Kara Saunders will no longer be competing at the 2021 CrossFit Games. She went through the first day of events for individuals on Wednesday, but today decided to step down citing that her health “comes first.”
”As always I sacrificed so much to be here, even more so this year by leaving my baby girl for 5 weeks. I’ve cried every single day since I left, got COVID in transit, and I’m now withdrawing from the CrossFit Games after all of that,” she wrote.
Kara Saunders is a Games veteran who won the Torian Pro Semifinal this year and finished 3rd in the worldwide 2021 CrossFit Open. Approaching the Games, Kara Saunders was considered among the top elite athletes and, perhaps, could put pressure on Tia-Clair Toomey-Orr’s reign as the champion.
After the first day in Madison, the Aussie athlete capped two events and ended in 34th place.
Source: Courtesy of Kara SaundersYesterday Kara’s husband, Matt Saunders, wrote on Instagram and explained his wife’s health conditions were deteriorated due to COVID-19. “Before starting she was suffering with postviral syndrome, mainly in her lungs, limiting her lungs to about 10% capacity,” he wrote.
Read Kara Saunders’ Explanation for Withdrawing
I gave it a nudge but it wasn’t to be. My health 100% comes first and after attempting a day of competition I realised that all it was doing was sending me backwards while my body is still trying to heal.
As always I sacrificed so much to be here, even more so this year by leaving my baby girl for 5 weeks. I’ve cried every single day since I left, got COVID in transit, and I’m now withdrawing from the @crossfitgames after all of that. It’s been an emotional rollercoaster ride to say the least, but honestly, shit just happens. So many people have lost everything to this pandemic and I just didn’t get to compete, so I still consider myself pretty lucky.
Thank you to the medical and support crew for having my back and giving me the opportunity to compete, and my sponsors for supporting me through it all. And thank you to everyone for sending me such kind messages always.
Good luck to all the fierce ladies throwing down this year, enjoy every second!
Image Sources
- kara-saunders-mum-and-scotti-baby: Courtesy of Kara Saunders
- Kara Saunders withdraws: Courtesy of CrossFit Inc.