Certainly one of these ladies might ascend to the throne in Toomey’s absence.
Because the historical past books say, any time a dynasty ends, there will likely be a battle to fill within the super energy vacuum. After a dominant reign as a six-time Fittest Girl on Earth®, Tia-Clair Toomey won’t be defending her title in August’s 2023 CrossFit Video games. The athlete has not retired and should properly return to prominence quickly sufficient post-pregnancy, however for at the least one version of the Video games, her throne will likely be vacant. That brings to thoughts a query about who can climb the mountain.
Because the 2023 Games, right here’s a breakdown of 5 potential contenders for the Ladies’s Particular person title. Toomey leaves behind sizable sneakers to fill, however one among these athletes might show fairly succesful quickly sufficient.
Potential 2023 CrossFit Video games Ladies’s Particular person Contenders
Simply because Toomey received’t be a fixture on the newest iteration of CrossFit’s flagship contest doesn’t imply there aren’t worthy rivals ready within the wings. Right here’s a brief profile and rundown of some to think about.
Laura Horvath (Hungary)
- Greatest end: Runner-up (2018, 2021)
- Video games debut: 2018
Horvath has had a comparatively constant place amongst CrossFit’s elite because the second she started competing in Madison, WI. Now coming into her seventh version of the Video games, some would possibly take into account the 2022 podium finisher the general Ladies’s favourite with the absence of each Toomey and Mal O’Brien. After a third-place end result within the 2023 Europe Semifinal and a second-overall end within the Quarterfinal, Horvath appears primed to lastly break via after three podium finishes (2018, 2021-2022).
Annie Thorisdottir (Iceland)
- Greatest end: Champion (2011-2012)
- Debut: 2009
A residing CrossFit legend, it’s been a very long time since Thorisdottir stood on prime of the game. A former two-time Ladies’s Particular person champion (2011-2012), accidents and a being pregnant halted a lot of Thorisdottir’s progress within the sport through the center of final decade. Nonetheless, lately, “Iceland Annie” has began to regain her kind. After lacking the reduce in 2019 and 2020, Thorisdottir got here in third in 2021 and ventured into Groups competitors in 2022, the place she positioned fourth because the Captain of Workforce CrossFit Reykjavik. Nowadays, the 33-year-old could possibly be thought of extra of a darkish horse as she returns to Particular person competitors.
Although, not many “darkish horses” have already got two championship titles and two runner-up placings to their title.
Emma Lawson (Canada)
- Greatest end: Sixth place (2022)
- Debut: 2022
At simply 18 years previous, Lawson approaches CrossFit competitors like a seasoned veteran. The 2022 CrossFit Rookie of the 12 months and 2021 Video games champion within the Women (16-17) division, Lawson stormed to sixth place in her Ladies’s division debut. Normally, potential Video games champions have a bit extra expertise earlier than they lastly break via on the largest stage. Nonetheless, with a lot of the Ladies’s division in obvious flux, that might play to Lawson’s benefit as an exceptionally younger and vibrant attainable first-time winner.
Arielle Loewen (United States)
- Greatest end: eleventh place (2022)
- Debut: 2021
Loewen is one other prime contender who will surely qualify extra naturally below a darkish horse or “shock” label. Not like different potential winners, Loewen doesn’t have a big-name trophy distinction and arguably has much less of a high-profile resume total, by no means having damaged into the top-10. That stated, a third-place end within the North America West Semifinal and third-place total worldwide end result within the Quarterfinal paints the image of an athlete ready to skyrocket. Her third Video games look in 2023 may be that momentous alternative.
Gabriela Migała (Poland)
- Greatest end: Sixth place (2021)
- Debut: 2019
An skilled Video games veteran, Migała has seemingly solely improved since first coming into the Ladies’s division on the finish of final decade after reaching the rostrum in 2016 within the Women (16-17) division. For somebody who has by no means even earned a podium end within the Ladies’s contest, Migała’s fame nearly precedes her. She’s trained with World’s Strongest Man Hafthor Björnsson, and seems to be an athlete ready for that one ultimate springboard. Notably, both Migała or Horvath can be the primary Japanese-European Particular person champion in your entire contest’s historical past.
There’s so much to be determined for Particular person Ladies’s rivals within the 2023 CrossFit Video games. When all is claimed and executed, one among these ladies may be the subsequent queen of CrossFit.
Featured picture: @laurahorvaht on Instagram