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Home » Podcasts » From Quad Racing to The CrossFit Games (w/ Emma McQuaid)

From Quad Racing to The CrossFit Games (w/ Emma McQuaid)

Written by David Tao
Last updated on August 10th, 2023

Today I’m talking to multi-time CrossFit Games athlete Emma McQuaid, who just qualified for the 2022 CrossFit Games. The Irish athlete has a length background in sports but didn’t find CrossFit until she was 24 years old. Now in her 30s, the Wodapalooza champion talks about her background in quad bike racing — ATV racing in American slang — how it both helped and hurt her career in elite fitness competition.

Before we get into that, I want to give a quick shoutout to today’s episode sponsor, Colter Dillon. Do you struggle finding a t-shirt that fits as well as that ONE t you loved until it wore out? Do you wish a standard medium was JUST a little bit longer, or maybe a large wasn’t so baggy for you? Then you’ve got to check out Colter Dillon. They personalize the fit for YOU, and they have tons of color options — you can even personalize artwork on the shirt! They deliver your perfect t-shirt every time. Check out Colter Dillon today.

Emma McQuaid on the BarBend Podcast

In this episode of The BarBend Podcast, David Thomas Tao and Emma McQuaid discuss: 

  • Making huge strides in confidence and Emma’s mental game (2:20)
  • Why it can be hard for athletes to verbalize their feelings (4:30)
  • How swimming has become critical to CrossFit Games success (7:30)
  • Emma’s unlikely transition from quad bike racing to CrossFit (10:30)
  • Mobility deficits Emma had to overcome (13:00)
  • Recovering from major shoulder surgery (16:50)
  • Battling the heat and Emma’s plan to recover between events (19:50)

Relevant links and further reading

  • Follow Emma McQuaid on Instagram
  • Follow David Thomas Tao on Instagram and Twitter

 

About David Tao

BarBend's Co-Founder and CEO, David is a veteran of the health & fitness industry, with nearly a decade of experience building and running editorial teams in the space. He also serves as a color commentator for both National and International weightlifting competitions, many through USA Weightlifting.

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