The ‘Fittest Man on Earth’

As a fitness professional for the last 22 years, Shawn Ramirez makes it his personal mission to keep Miami-Dade residents physically fit so they can live a long and healthy life. Ramirez is the Health and Wellness Coordinator for the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation & Open Spaces Department, and he uses his love for CrossFit to help lead the way in promoting health and fitness.

Ramirez’s hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed. At the 2014 Reebok CrossFit Games in Los Angeles, Ramirez was crowned “The Fittest Man on Earth” among men aged 40-44. CrossFit, a program that features constantly varied functional movement performed at high intensity, requires intense focus and discipline.

“The Fittest Man on Earth” is also an enthusiastic public servant who has dedicated his life to bringing his passion for fitness to the Miami-Dade community.

“I’ve been with Miami-Dade Parks for six years, a professional in the fitness industry for the last 22 years, and a CrossFit competitor since 2010. The journey that I’ve been on throughout these years has been amazingly rewarding,” Ramirez said. He believes the upcoming Local Works Day, being celebrated by local government employees around the state on Oct. 3, is a great opportunity to showcase how public service benefits everyone.

“You need to be keenly in tune with yourself: emotions, state of mind and body,” Ramirez explained.

CrossFit techniques have inspired Ramirez to focus on a local afterschool program for children, called Fit2Play. Ramirez and Miami-Dade Parks use Fit2Play to help others improve their lives. As a father of three, it motivates Ramirez to know that his skill set in training, exercise physiology and CrossFit can make a great difference to help kids become healthier.

“It’s pure joy to help children, especially the obese, learn healthy habits that can change their lives forever. Fitness, then, takes on greater meaning and significance. It’s awesome to be able to marry your passions for the benefit of others.”