I used to be scared of lifting weights but seeing so many ripped women at the CrossFit semi-finals inspired me to get stronger

• I went to the CrossFit London semi-finals, Strength in Depth, to watch elite athletes compete.
• What struck me most was how normal it was to be muscular, both among professionals and spectators.

From June 10-12, one of the CrossFit semi-finals, Strength in Depth (SiD), took place in London. As a fitness reporter who regularly interviews the sport's biggest stars, I went along to watch some of the action.

While it was incredible to see the elite athletes compete, what struck me most was how normal it was for women to have visible muscles, both among the competitors and spectators.

I'm no stranger to fitness events, but even I was taken aback by how ripped and swole nearly everyone was.

It didn't make me feel insecure, though— it was empowering.

I've been lifting weights for five years, and I am a huge advocate of strength training for women, but this wasn't always the case. I used to be scared of weights, thought they weren't for me, and instead tortured myself on the cardio machines.

Going to SiD and being surrounded by strong, fit women was incredibly inspiring, and gave me a boost to keep training hard to reach my potential.

There were installations and shops around the arena

SiD took place at the Excel Centre at Royal Victoria Dock, London, in a huge convention space.

The main arena was lined with spectator seating and set up with racks and space for equipment to be brought in and out for each event, be that rowing machines, barbells, or rings.

However, there was lots more going on outside the arena, which I wasn't expecting, from fitness clothing brands selling kit to Foodspring giving out protein bar samples (I made sure to try them all).

Outside the SiD space in the Excel corridor, there were various cafes selling take-out food.

I got myself a burrito to enjoy while watching the elite athletes compete — it felt strange to sit down eating while, essentially, watching people do a workout, but it was very fun.

And if there's one thing I've learned from interviewing CrossFit athletes, it's that fueling yourself with plenty of food is essential.

On paper, the concept of watching fitness is strange, but it's fascinating how gripping it can be at the elite level.

It was so impressive watching the likes of Katrin Davidsdottir, Aimee Cringle, and Zack George doing rope-climbs, burpees, and power snatches, and it got incredibly tense at times.

The energy in the crowd was electric and it was emotional watching Sam Briggs compete —Briggs is considered a legend in CrossFit, and SiD was her last hurrah.

It was a celebration of strength and fitness

As someone who does CrossFit-style training but doesn't go to a box (what CrossFit calls its gyms), I don't feel like a member of the community, but everyone was incredibly friendly and smiley. Must be all the endorphins from exercising, I thought to myself.

SiD sold out on Saturday and Sunday, but on the Friday, when I went, it wasn't packed and the crowd probably included more industry folk.

It was clear how much everyone loved fitness, and I loved how women being muscular was the norm, not the exception.

Even professional female CrossFit athletes can struggle with embracing their muscular physiques though, as world champion Tia-Clair Toomey previously told me.

Davidsdottir thinks the culture is very different in the US, where she trained for eight years, versus her native Iceland.

"In the US I feel like women are afraid to be strong or afraid they'll gain muscle, but in Iceland it's the norm," Davidsdottir told Insider.

This mindset is gradually changing though, with research suggesting women are increasingly striving for a "toned" physique.

Following CrossFit athletes has definitely helped me see muscle as an aesthetic goal, and I left SiD feeling more inspired than ever.

As Cringle recently told OK!: "CrossFit teaches women to ditch this idea of being 'the skinny girl' and be physically strong instead."