It’s been a while since we last heard from Gabriela Migała, the second-fittest woman at the 2024 CrossFit Games.
Now we know why: On Friday, she took to YouTube to reveal that she re-tore her Achilles.
Remind me: Migała sustained her original injury at the 2024 Rogue Invitational in Aberdeen, Scotland.
In Event 6, entitled “The Duel IV,” athletes had to go up and over a gigantic hay bale, complete a 50-foot sled push, and finish with four power star steps.
- In the third round of the elimination-style event, Migała stopped after what appeared to be an awkward landing and did not finish the heat.
She later posted on Instagram to disclose her injury, stating, “Unfortunately, on Saturday night, during the last workout, I tore my Achilles, ending my competition.”
The Setback – Another Achilles Tear
Migała began her road to recovery after surgery in late November 2024. Over the following months, she showcased pictures and videos of her rehabilitation on Instagram.
She seemed to be making progress; however, on Friday, Migała revealed that she had a failed surgery in November, which led to a re-rupture of her Achilles at the beginning of February 2025.
She took some time off social media to process the devastating event.
- “I just needed to take personal time to kind of deal with that setback and accept the reality, because it was very unexpected, and to be honest, heartbreaking,” she said.
The time immediately following surgery was the hardest for Migała.
- “I was dealing with a lot of negative emotions,” she said in the video, “which I needed to navigate through. The worst was that I needed to accept that I had to start over again and the feeling that I just wasted 10 weeks of rehab.”
She also feared that she might never return to the sport she loves or trust her body again.
Staying Positive
Even with all the negativity, Migała wanted to share her journey with her fans, leaning into a hopefully optimistic video.
- “I still feel that we should always give ourselves time to feel all these feelings,” Migała said. “Even if they are bad sometimes. I think the most important part is to remember that feeling sorry for yourself, sad, disappointed, angry, and blaming others is not going to get you anywhere.”
Migała remains firm in her belief that channeling negative feelings into action is essential. She feels much better and takes pride in not giving up. She remains determined and hopeful about her recovery.
Negative thoughts always creep in, and when they do, she focuses on the fact that she is growing stronger simply by going through this journey.
- “I’m feeling more confident, in a way, because I know how it feels already,” Migała said. “I’m definitely learning how to be patient this time around, that’s for sure. And I’m really trying to stay positive.”
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Featured Image: Susana Rodriguez, @ideyafilms_ / Instagram
