Today we’d like to introduce you to Maitland Wilson.
Maitland, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Maitland Wilson: Overcoming Obstacles Through Fitness Maitland Wilson’s personal motto is: Overcoming obstacles through fitness. To understand why this is the credo that he lives by, one must know the hurdles that he had to overcome that led him to where he is now.
Maitland Wilson’s early life was riddled with obstacles that would push most people to quit before they started. He was born in the Bronx and moved down to Kissimmee, Florida when he was a small child thanks to the help of his mother’s doting aunt. He was raised by a single mother of three active boys who wanted to provide a better and safer life for her children.
Early on in his life Mr. Wilson knew that he loved to play sports; he was consistently a top performing athlete in school. He dreamt of playing football in the NFL, and hoped to be recruited to play college ball. Unfortunately, at age 17, weeks before starting his senior year of high school, Mr. Wilson sustained a bad hit during football practice and broke his C1 vertebrae. His doctor told him that he was unable to play football for the rest of the season. The doctor warned him that if he engaged in any type of physical activity for the rest of the school year he could risk paralysis. Mr. Wilson was devastated beyond belief. He watched his peers from the sidelines while contemplating how he would make his football dreams come true. He wanted this more than anything.
An inspired Mr. WIlson started working out again, against doctor’s orders, and found himself running on the track team in the spring. He was proud of being well enough to compete again, yet he still wanted to make his football dreams come to life.
Since his back injury prevented him from being recruited to play college ball, he decided that he would move to California to play football at a community college with hopes of moving onto a four-year college program.
A month before he was scheduled to leave, he received news that would change his life. The girl he was seeing was pregnant. This was huge – he was now going to be a father and he needed to provide for his child. He knew that if he did not pursue his dream, he would be filled with regret. This was his chance to make something of himself in order to provide for his future child. A month later he would leave to California.
This, however, would not be the last setback he faced. A few weeks before he was set to leave to California, his mother suggested to Maitland that he go to the doctor for a physical, just to make sure that everything was okay. He had a lump under his armpit, too, and she wanted him to get that checked out. The doctor gave them shocking news – Maitland had Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Unbelievable.
First, the spinal injury, then the pregnancy, and now cancer? Some people might quit. Some would ask, what next? But Maitland persevered. He decided he would still go to California, and fight ahead.
Though he initially moved to Ukiah, he soon moved down to San Francisco and started doing chemotherapy treatments. Chemotherapy was horrible – he lost his hair, he lost weight, he felt nauseous, and he constantly felt tired. It was a trying time for this young man, who was trying to walk ahead along his own path and do better for himself. He felt horrible, but this was a transformative time.
Maitland tried to play football while on chemotherapy, but it just wasn’t feasible.
Maitland started weightlifting and loved the high he got when he worked out. Daily workouts lessened the negative side effects of the chemotherapy and helped him feel strong again. All those setbacks became blessings in disguise.
Maitland finished chemotherapy treatments and continued to work out. His love of working out grew larger and he began to enter body-building competitions. He found success in these competitions and he earned four National Physique Committee (NPC) championships. This was around the time that he started to become known as FlexChamp. He knew that fitness was essential in his life. This was a turning point for Maitland who started to see more for himself in the fitness world.
Maitland became a P.E. teacher in San Francisco and found such inspiration in the children he taught. They reminded him of his daughter. Their energy and their willingness to learn made him want to share his lessons with others. He started to build up his FlexChamp brand while continuing to get his daily workout in.
After a few years he decided to leave San Francisco, CA in search of bigger things. He moved to L.A. with hopes of building up the FlexChamp brand. L.A. was fruitful in some ways, but it also hindered the growth he was enjoying.
Maitland was confused and questioned the path that he was on. Was this for me? Is there a reason it’s not working out? He was confused and tired. He decided to return home back to Kissimmee.
Moving back home to be close to his mother and daughter proved to be exactly what Maitland needed in order for his brand to thrive. Old and new friends have come together to support him while he shares his fitness knowledge. He has been training people from his home, at the park, and hosting local fitness events. He has increased the visibility of his brand through his FlexChamp merchandise.
His positive attitude and willingness to push through the hard times have led him to where he is now. He hopes to continue building FlexChamp in order to help other people overcome their own personal obstacles through fitness. Maitland wants to help others grow alongside him.
Though Maitland has faced incredible obstacles, they only prepared him to do more and to be more. Maitland is humbled by his past, and excited to see how far he has yet to go along his fitness journey.
2020 I became a fitness music artist. During the pandemic I had time to work on something that would set my fitness brand apart from any other brand. Music plays a big role in fitness. Without music there would be boring gyms and classes and No motivation. Music is energy when it comes to fitness. But there’s no one attacking that market. For 6 moths I worked on music with producers and even got a feature from a big time rapper in Florida Bezz Believe who has features with Gucci mane and Kevin gates. He also thought the idea was great. When my music was released it did really great on the tik tok and Likee app. Many people used my sound to work out and even made challenges. It’s only the beginning for fitness music. I hope to be the founder of this great movement.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Many obstacles throughout my life. Fatherless home single mom with three boys. Lost my chances to play at top schools because I broke my neck my senior year playing football. A year later tried to play football again but then I get diagnosed with lymphoma non Hodgkin. My daughter was born during this time while I was trying to build my future in California. So much pressure on the line. Overthinking if I made the right choice leaving Florida to California.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Flexchamp?
I own a Fitness brand “Flexchamp” overcoming obstacles through fitness
Trainer
Apparel
Fitness music artist
With these three platforms I use to push my story and motivate others to use fitness to overcome their obstacles like I did.
I’m very proud of every step I took with the brand. I started from the ground up. I see myself grow from nothing. I have a brand anybody can relate to. I see my brand as powerful as Nike or live strong by lance Armstrong.
I believe what sets me apart from any other brand is ME. My story and my goal. I wanna reach the youth. If I can motivate kids into fitness like my dad did to me .Then we can have a whole generation of flexchamps. I never would have knew that year’s later fitness would have saved my life.
What matters most to you? Why?
The youth! I believe my calling is to teach and motivate children the importance of fitness. Fitness plays a big role in our lives. Fitness can heal and teach. The world the lacks this knowledge… stuff I knew at 10 people still don’t know at 30. My brand will be the end of that
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: MyFlexchamp.com
- Instagram: Iamflexchamp
- Facebook: Maitland wilson
- Twitter: M8land13
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCuzjWl_cIwlh0bwvFCEkvCw
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2PdYWvFoUSg88t7a50KVDP?si=lRGZnkeNR9mopMKq7Vjwrw&dl_branch=1
