Shadi Smith

THE HANDSTAND MOM TAKES THE GRID

At 45, with three kids at home, a husband of nearly 28 years, and the oldest of 12 siblings, Shadi Smith still found time to place 417th worldwide in the 2025 CrossFit Open’s Masters division. The Bodyweight Specialist for Atlanta Wild doesn’t talk much about her gymnastics background or her CFL1 certification at CrossFit 313 in Burleson, Texas. She just shows up, executes handstand progressions that would make acrobats jealous, and competes. Her Instagram following knows her as @handstandmom.official, where gymnastics drills and CrossFit conditioning collide.

Smith’s athletic foundation runs deep, former gymnast, CrossFit Games competitor, and someone who has spent years coaching the next generation. At 5’1″ and 140 pounds, she competes in the Women 45-49 age group, moving through the 2025 Open Quarterfinal after that 417th-place finish. That ranking represented real work: training sessions squeezed between carpools and family dinners, then translating that effort into measurable results against thousands of other masters-level competitors globally.

The Grid doesn’t recruit spectators; it recruits practitioners. Smith fits the mold. Her specialty, bodyweight gymnastics and skill work, fills a specific role on Atlanta’s roster. At this stage of her athletic career, joining a professional league changes the equation. No more morning workouts before the kids wake up. No more competing on weekends between coaching sessions. She’s here now.