Wheelchair Athlete Loses 88 Pounds, Places 6th at CrossFit Games

A woman who hadn't exercised in over 15 years just placed sixth in the world at the Adaptive CrossFit Games, proving that it's never too late to become the athlete you want to be.

Born with spina bifida, she used a wheelchair for most of her life and found confidence through competitive swimming as a child. But by her mid-20s, life took over, and she stopped being active entirely.

Fast forward to age 36, and she was dealing with chronic health conditions, weight gain, and a complete loss of self-confidence. She felt uncomfortable in her own skin and knew something had to change.

She joined a local gym and started with strength-training bootcamp classes, drawn to the idea of having a coach guide her through workouts. She also worked with a personal trainer to build functional strength that would help her get through daily movements with less fatigue.

The workouts were brutal at first. But week by week, she lifted more weight, completed more reps, and pushed further than she ever imagined possible.

A year later, a trainer encouraged her to try CrossFit at a nearby gym. She fell in love with the combination of cardio and strength training, but the supportive community sealed the deal—everyone treated her like any other athlete, not just the girl in the wheelchair.

After a year and a half, she had lost 88 pounds. More importantly, she could press a barbell overhead and pull herself up on gymnastics rings using pure upper body strength.

Her confidence soared, and she wanted to prove what she was capable of. She started competing in CrossFit competitions across New Zealand and Australia, eventually qualifying for the 2025 Adaptive CrossFit Games in the United States.

Two years ago, she added HYROX races to her training, which combine running with functional workout stations. The running portions involve using her upper body strength to push her wheelchair at faster speeds across five miles total.

When she started wheelchair running a year and a half ago, it took her 45 minutes to complete just over half a mile. Now she can cover 5.5 miles in an hour.

Why This Inspires

Her transformation wasn't just physical. She had to quiet an inner critic that once made her tense up at the thought of being seen in the gym.

Working with coaches, mentors, and a psychologist helped her celebrate progress instead of defaulting to self-criticism. She learned to see herself as the athlete she truly is, not the person her negative thoughts told her she was.

The shift in mindset unlocked confidence that carried into every part of her training and life. She now knows there's no one way an athlete should look, and strength shows up in countless different forms.

At 38, she trains five days a week when her chronic health conditions allow, mixing CrossFit workouts with personalized adaptive training and wheelchair running. Her community has become like family, and she's planning to run a half-marathon next.

She's living proof that your past doesn't determine your future, and it's never too late to become exactly who you want to be.