Icelandic athlete Sara Sigmundsdottir, who placed third at the CrossFit Games in 2015 and 2016, fourth in 2017, and has a personal best deadlift of 155kg, is very serious about it.
Here are her recipes to keep you strong in body and mind.
1. When it comes to training, she puts in hours of hard work.
“I’m the opposite of a morning person. I can train at midnight and have the best session of my life, but no one wants to be with me at 6am. I get up at 7.30am and train from 8-10am. As a professional athlete, I’m really lucky that my job involves being in the gym. I train six to eight hours a day, with breaks in between.”
2. She works to fine-tune the noise in her mind
“I journal every morning. This habit helps me stay in the present moment, especially on days when I wake up and my mind feels overwhelmed with so many things to do. I like the structured format of the journal, which prompts me to write three things I’m grateful for and one ‘I am…’ affirmation. I’m always working towards the goal of ‘I am calm.’ This is an ongoing goal for me.”
3. She does fitness her own way.
“It doesn’t matter what other people think – what’s important is to be honest with yourself about what kind of training will help you reach your goals. Maybe that means three months of the year training without pressure and doing what you want to do. Or maybe you function best under pressure. Do what works for you.”
4. It has the same effect on beauty
“I used to be shamed for being muscular. I’d walk through the airport and people would say things like, ‘That girl could beat me!’ These guys would never say that to other guys. When I started coaching, I became obsessed with the idea that the more I pushed myself and worked hard, the more attractive I would be.”
5. She finds motivation in unexpected places
“I hurt my knee in 2021. I heard a clicking sound during a split jerk. [raising the barbell from the shoulders to the overhead position, with the feet jumping into a lunge position to receive the bar] An MRI revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament [which meant I had to miss the 2021 CrossFitGames]So I thought, ‘What can I do?’ I can have surgery, recover, and make the most epic comeback. It’s all about finding a story that inspires me.”
6. She is emotionally strong
“Just before I was injured, I had ended an 11-year relationship and then my dog Molly was hit by a car. It was a tough experience, but I tell myself that everything teaches me something. I’m still coming through this experience with a positive attitude and am learning to enjoy each day instead of always thinking about the future. It was a tough time, but I’m learning to live in the moment.”
7. She expresses her creativity
“In my free time I like to paint, but to be honest I’m terrible at it! I’ve also started playing the guitar. It’s very frustrating because at first I’m making good progress, then the next time I start again I feel hopeless. But I love that when I’m practicing I get so absorbed in the process that it takes my mind to a totally different place.”
8. She embraces every aspect of her job — even the boring parts.
“Another aspect of my job is paperwork – there are loads of papers to sign and meetings to attend. But the way I look at it is, I can either complain and procrastinate or I can be in the moment, put on some good music (I love classic rock) and just get the job done. I often remind myself that I choose to do what I do, and it’s really important to remember that.”
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