Katrin Davidsdottir, two-time winner of the Reebok CrossFit Games, has had a remarkable year. Davidsdottir just missed the podium at this year’s Games, but has shown incredible personal growth and has a voice outside of the the CrossFit box that has the world listening.
Just this year alone, she finished in fourth place at the Reebok CrossFit Games, published a book, was featured in ESPN’s Body Issue, and most recently had the chance to be featured on the espnW World-Class Athlete panel at the espnW Women + Sports summit.
Davidsdottir spoke on a panel with other elite female athletes, like WNBA All-Star, Liz Cambage, WWE Raw champion, Becky Lynch, and 100-meter Olympic Gold Medalist, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. While just being on the panel alone was impressive, and well-deserved, what Davidsdottir had to say during, but also after, are worth highlighting.
During the Event
On the panel, Davidsdottir said (courtesy of espnW):
“When you fail, there’s nothing wrong with it. You just failed at that particular event. You’re not a failure, you’re not not good enough. You just failed at that particular event, and then you try again. And you try again better.”
After the Event
After the event, Davidsdottir shared on her Instagram page some words that she said she didn’t get the chance to express on stage.
Something I wish I had addressed on stage but didn’t: “We as women don’t take enough credit for our accomplishments.”
I say WE a lot. We won the Games. We worked hard at this. And I mean every single ounce of that “we”. The statement above could well be true, but I couldn’t agree less with it in this context.
When I say that “I” failed at something but “we” accomplished something, I am not in anyway giving away credit or making myself smaller. In all honesty: I don’t mind failures. I NEED them. I learn from them. They push me to places I otherwise couldn’t have gone. And for me to do that, I must take ownership of them first.
When I say WE accomplish something I am not taking away anything from myself. I take GREAT PRIDE in my own hard work, dedication & choices I make. I am simply acknowledging the people that are on this journey with me, that without I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am.
Maybe us women don’t take enough credit for the amazing things we do: but man or woman I think we could all do with acknowledging the STRENGTH in help. The strength in people.
I want to show people what is POSSIBLE. But I try to be open & honest with what it takes. It takes a lot of hard work. It takes a lot of failures. And it takes A TEAM OF PEOPLE.
Davidsdottir’s commitment to CrossFit speaks for itself in all of her accolades, however, the way that she has used her voice this year is something special.
We’re looking forward to see how she closes out 2019, and we can only imagine what kind of impact she is going to have on the sport of CrossFit, female athletes, and beyond in 2020.
Feature image from @katrintanja Instagram page.
