by Sofia Moreau

Her story weaves a personification of grit, determination and resilience with the tapestry of her life’s experiences – formative years in a world of competitive sports, a stint as a firefighter, with semi-professional football in between, before finding her home in CrossFit at 26.

Staying true to a young girl’s competitive spirit, this firebrand relished surpassing her male counterparts’ speeds and strengths. Her journey from fire-fighter, known for their indomitable bravery and strength, paved the way for her entry into the world of CrossFit, which hooked her from the get-go. Exhausting it may have been, but the unique workout methodology and the communal spirit of CrossFit became her new love.

From humble beginnings of participating in small-scale events, she quickly escalated to regional levels, surprising herself with a qualification into the prestigious CrossFit Games, within a year of training. The diverse range of disciplines, from sprinting and weightlifting to gymnastics, became her new challenge but invigorated her nonetheless.

Testing Waters at Global Games

She remembers her first taste of the global games at a bustling stadium in Los Angeles in 2010. This marked a turning point in her life as she knew then that she had found her place. Finishing 19th, she pledged to reach the finals next year. After a year of dedication, she stood fourth in the 2011 CrossFit games.

A snag in her escalating journey came in the form of a broken kneecap in 2012. Despite initial skepticism about her capability to win the games at 30, she made a comeback from her injury and switched her focus to training as a full-time professional. Bidding adieu to her decade-long service as a firefighter, she put her heart and soul into CrossFit. The result was a glorious victory in 2013, where she was honored as the “Fittest Woman in the World”. Today, she is fondly nicknamed “The Engine from England” due to her prowess in endurance events, occasionally outpacing men as well.

An Optimized Training Routine

Mornings start naturally between 7 and 8 am. Nutrient-rich eggs and porridge with peanut butter form her breakfast. A regular day for her means a meticulous yet balanced mix of workout sessions and meals with occasional readings and dog walks to end the day. She stays in the US currently, to evade any travel restrictions interfering with her competitive workout schedule.

Abiding by her plant-based diet for easy digestion, she entrusts her meals to a meal preparation company, because of her self-declaration of being mundane as a chef. Nights often see her indulging into her favorite bedtime protein pancakes with a hazelnut spread.

At 38 and being the oldest competitor amid the young guns in the CrossFit Games, her focus now lies in enjoying the sport and competing furiously. CrossFit, according to her, always surprises with something new to learn.

More details of her unstoppable journey can be found in her memoir, for everyone seeking inspiration and motivation.

CrossFit, firefighter, professional athlete, fitness journey, intense workout, training methodology, endurance events, global games, broken kneecap, professional training, fittest woman in the world, plant-based diet, memoir, motivation