Tia Clair Toomey has not only claimed a spot in the CrossFit Games this summer, but she’s also fulfilled a lifelong aspiration to compete at the Olympic Games in August.
An inspiration to all CrossFit-ers and aspiring athletes around the world, Tia qualified for the 2016 Reebok CrossFit Games after Regionals last month. She took second in the Pacific Regional, just behind Kara Webb.
The extra good news was compounded when she also was selected to represent Australia at the Olympic Games in Rio this summer after lifting at the Oceania selection trials in Fiji.
Life is full of ups and downs
The qualification news was announced just when Tia was celebrating her engagement to Shane Orr who introduced her to CrossFit. However life took a turn and she managed to tell her grandfather the good news before his passing a few days ago.
“He was really happy, knowing that I made the Australian team for the Rio Olympics. He was proud to hear that before he left us,” she said.
“He was a very large influence on my determination on making it and on following through with a dream.”
The former middle distance runner compiled a host of results which saw her dubbed the second fittest woman in the world last year and she also owns a gym. She took up weightlifting in earnest less than three years ago and quickly rose through the ranks to become Australia’s sole women’s representative at Rio, after impressive efforts at crucial events in Brisbane and Fiji.
“It’s all happened very fast compared but I guess that’s down to determination and how bad you want it. It just kind of falls into place if you really want it that bad…and I did.”
Back to back, Tia will compete in Carson, USA at the CrossFit Games from July 20-24, and then in the 58kg Weightlifting event at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the Olympic Games the following month.
Source: Sunshine Coast Daily, Australia
