While it goes without saying that three-time CrossFit Games champion Tia-Clair Toomey and the Icelandic Dottirs have been inspiring CrossFit fans with their brilliant performances for years, there are so many other equally inspiring CrossFit women out therewomen who inspire beyond their competition performances.

There are so many ways I could have gone with this list, but I went the route of 10 women who have exposed their true personalitieswho have opened up vulnerably, expressed insecurities and broken downand have made me laugh and made me cry.

(In no particular order):

This five-time CrossFit Games athlete has moved away from high-level CrossFit competition and has embarked on a path of trying to become pregnant and start a family with her female partner. She has been incredibly brave and open about her struggles to start a family.

On September 10, 2019, Lance-McWherter posted this video on Instagram, where she shared her emotions after another negative pregnancy test.

This time was the absolute worst. It hit me the hardest. I think because I was soooo hopeful this time and I really felt like it would take, she wrote in the post.

As gut-wrenching as her post was, its also a breath of fresh air to watch something so authentic and real.

This 2015 CrossFit Games athlete might just be the most entertaining and witty competitor out there. Her social media posts will make you laugh. Period.

But shes more than just an entertainer. Shes also super honest in her posts about topics most people would shy away from confronting. The best example I can remember was when her partner Meredith Root qualified to the CrossFit Games and she didnt. Most athletes would likely just pretend to be happy for their partner, Parker admitted that, although happy for Root, it was incredibly difficult for her.

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A lot of people asked me this weekend how it was competing against @meredith_root. It was a great experience, however, it was very emotionally challenging. Ill try to explain why, and I will be honest. I am so incredibly competitive in literally everything I do, that I actually annoy myself. And for some reason, I hate when Meredith beats me more than when anyone else does. I get temporarily, insanely and selfishly jealous when she wins, no matter what the competition is. It just doesnt feel right to feel this way towards someone I am dating. That is whats hard about it. Luckily we are open with each other about these feelings. Having said that, I also love to see her succeed, even when its at my expense. Its a frustrating mix of emotions that I really struggle to manage, but being in a relationship with someone who also is competitive has several advantages. I have someone who experiences the similar ups and downs that come with the territory, eats the same food, and understands when I spend all my free time in the gym. And because she is someone I train with, training quality is much higher. Accordingly, our coach only programs 1v1 workouts a couple of times a week so we dont kill each other. Its an extra benefit when that person is someone that gets you (and is a much better cook than you!). It goes without saying that I would not have done as well as I did this weekend without her. She not only supported me through the weekend, but through the whole year. Not to mention, she has, and continues to, help me survive my demanding and time consuming job. Okay, okay, Ill admit it she treats me like a princess. Its also difficult because Im not used to being emotionally invested in someone elses success. When they fail, you feel it. In this moment, she is upset with falling short of her goal, and I felt it like it was me . . . But I still hate that she beat me. Like I said, its a mix of emotions. As hard as a relationship can be at times, it seems to be worth the struggles. Im pretty darn lucky. We are both stronger individually from this weekend and even stronger together. Im already excited for next year. @crossfitgames #regionals2018 #proud

A post shared by Alex Parker (@aaparker1) on May 30, 2018 at 4:54pm PDT

I hate when Meredith beats me more than when anyone else does. I get temporarily, insanely and selfishly jealous when she wins, no matter what the competition is, Parker wrote. Its a frustrating mix of emotions that I really struggle to manage.

Though some might fear admitting this type of emotion to the world would make them less likable, it only made Parker more relatable.

I know I said this wouldnt be performance-based inspiration, per se, but I absolutely cannot leave this seven-time CrossFit Games athlete off the list. After taking a year off competing to give birth to her first child, Saunders appears to be 100 percent back to her former fitness level and recently placed 12th in the CrossFit Open, unofficially qualifying to this summers CrossFit Games.

Through her endearing social media posts, where she takes her baby swimming, its easy to see Saunders is as passionate about being a mother as she is an athlete.

After competing at the CrossFit Games as an individual every single year from 2010 to 2018, Leblanc-Bazinet competed on a team at the Games for the first time last year. After 10 consecutive CrossFit Games appearances, Leblanc-Bazinet is not competing this year.

Moving away from competition can be incredibly hard emotionally for any high level athlete, and what has made Leblanc-Bazinet so inspiring to me this year is how she seems to be redefining what fitness is for her now (its unclear if she has fully retired or is just taking a year off).

Through the months, she has been sharing about how she has embraced more traditional bodybuilding-type training. Its reassuring to know that when you leave something behind, there are many new doors that open and can be as fulfilling as what you left behind.

Michele Letendres story is similar to Leblanc-Bazinets. After competing at the CrossFit Games five times, Letendre stepped away from competition in 2017 and has quickly turned herself into a world-renowned CrossFit coachpossibly the most underrated coach out there. Last year, Letendre coached four CrossFit Games athletes, including Patrick Vellner, Laura Horvath, James Newbury, and Samuel Cournoyer.

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Today I was thinking a lot about the different roles Ive had in my life. This morning I was on my way to the @dekacrossfit and I was going to fix a broken audio wire. I was thinking to myself: man its a good thing I played with electronics at school because otherwise, Id have to get someone else to do this simple job. . . That made me realize that Ive done a lot of different things throughout my life. Ive scooped ice cream, drawn, painted, sculpted Ive worked as a hotel receptionist, Ive lead design projects with school, Ive worked with LEDs, sensors and even a 3D printer Ive sold insuranceIve played waterpolo and competed in CrossFit, then in weightlifting. Ive coached CrossFit in gyms and now in competition. Im newly a gym owner and an owner of @dekacomp . Im only 33 years old. I feel very fortunate to have this much experience at my age and I cant wait to learn more. . I was speaking with my mother not long ago about leadership and gym ownership, she offered her help and it seemed so simple and effective. She said to me, Michele, Ive been doing this for 30 years, and only have I really put things together in the last 5. That got me excited to know that I can only get better and more concise with my message to the world through time and experience I felt a surge of confidence that through my continued exposure to the world and the multiple roles I will take on, i will end up with a solid and meaningful contribution. . . . What have your experiences been? How many roles have you played so far and how do you feel they connect? Lets hear it!

A post shared by Michele Letendre (@mich_letendre) on Oct 30, 2019 at 11:19am PDT

More than anything, though, having met Letendre numerous times, I can say with certainty this woman is genuine as they come.

The older generation in society always like to rag on the younger generation. These days, I often hear adults talking about the poor work ethic of teenagers today, or that they spend too much time on their phones, and definitely that theyre entitled.

Adams, however, is proof there are some seriously hard workers under the age of 20.

Shes only 19 and she has already competed at four CrossFit Gamesthree times in the teenager divisionand she placed sixth last summer in her rookie year in the womens division. And its clear she has only continued to grow in 2019. There couldnt be a better role model for young up-and-comers than this teenager.

I couldnt leave this woman off the list. She has been competing at the CrossFit Games since 2009. In fact, Thorisdottir has only missed one CrossFit Games in the last decade 2013 because of an injury.

And just when we thought she might be starting to fade when she placed 38th in 2015 and 13th in 2016, she came back in 2017 and placed 3rd. Considering Thorisdottir just placed 2nd in the CrossFit Open, its safe to say she isnt fading yet. Her staying power is absolutely inspiring.

This three-time CrossFit Games athlete is proof you can do it all. She has managed to continue to become fitter and fitter each year Huckaby placed 3rd at Games with her Invictus team last summer summer all the while prioritizing the trials and tribulations of motherhood. Theres a sincerity to Huckabys voice on her social media posts that melts your heart.

This list wouldnt be complete without this six-time individual CrossFit Games athlete, who also competed in the Womens 35-39 division at the 2018 CrossFit Games. Like Thorisdottir, Briggs ability to remain competitive year after year is incredible.

But what I love most about her is how she doesnt try to be anything she isnt, and through all her success over the years, she remains humble and down to earth.

What I love most about this four-time individual and two-time team CrossFit Games athlete is her willingness to be courageous and address hard issues. Though Fisher is obviously incredibly lean, she doesnt necessarily have the rippling eight-pack abs many of her competitors possess. And believe it or not, online bullies have brought this to her attention.

On April 20th, Fisher addressed them head on:

How come you exercise so hard and dont have a flat belly? asked the bullies.

I dont have a flat belly because I believe in fueling my body for performance over restricting my calories to look a certain way. Yeah, if I starved myself or cut down my fats and still trained as much as I do I might finally get that 8 pack but reality is my body type wont. I like to eat and I know when I dont eat enough I just dont feel good during training. And a lot of it also comes down to genetics. So Im sorry but I will never be one of the girls with no belly fat at all and Im okay with it, she wrote.

Amen, sister.

Featured image: @mich_letendre on Instagram

Continue reading here:
10 CrossFit Women Who Inspired Us In 2019 - BarBend

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