CrossFitters are impressive athletes, regardless of gender and body type. Here’s why the CrossFit community isn’t a boy’s club.
Some people hear “CrossFit” and picture a gym full of burly dudes, which is pretty inaccurate.
This high-intensity interval training (HIIT) program and fitness brand is an extremely effective way for *all* genders to increase their strength and endurance, lose body fat, and be part of a motivating community.
Whether you’re already in the program or just curious about CrossFit, here’s what you need to know about CrossFit motivation for women—including where to find famous female CrossFitters for #fitspo.
Regardless of your gender, CrossFit focuses on what the brand calls “functional movement”—a return to basics with high-intensity movements for big muscles.
In a typical WOD (workout of the day), you’ll probably be lifting a lot of heavy things. Deadlifts, squats, and shoulder presses are common.
But the goal isn’t *always* to build muscle. Instead, it’s about getting the most out of your body in everyday life, from picking up objects to standing with power and confidence.
A woman can certainly bulk up and build muscle with CrossFit. But without a focused, consistent effort to achieve that goal, you’re unlikely to become a muscleman. Without a dedicated muscle-building plan, CrossFit is more likely to improve your overall fitness, reduce body fat, and improve muscle definition.
Some body types are naturally better suited to CrossFit, but *all* bodies are welcome. The good news is that even people new to training can join in, since CrossFit is always done in a gym with a qualified trainer.
So who does best in the CrossFit community? Probably mesomorphs. This body type has a medium build and is heavily built. If you’re a mesomorph, you’re probably a little faster or better at strength training than average.
Endomorphs (smaller, rounder body types) and ectomorphs (tall, lean body types) can still enjoy and excel at CrossFit. Seriously, anyone can benefit. Only at the very highest levels of CrossFit competition do people worry about optimal body shapes.
Exactly how much CrossFit changes the way your body looks depends on how fit you were before starting the program.
Losing fat and building muscle can change the way your clothes fit, even if you still generally have your you figure.
Are you losing fat? Your clothes might feel looser. Are you building muscle in your shoulders and upper arms? Your shirts might fit differently. And then there’s the fact that you’re burning belly fat (more on that below).
However, CrossFit alone won’t radically change your body shape. Super-muscular CrossFitters of all genders do *a lot* of weight lifting and stick to strict diets.
It’s worth noting that even if CrossFit doesn’t change your body shape, you might *feel* different about how you look. We can’t ignore the mental health benefits that come from exercise improving mood and self-image. CrossFit groups also consciously promote a sense of community well-being.
As a HIIT workout, CrossFit will definitely help you burn stubborn belly fat.
Consistent HIIT training helps lower blood sugar and increase insulin sensitivity. That’s the perfect chemical combination for your body to break down fat faster and gain it back slower.
To be honest, CrossFit and weightlifting sometimes overlap. But weightlifting is a *specific* component of CrossFit, a general training program that also includes bodyweight exercises.
Because weightlifting focuses on building muscle, you’re more likely to gain size with this type of exercise—especially if you’re on a muscle-building diet.
As we’ve said before, CrossFit is more likely to help you shed excess fat, build strength, and accentuate muscle tone.
Every year, the very best female CrossFit athletes come together for the CrossFit Games, a massive athletic competition. Here are five of the most iconic names from recent competitions.
Long live the queen! Australia’s Tia-Clair Toomey is the reigning 2022 CrossFit Games champion. This was her sixth win, making her the most dominant athlete in CrossFit history.
In 2015 and 2016, Tia-Clair had to settle for second place, which is still crazy considering she only started the sport in 2013. Plus, she was busy representing her country at the Olympics in the 58kg weightlifting class in 2016.
Iowa’s Mallory O’Brien became the youngest person to stand on a CrossFit Games podium when she took second place in 2022. The 18-year-old started the sport at age 10, but she’s been a competitive gymnast since she was three!
O’Brien also placed fourth at the 2018 Teen CrossFit Games and was named Rookie of the Year in 2021.
A native of Budapest, Hungary, Laura Horvath started CrossFit in 2014. Her story is peppered with success, culminating with a third-place finish at the 2022 Games (second place in 2021).
Laura is a source of tremendous inspiration. The awards and honors she has received across Europe and around the world make her a respected competitor whenever she steps on the floor.
This Icelandic hero was the first woman to win the CrossFit Games twice (2011 and 2012). Annie Thorisdottir also placed second in 2010 and 2014 and third in 2017 and 2021. Essentially, she’s been a legend for a long time.
Annie’s dedication = 4 hours of training per day, 6 days per week. Her time spent in gymnastics, ballet, and pole vaulting makes her perhaps the most versatile athlete on this list.
Our second Icelandic on the list was also the second two-time women’s CrossFit Games champion (2015 and 2016).
Katrín’s road to those wins was a real saga, as she failed to qualify for the 2014 Games. Since then, she’s proven her triumphs were no fluke. Third place in 2018 and second place in 2020 show she’s here to stay.
CrossFit develops the muscles you’re most likely to use in everyday life. You’ll probably get more toned, but you probably won’t turn into the Hulk.
Of course, some women combine CrossFit and bodybuilding. It really depends on your individual fitness goals how you structure your workouts.
Bodybuilders sometimes take testosterone to achieve bigger and faster muscle growth. But that doesn’t really fit the ethos of CrossFit, which is to develop the potential of your natural body shape.
That said, a few female CrossFitters have actually been caught for steroid use over the years.
It depends on the person and the regularity of their workouts!
CrossFit helps with fat loss. It also helps with muscle building. You might lose a few pounds of fat but gain some muscle mass. It’s very individual.
When it comes to fitness, CrossFit can be a fantastic program for people of all genders. Its locations – known as boxes – also have a welcoming, motivating reputation.
If you’re a woman wondering if CrossFit is right for you, the answer is: It depends. What type of workout do you like? What are your fitness goals? The best thing to do is to visit your box on site and decide for yourself.
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