by Gemma Delaney

in the article

From her early days as a brimming national level gymnast and swimmer to now earning the title of the Fittest Woman in the UK in 2022, Lucy’s journey in the realm of fitness is no ordinary tale. Where she extracted her start in gymnastics and swimming to taking up her CrossFit coaching and athlete craft, her voyage is motivational and packed full of experiences.

Witnessing the Olympic Games firsthand at an impressionable age of 12 was an eye-opener for Lucy, causing her to change her path from gymnastics to swimming. This decision to pivot led her from regional-level competitions to the GB Open Water development camp and, eventually, onto the international circuit.

Despite enjoying a couple of successful years swimming, Lucy’s joy in the sport began to dwindle as her performances stalled. She discovered CrossFit during her days working as a personal trainer while pursuing a Master’s in sports psychology. Lucy immediately fell in love with the multi-faceted and engaging nature of CrossFit, bringing much-needed refreshment from the monotony of long-distance swimming. She discovered beauty in the variety of body shapes at the top level in CrossFit, recognizing that the focus was truly on performance rather than appearance.

Her daily off-season training is calculated and managed by her coach, varying from three-to-four hours a day to six or seven closer to competition time. CrossFit’s multi-category structure, with its blend of gymnastics, weightlifting, and single modality work, keeps her constantly engaged. Despite her pivot away from it, Lucy’s long-distance swimming and gymnastics background continues to offer significant benefits, particularly in terms of endurance, cardio fitness, and body movement awareness.

When it comes to her nutritional habits, Lucy’s focus lies in consuming enough to fuel her intensive training sessions. Her diet shifted from vegetarian to including more fish and chicken, ensuring sufficient protein intake for muscle recovery and growth. She also places a premium on rest, notably valuing the importance of a minimum of eight hours of sleep each night.

In Lucy’s gym bag, you’ll find essentials efficiently organized in a Kriger gym bag, specifically catering to functional fitness enthusiasts. Among her prized possessions are Reyllen Gymnastic Grips and SBD Knee Sleeves, which aid her during the demanding CrossFit sessions.

Lucy’s eventful year 2022 was crowned with her participation in the major CrossFit competition, making her the only British female to qualify in the elite category. A goal-setter at heart, her future aspirations include breaking into the top 10, rising to the top five, and eventually, climbing onto the podium.

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