Local Couple Opens State-of-the-Art Fitness Facility for Youth & Adult Athletes

D1 Training, a leading fitness enrichment concept utilizing the five core tenets of athletic-based training, recently opened a new location in Lakeland at 9811 US-64. The new group fitness facility employs a sports-science-backed training regimen led by certified trainers to help people of all ages achieve their sports and fitness goals.

Chris and Kira Nettleton join a roster of impressive existing franchisees, including professional athletes like Kylie Fitts and Jordan Gay. Additional franchise partners include notable figures such as Super Bowl MVP Von Miller, Tim Tebow, and Michael Oher.

The Nettletons have a deep-rooted passion for helping young people reach their full athletic potential. Kira, a seasoned personal trainer with over 15 years of experience in CrossFit and strength and conditioning, has dedicated her career to empowering young athletes. She combines her expertise with her role at the local high school to guide students toward their fitness goals.

Chris is an Army Combat Veteran with a unique blend of business acumen and athletic dedication. While building a successful career as a retail buyer and strategic business planner, he simultaneously poured his heart into coaching wrestling at the local middle school, nurturing the program from the ground up. His commitment to fostering young talent is evident in the program’s success and the confidence it instills in its athletes.

While the opportunity to work with more young athletes on a broader scale was a huge draw for D1, the Nettletons were also motivated by their three children. Their middle son has long been passionate about weightlifting, winning two TN state championships and qualifying for nationals. In 2022, he was diagnosed with Addison’s disease, and the symptoms ended his run at a high-level national event and subsequent training at that level. Franchising with D1 Training provides their son with the opportunity to work alongside them.

The couple’s oldest son has also had an amazing journey. Now 20, when he was younger, he had a major brain and spinal cord surgery that forced him to learn everything again. However, the surgery and journey gave him a huge drive to get back to being himself. He turned to wrestling, found his passion, and excelled.

“We’ve witnessed firsthand how D1 Training has ignited a spark in young athletes, propelling them to new heights of performance and instilling a lifelong love of fitness,” said Kira. “Our goal is to empower the next generation of champions, and we’re thrilled to offer our community a world-class facility where dreams are transformed into reality.”

D1 Training offers four age-based programs, including Rookie
(ages 7-11), Developmental (ages 12-14), Prep (ages 15-18), and D1 Adult. Each fitness program is based on the five athletic-based tenets: dynamic warm-up, performance, strength program, core and conditioning, and cool down. Outside of group workouts, D1 Training offers group, semi-private, and one-on-one training with world-class coaches. The goal is simple: to continue training athletes dedicated to their sport or fitness goals, regardless of age or athletic background.

Founded in 2001 by former NFL player Will Bartholomew and based in Nashville, D1 Training began franchising in 2017. The popular fitness brand has grown to more than 100 locations currently open, with over 250 additional locations in various stages of development. The brand was recently ranked in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500, named a Top 30 Gym in America by Men’s Health Magazine, and appeared on The Inc. 5000, which ranks the fastest-growing private companies in the nation. D1 Training has been endorsed by the NFL Players Association as an approved training facility and is a preferred partner of the National Academy of Sports Medicine. D1 Training is actively seeking qualified, community-minded franchisees with a passion for the fitness industry to continue its growth through single and multi-unit franchise deals.

For more information on D1 Training Lakeland, please visit D1training.com/lakeland or call 901.669.3713.