Demi Bagby Then and Now
By Cornell Scott / July 30, 2025
In the world of CrossFit and physique sports, few stories are as powerful, as emotional, and as inspiring as that of Demi Bagby.
Standing at just 4’11” and weighing under 115 lbs, Demi may be small in stature—but her courage, resilience, and determination are larger than life.
From a life-threatening injury that left her paralyzed to becoming a CrossFit Games athlete, bodybuilder, and social media sensation, Demi Bagby’s journey is a masterclass in mental toughness, transformation, and triumph.
This is the complete story of Demi Bagby—Then and Now.
🧑🦱 Quick Facts: Demi Bagby at a Glance (2025)
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Demi Bagby |
| Demi Bagby Age | 24 years old (born January 10, 2001) |
| Demi Bagby Height | 4’11” (150 cm) |
| Demi Bagby Weight | Under 115 lbs (52 kg) |
| Demi Bagby Hometown | San Diego, California |
| Demi Bagby Nationality | American |
| Demi Bagby Divisions | CrossFit Athlete, Bodybuilder, Influencer |
| Demi Bagby Social Media | Instagram: @demibagby |
📖 Then: The Tragedy That Could Have Ended It All
Demi Bagby’s story begins like so many young athletes’—full of energy, dreams, and movement.
Growing up in San Diego, she was always active. From soccer to cheerleading, Demi thrived on physical challenges. But in 2014, at just 13 years old, her life changed in an instant.
During a cheerleading stunt, she suffered a freak accident—a broken back that left her paralyzed for three months.
Doctors told her the unthinkable:
She might never walk again.
For a girl whose identity was built on motion, strength, and athleticism, the news was devastating.
“I couldn’t move. I couldn’t walk. I couldn’t even sit up. I felt like I had lost everything.”
But Demi didn’t surrender.
Instead, she made a pact with herself:
She would walk again. And then she would do so much more.
Related: Antonie Lokhorst Then and Now
🔁 The Comeback: Discovering CrossFit and Rebuilding Her Body
One year after her injury, Demi stepped into a CrossFit gym for the first time.
It wasn’t just a fitness choice—it was rebirth.
CrossFit became her therapy, her passion, and her purpose. The combination of strength, gymnastics, endurance, and functional movement reignited her love for athleticism.
She trained with relentless focus, pushing through pain, doubt, and physical limitations.
And in 2016, just two years after being told she might never walk, Demi ranked 23rd in her age group at the CrossFit Games.
She didn’t just walk. She competed.
🏆 Now: The Athlete, Influencer, and Inspiration
Fast forward to 2025, and Demi Bagby is no longer just a survivor.
She’s a force.
- CrossFit Games Competitor (2015, 2016)
- Bodybuilder with a lean, muscular, and aesthetic physique
- Social Media Influencer with over 1 million followers
- Motivational speaker and advocate for mental resilience
She’s proven that size doesn’t define strength, and trauma doesn’t have to define your future.
Her Instagram feed is a mix of:
- Jaw-dropping gymnastics skills
- Heavy lifts
- Bodybuilding poses
- Raw, emotional reflections on her journey
“My story isn’t about being the strongest. It’s about refusing to quit.”
Related: Julian Michael Smith Bodybuilder Then and Now
💪 Training: How Demi Bagby Builds Strength and Skill
Demi’s training blends CrossFit intensity, bodybuilding precision, and gymnastics mastery. She focuses on functional strength, core power, and mobility—all while maintaining a lean, defined physique.
🔹 Full-Body Workout (Sample Routine)
| Exercises | Reps |
|---|---|
| Clapping Ring Push-ups | 3 × 10 |
| Muscle-ups | 3 × 10 |
| Backflip Wall Balls | 3 × 8 |
| Flag Raises | 3 × 8 |
| One-Arm Toes to Bar | 3 × 12 |
| Rope Climb | 3 × 5 |
This routine builds:
- Upper-body strength
- Core stability
- Explosive power
- Gymnastics control
She trains 6 days a week, alternating between:
- Strength days (weights, barbell work)
- Skill days (rings, muscle-ups, handstands)
- Conditioning days (WODs, cardio, metabolic circuits)
She also emphasizes mobility and recovery, using yoga, stretching, and foam rolling to stay injury-free.
Related: Joey Swoll Bodybuilder Then and Now
🔹 Ab Workout: Core Like Steel
Demi’s abs are legendary. Her core routine is brutal but effective:
Format: 50 seconds work, 10 seconds rest (circuit style)
| Exercises |
|---|
| Single Leg Raises |
| Bicycle Kicks |
| Leg Raise to Knee Tuck |
| Hip Dips |
| Lower Body Leg Raise |
| Oblique Crunch |
| Full Body Crunch |
She repeats the circuit 3–4 times, building endurance, definition, and functional strength.
“Your core is your center. If it’s weak, everything falls apart.”
🥗 Nutrition: Fueling the Machine
Demi knows that nutrition is the foundation of her performance and physique.
She doesn’t follow extreme diets or eliminate entire food groups. Instead, she focuses on balance, consistency, and sustainability.
Demi Bagby’s Diet Principles:
✅ Foods She Eats Daily:
- Complex Carbs: Oats, sweet potatoes, brown rice, quinoa
- Lean Protein: Chicken, turkey, eggs, fish, Greek yogurt
- Healthy Fats: Avocado, nuts, seeds, olive oil
- Fruits: Berries, bananas, apples
- Vegetables: Spinach, broccoli, peppers, zucchini
She eats 5–6 small meals per day to maintain energy and support recovery.
💊 Supplements She Recommends:
- Protein Powder – For daily protein goals
- Pre-Workout – For energy and focus during WODs
- Multivitamin for Women – To support hormonal health and immunity
- Omega-3s – For joint and brain health
- Electrolytes – Especially during intense training
“You don’t need magic pills. You need real food and consistency.”
🌟 Competition History: Defying the Odds
| Year | Event | Results |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | CrossFit Games (Teen Division) | Competed |
| 2016 | CrossFit Games (Teen Division) | 23rd in Age Group |
While she hasn’t reached the elite CrossFit level yet, her amateur success—especially after her injury—is nothing short of miraculous.
And now, she’s expanding into bodybuilding, where her muscle definition, symmetry, and stage presence make her a rising star.
Related: Ray Diaz Bodybuilder Then and Now
❤️ Mission: Helping Others Rise
Demi doesn’t see her platform as just a personal brand.
She sees it as a lifeline.
Through her social media, she shares:
- Workouts
- Nutrition tips
- Mental health struggles
- Faith and motivation
She’s open about the emotional toll of her injury, the pressure of being in the spotlight, and the challenges of balancing fitness with self-worth.
“I want to show people that you don’t have to be perfect to be strong.”
Her message is clear:
Your past doesn’t own you. Your pain doesn’t define you. You are capable of more than you know.
🔥 Final Thoughts: Demi Bagby Then and Now – A Symbol of Unstoppable Will
Demi Bagby’s story is not just about fitness.
It’s about fighting back.
- Then: A 13-year-old girl, broken, paralyzed, told she might never walk.
- Now: A 24-year-old powerhouse, inspiring millions, defying limits, and redefining what’s possible.
She’s living proof that:
- Size doesn’t limit strength
- Injury doesn’t end dreams
- Willpower can move mountains
And she’s not done.
Whether she’s hitting a muscle-up, stepping on stage, or posting a motivational message, Demi Bagby continues to push forward—one rep, one day, one life at a time.
Because for her…
Giving up was never an option.
Related: Jeff Cavaliere Bodybuilder Then and Now