You Can Coach & Wear Eyeliner
March 18, 2022 | Words by Colleen Fleming
To celebrate Women’s History Month, every Monday and Friday during the month of March, we’re highlighting just some of the many women that are a crucial part of NCFIT. Today, we highlight Colleen. Colleen is a CF L2 and has been coaching for NCFIT for five years. She loves olympic weightlifting, 90s hip-hop, and every single dog she meets.
When I was young, my world was entirely dominated by athletes.
I come from a family with multiple collegiate, professional, and even olympic athletes. You can imagine the pressure that brings. I played every sport known to man; volleyball, basketball, softball, swimming, gymnastics, and more. You name it, I probably played it. Once I got into high school, I realized that softball was my thing. No one else in my family had seriously pursued softball or baseball, so I felt like I could shine in that sport as my own person.
Around the age of 15, I decided I wanted to pursue fitness in order to better myself and my athletic career. I went on to play collegiate softball, but along the way, I found something much more important to me.
I joined NCFIT when I was 15 years old and I never left. I participated in our teens program in high school and then eventually, in college, I became a front desk representative. During a routine performance review, my manager at the time asked, “Have you ever considered becoming a coach?” I was taken aback. Although I had been around athletics my whole life and CrossFit for many years, coaching had never crossed my mind. As a 19 year old, it seemed so far out of reach.
After giving it some thought, however, coaching made sense; I had all the resources, qualifications, and drive to become a great coach. Shortly after that meeting, I pursued the proper training to become a certified coach. Four years later, here I am as an L2 coach who’s still learning and growing every single day.
I KNEW BEING A FEMALE COACH IN A MALE-DOMINATED INDUSTRY WASN’T ALWAYS GOING TO BE A WALK IN THE PARK.
I have felt the pressure to prove myself more times over than my male counterparts. I have faced intimidation from male athletes who think they know more than me just because they’re stronger than me. I have experienced first-hand sexism and misogyny from men who think I couldn’t possibly be a competent coach just because I’m a girl. I have been told to wear less makeup, cover up, and smile more — it can be exhausting. BUT, on the other hand, I am privileged and grateful to work for a company that empowers women and lifts them up.
I AM SURROUNDED BY A COMMUNITY OF STRONG, EQUAL-MINDED WOMEN. WOMEN WHO MAKE WAVES BECAUSE THEY ARE UNAPOLOGETICALLY THEMSELVES AND SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER WHOLEHEARTEDLY.
