Wonder Woman Wednesday: Selma Dillsi “I’m in it for the long game.”

Before even joining Seattle Kettlebell Club, Selma Dillsi got a taste of kettlebell sport when she attended a competition to a support friend (we miss you, Ellie!). Seeing a competition really broke the wall of exclusivity that Selma had always associated with weight lifting.

Selma works in health care market research, and when she’s not swinging bells, she enjoys supporting local art and art activism. 

“It was the most intergenerational, body diverse, gender, and age diverse group of people I’ve seen throwing some iron around and smiling while doing it,” Selma said. “A jerk looks different on five different bodies. That was something I learned very early on in the sport.”

Selma discovered Kettlebell Sport when she went to a competition to support her friend, Ellie.

Although she was active before joining, Selma admits that her workouts had hit a plateau, and SKC was exactly what she needed to take her fitness to the next level. 

And she totally did! After being a part of SKC’s team for 3 years and competing multiple times, Selma decided to try something a little different for the IKFF Northwest Kettlebell Championships this past fall, so she completed an event that only the bravest of lifters embark on: the 30-minute one-arm long cycle!

“I wanted to try something with lighter weight that was new and fun,” Selma said. 

Selma has not only proved to be an amazing athlete, but her compassionate nature and sunny personality continues to brighten our community. While highly dedicated to her own training, she’s also a constant cheerleader for her fellow Kettlebears (SKC’s competition team).

“I just love the crew. SKC has been part of my community for 3 years,” Selma said. “Some of the folks I met here I consider real genuine friends that expand beyond the four walls of this gym.”

 “SKC is really my first introduction to class-based fitness outside of some yoga, so I just found that I was more motivated to come workout. I love the connection and the friends I have made."

Aside from the community SKC brings to her life, Selma enjoys exercise because of her interest in health, mobility, and the ever-evolving human body. Also, being someone who is partial to endurance, Selma encourages her fellow lifters to lift smart and focus on form versus trying to go super heavy all the time.

Major Throwback: Selma has been with SKC for over 3 years. 

“Being a part of a club and community for a few years, I’ve experienced times where my lifting has gone up and down, and that never made me think ‘okay, I’m going to stop lifting.’ I’m in it for the long game, and if that means I have to stop lifting for a period of time to do other sorts of therapy or go down in weight then I’m fine with it. I think that mind set is going to add to the longevity of membership.”

Thank you for being part of the team Selma! 

-Camille Borodey