Latisha Wilder (born January 1, 1975) is a professional figure competitor from the United States. Since her first visit to the Arnold Classic Weekend in 1998, she became a figure competitor. She competed as a professional in 2003 at the 2003 NPC Figure National Championships. In two years at the professional level she has achieved two runner-up spots at the Pittsburgh Pro and Palm Beach Pro, and two top-five placements at the Figure International. Though not competing in figure competitions currently, Wilder is still working as a fitness trainer. She also coaches for a high school cross country program and girls' track program at Upper Arlington High School in Upper Arlington, Ohio, having previously coached at the middle school level.[citation needed]
Wilder was born in Maryville, Tennessee. When she was in second grade her family moved to Nashville. Growing up, Wilder was part of her high school's track and cross-country teams as well as playing other sports during the school year. After high school, Wilder entered Case University in Cleveland, as a freshman student majoring in Biomedical Engineering. There she ran competitively in the 100 meter, 200 meter, and 400 meter dashes and relay events. During track she didn't compete in any individual varsity races, but competed with relay teams. She stayed for two years before transferring to Lipscomb University and changing her major to Exercise Physiology. She would later give up sprints for long-distance running, finding success in cross-country. Her personal record for the 5k is 22:18.[citation needed]
Since high school, Wilder had been working out with weights, but she became more serious about strength training in college to improve her athletic performances during her cross-country competitions. One of her teachers would become her strength coach, and would get her involved in training other young boys and girls in becoming good sprinters. While she still competed in cross-country during this time and did very well, Wilder's main focus was academics. She had changed her major from Biomedical Engineering to Exercise Physiology.
While working part-time at a local gym Wilder became more involved in the world of bodybuilding, fitness, and figure competitions. She began dating Sam Wilder in 1994, who lived in Columbus, Ohio, the home of the Arnold Classic Fitness Weekend. During this time she and Sam went to the Expo [clarification needed] one day and she decided to be part of the fitness industry.
During this time Wilder continued her relationship with Sam. She decided to move back to her home state of Ohio in 1995 while still in college. A few months after completing school at Lipscomb University, they married and made a home for themselves in Columbus. She competed in two fitness competitions with no formal dance or gymnastics training, and placed well in the physique rounds. She then opted for Figure Competition and competed a year later. She placed in the top five of her first four competitions and went to the professional level just two years later. In the winter of 2005 she suffered sudden gout attack and for treatment reasons had to cut most of the foods she used during her competition phase. Because of this, her condition suffered due to a sore foot. This caused her a lot of discomfort during her competitive seasons, but she managed to overcome this obstacle and placed in the top-five at the Pittsburgh Pro and in the Charlotte Pro where she placed second and third place respectively. She also placed in the top-five at the Arnold Classic.
As of June 2007 Wilder was working as a head coach [clarification needed], living in Ohio and training with her personal trainer Mike Davies for the 2007 Ms. Figure Olympia. Wilder placed 11th at the Olympia [clarification needed] and was the runner up at the Palm Beach Pro. She also reapplied for the Arnold Classic in 2008 and is staying busy with her "phat camps" and online personal training business.
In the summer of 2013 Wilder became the cross country coach at Upper Arlington High School in Upper Arlington, Ohio. She also is the coach for their girls’ track team. During her short time as head cross country coach, roster numbers declined.[citation needed]
MA, Bill Geiger. On WILDER SIDE. California: Muscle and Fitness. November 2006 Edition. ISSN0744-5105. (New York, NY: Weider Publications, LLC., a division of American Media Inc., 2006.). Section: Training and Fitness: 222–224, 226, 228-229 covers Wilder's article.
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