You too happen to have some athletes who enter your heart for their determination? For us, yes... and we must admit that there are two names that, in our opinion, have shone with their own light in recent years: Emma Cary and Mal O'Brien.
These exceptional athletes have dominated competitions in recent years, giving even the undisputed queen, Tia Clair Toomey, a run for her money. However, the 2024 season will see an unexpected twist, as both have announced a break from competition.
Index
Emma Cary's announcement
After being there great champion of This year's TYR Wodapalooza and considered one of the great athletes of the season, Emma has announced her retirement. To do so, the American used her Instagram profile to announce the news of her farewell.
The reason for his withdrawal was not clear. However, from the messages published, we can assume that this is the same problem that affected another big name in the category, of similar age, Mallory O'Brien.
Emma posted to stay taking time out to connect with God, explaining that she has dedicated herself to CrossFit® for 10 of her 20 years of life. In fact, Emma's and Mal's stories are similar at several points; Like Mal, Emma has not 100% ruled out her retirement from competitive CrossFit®.
“This is not the end of competitive CrossFit® for me, it's the beginning of truly following Christ and answering His call to 'Follow Me,'” he wrote in part of his carousel post.
Emma leaves the competition in one of her best moments as an athlete, last year he finished the Games in 8th place overall and this year's victory at TYR Wodapalooza placed her among the top names of the season.
Even with the Tia Clair Toomey's return to competitive CrossFit®, Emma was already considered by many to be a podium candidate. Maybe not overtaking Tia, but managing to rank among the top.
But the thing is, just as is currently happening with Mal, we could also see Emma's early move away from the sport. Mallory left the competition last year and has announced that she will also be out this year, leaving doubts about her future.
Mal O'Brien's message
We had already said goodbye in 2023, when Mal had announced that she was taking a break to find herself again. We hoped that it would come back to life in this new season, but unfortunately it won't happen.
In a recent post on her Instagram profile, the American athlete announced that she will not participate in this season, also revealing the reason for her choice: wants to continue to take care of his well-being, as he has spent much of his life completely dedicated to CrossFit®.
She recently decided to move to Hawaii, where she was able to find her peace: “I feel very at peace. Over the past few months I have felt very overwhelmed, frustrated and anxious. Now, being here in Hawaii, I feel at peace and like it's a new beginning for me.
My overall goal is definitely my well-being as a person, because that's not something I almost ever focus on. With that being said, I will not be competing in the 2024 season. I really feel like that's not what I need in my life right now.
Watch Mal O'Brien's announcement here:
Now Mal O'Brien he will try to enjoy life and take care of everything he has neglected During the years. However, while he hasn't confirmed his return to CrossFit® in the next few years, Mal has certainly not said this will be the final end of his career.
“Just because I won't compete in the 2024 season doesn't mean I'll never compete. I won't put a timeline on anything, I'll just let things unfold and see what makes me feel best.
Additionally, Mal O'Brien will continue to train, but will now have the freedom to schedule workouts based on his needs. He will also release content and create some of his own stuff.
A Profound Impact on the World of CrossFit®
Cary and O'Brien's announcement of these breaks sparked a mixture of surprise and admiration within the CrossFit® community.
Their decision highlights the importance of listening to your body and mind, remembering that even top athletes must find a balance between passion for sport and personal well-being.
While the community will miss their exceptional performances, there is also a sense of respect for their courageous and mature choice.
The 2024 CrossFit® Season Kicks Off
Despite the absence of Cary and O'Brien, the The 2024 CrossFit® season kicked off with a bang. release of the workout 24.1 he saw Colter Mertens triumphed in the men's elite category with a time of 5'19 and Mirjam Von Rohr in the women's category with a time of 5'39.
These results demonstrate that the competitive spirit and enthusiasm in the world of CrossFit® remains as alive as ever. Plus, with the recent release of Workout 24.2, it's clear that there's still plenty of exciting excitement and challenges ahead of us.