January 2019 to qualify for and then compete at the premier national CrossFit completion, Wodapalooza 2020 as a Master division athlete.
GOALS FOR 2020
In the fall of 2019, Michelle finished 3rd out of over 200 Women's Master Division (age 35-39) worldwide participants in the qualifier for Wodapalooza and will compete in Florida in February 2020. She will then be back in Florida in April to compete at the National Masters Weightlifting Championships/ Worlds Masters Qualifier that she prequalified for in August 2019, with the ultimate goal to compete at Worlds in August 2020. Michelle recently finished 1st in Idaho in the CrossFit World Open Women's division and was ranked 26th out of nearly 17,000 athletes worldwide in the Women's Masters (age 35-39) division.