Career
Semple began gymnastics training at the age of 10. Her dream was to compete in Olympics gymnastics events. However, she was found to have Osgood-Schlatter disease, a childhood condition in which the bones grow faster than the muscles they support.
This, along with the financial burden associated with training, ended her dream of Olympic competition.
The severe injuries she suffered in an auto accident on May 23, 1983 meant she had to give up gymnastics entirely. Semple worked as a fitness instructor at a local spa during her 20s.
While training there, she became aware of the Mississippi National Fitness competition and started training for lieutenant
