From CrossFit Games to Grid League: Lauren Olson’s Journey as Athlete and Super-Mom

Grid League Launch

Lauren Olson is starting an exciting new chapter in her athletic career, signing with the Houston Bandits expansion team in the United Grid League for the 2025 season. After making her mark in CrossFit, Olson will bring her strength and competitive spirit to Grid as a rookie. The Bandits announced her signing in late 2024, highlighting her background as a CrossFit Games team athlete and her impressive barbell skills. As a strength specialist, she’ll play a key role in the fast-paced team competition format that Grid is known for.

Elite CrossFit Background

Olson reached a career milestone in 2023 when she qualified for the CrossFit Games with Team CrossFit Believe. The team earned their spot after placing 10th at the North America West Semifinal, advancing to compete on CrossFit’s biggest stage in Madison. Her individual achievements are equally noteworthy – in 2024 she ranked among the top 130 women in North America West Quarterfinals, showcasing her high-level fitness. With a 240-pound clean and jerk and 195-pound snatch, Olson’s strength numbers put her in elite company. She’s also found success in local competitions, including an event win at the Monster Games that demonstrated her ability to perform under pressure.

Early Life & Personal Journey 

Lauren’s path to becoming an elite athlete began with an extraordinary personal chapter. At just 19 years old, she met a baby girl named Bella and soon became her mother figure while Bella’s father was deployed overseas. By age 20, Olson had married Bella’s father and begun the adoption process. The following years brought significant challenges, including divorce and personal hardships, but Olson’s faith and determination carried her through. She eventually found strength and support through her partner George, and her family grew to include two more daughters. These early experiences of motherhood and resilience shaped the athlete and woman she would become.

Career Evolution

Before finding her calling in competitive fitness, Olson worked as a high school physical education and health teacher from 2013 to 2016. Sensing an opportunity to pursue her passion full-time, she left teaching to become a CrossFit coach. This leap of faith paid off as she established herself at CrossFit Believe in Warrensburg, Missouri. In 2018, Olson launched SHE Coaching, focusing on pre and postnatal fitness – a natural extension of her own experience as a mother of three. Her business helps other women navigate fitness during pregnancy and postpartum, turning her personal journey into a way to support others.

Balancing Act

What makes Olson’s athletic achievements particularly impressive is how she manages them alongside family life. She coordinates training sessions around school drop-offs and her daughters’ schedules, proving that parenthood and high-level competition can coexist. As a coach, she brings authenticity to her work with clients, especially mothers who are trying to maintain their fitness goals. Her presence at CrossFit Believe extends beyond coaching – she’s become a community leader who shows others what’s possible through hard work and dedication.

Looking Ahead

As Olson prepares for her Grid League debut in 2025, she carries with her the lessons learned from CrossFit competition and life experience. While she’s new to Grid, her background suggests she’ll adapt quickly to the team-based format. Her coaching business continues to grow, allowing her to impact more lives through fitness. For other mothers pursuing competitive athletics, Olson serves as proof that having children doesn’t mean giving up on athletic dreams. Her story is still being written, but the combination of athletic talent and personal strength makes her journey worth following.