Lydia Smith

Rise to Grid League

Lydia Smith has found her place as #77 and Strength Specialist for the Las Vegas Venom in the United Grid League. As a relative newcomer to the league, she’s already making waves with her focused approach to competition. Her recent move to Georgia shows her dedication to advancing her athletic career, choosing to work one-on-one with a coach while staying closer to family on the east coast.

Journey from Horseback to Heavy Lifting

Before touching a barbell, Smith spent most of her life in the saddle. “I was on a horse before I could even speak,” she recalls, painting a picture of her deep roots in equestrian sports. In 2019, she stepped into a CrossFit gym with the simple goal of becoming a better rider. What started as cross-training quickly became her primary passion. Her progress in the CrossFit Open tells the story of her rapid development, starting at 115,194th worldwide in 2022, she jumped to 17,907th in 2023, and maintained a strong position at 25,145th in 2024.

Strength Stats That Impress

Smith’s numbers in the weight room back up her role as a Strength Specialist. She can back squat 185 pounds, clean and jerk 165 pounds, and deadlift 235 pounds. Her snatch stands at 110 pounds, while her Fran time of 6:21 and Fight Gone Bad score of 271 points round out an impressive set of benchmarks.

Pandemic Perseverance

When COVID-19 shut down gyms worldwide, Smith showed the creative spirit that would later serve her well in competitive fitness. Rather than pause her training, she transformed horse jumping equipment into makeshift workout gear. This resourcefulness helped her maintain and even improve her fitness during lockdown.

Life Beyond the Barbell

At 5’8″ and 165 pounds, Smith’s build suits her strength-focused role perfectly. But there’s more to her life than lifting weights. She’s built strong connections within her gym community, regularly attending Bible studies with training partners. When she’s not in the gym, she spends time with her dog and works with children, showing her softer side away from competition.

Media Recognition

Smith shared her unique journey from horseback riding to competitive fitness on the FemFit Podcast in October 2023. The episode revealed not just her athletic achievements, but also her ability to adapt and find opportunity in unexpected places.

Future Potential

Smith’s background in strength training and CrossFit has set her up for success in the Grid League format. Her quick progress from equestrian athlete to competitive fitness shows her natural athletic ability and dedication to improvement. As she continues to develop in the team-based format of Grid League competition, Smith is definitely an athlete to watch.