| Lesa Lewis[1] | |
| Nickname: | Amazon[2] |
| Birth Date: | March 9, 1967 |
| Birth Place: | Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |
| Weight: | In Season: 150lb193lb Off-Season: 200lb215lb[3] |
| Firstproshow: | IFBB Jan Tana Classic |
| Firstproshowyear: | 1997 |
| Bestwin: | IFBB Jan Tana Classic champion |
| Bestwinyear: | 1998 |
| Predecessor: | Chris Bongiovanni |
| Successor: | Gayle Moher |
| Yesorretiredyear: | Retired 2002 |
Lesa Lewis (born March 9, 1967) is an American professional female bodybuilder, nicknamed "Amazon".[4]
Lesa Lewis was born in Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. She grew up in a family with three brothers and three sisters. She ran track, played basketball, danced, and swam in high school. She attended University of Nebraska–Lincoln for a year, running the sprints-4002NaN2 1002NaN2, 2002NaN2 meters, and the 4002NaN2 relays. She left college to be a freelance modeling designer of clothing, hats, and shoes. After a few years, she went into construction at 130lb.[5] [6]
In 1992, Lesa began weight training. That year, she was training to get fit and toned at a Bally Total Fitness when a bodybuilder commented she had muscular legs and told her she should try bodybuilding. After that, she went into bodybuilding. In 1994, her coach became Tim Lutz. At the 1997 USA Championship, Lewis placed first in the heavyweight category and overall and won her IFBB pro card.
At the 1998 Ms. International, Lewis placed second at the competition. However, a week after the contest, when the results of the mandatory diuretic tests were declared, she, along with Gayle Moher and Denise Masino, were found to have tested positive and were disqualified from the contest.[7]
Lewis appeared in the 2000 documentary film Bodybuilders.[8]