GP Athletics opened for business in January 2016 with one goal in mind, to increase the use of barbell training. Owners Spencer and Abby Graham started in a small 1500sqft space and over the years have become the largest and most equipped barbell training facility in Southwest Missouri. Spencer is a competitive athlete in Strongman, Powerlifting, and Olympic Weightlifting. Qualifying for both Worlds Strongest Nation in Ukraine and the Arnold two years in a row in Olympic Weightlifting.

Spencer graduated from Missouri State University with a Bachelors in Exercise and Movement Science. Straight out of college he taught at Bryan University as an adjunct instructor for Kinesiology, Biomechanics, Anatomy, and Physiology. His wife Abby is a math and science teacher at Nixa. She has been a teacher since 2017 and also graduated from Missouri State University with both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree.