Sydney Peterson had a good feeling.
The WOD included six minutes of SkiErg calories and goblet squats, followed by four minutes to perform as many muscle-ups as possible.
- Peterson had been chasing her first muscle-up for five years, and that day, she told us that, “I kind of had a feeling going in.”
After completing the first part of the workout, she moved to the rings at her gym, Misfit Athletics in Portland, ME, and pulled herself up. Then something happened. She felt a sense of movement as she transitioned past the point where she usually got stuck.
- “And I knew I could dip out really low… So this might be happening,” Peterson remembered thinking.
Eleven long seconds later, Peterson pressed out of her first muscle-up. A strict one, no less.
A giant smile instantly spread across her face as she held the top of the muscle-up, showcasing her accomplishment.
- “I didn’t cry because I was too excited, but I could have cried tears of joy… I’m so glad I didn’t get it at open gym by myself, because it felt that much more rewarding having everyone cheering,” she said.
Anyone who has pursued a muscle-up understands the feeling: it’s a sensation of pure joy, often tinged with disbelief, as many of us begin CrossFit thinking we’ll never become strong enough to pull ourselves through the rings.
But for 35-year-old Peterson, there’s an entirely different layer to her accomplishment.
Peterson has cerebral palsy.
Peterson’s Story
Peterson was born with cerebral palsy, a genetic movement disorder caused by damage to the developing brain, which typically occurs before birth.
The condition manifests differently in each person. Some individuals may experience muscle spasticity, characterized by tightness. For some, it affects only one side of the body, while others may exhibit uncontrolled movements or irregular posture.
In Peterson’s case, the condition affects her body from the waist down on both sides.
- “My legs don’t straighten, so I’m in constant flexion,” she said, adding that she also suffers from muscle tightness and struggles with various ranges of motion, as well as generating a lot of power with her legs.
As a result of her condition, Peterson never played sports as a kid. “I sat on the sidelines,” she said.
Peterson joined her school’s basketball team at one point, but she never got to play. She believes the coaches were afraid she would get hurt, so they never put her in the game.
- “Growing up, I did feel left out, because sports and teams and that camaraderie are huge for development and social connections, and I do feel like I missed out a lot on that,” she said.
That wasn’t the only challenge. “There wasn’t a lot of stability in my life [as a child],” Peterson said.
Her parents were divorced, and she lived with her mother, who was an alcoholic and “not the most financially responsible,” she added.
Finding CrossFit
In 2017, Peterson discovered CrossFit. Given her cerebral palsy, she wasn’t sure what she could do, but she was willing to try.
After two years, Peterson and her husband found Misfits Athletics, which seemed to be a better fit for them.
- “I remember I walked in for the first time and they were doing ‘Jackie,’” she said of her first day at Misfits Athletics in 2019.
Unlike her experience at her first gym, these coaches were willing and eager to take the time to help her scale “Jackie” in a way that made sense to her. Right away, Peterson knew she was in the right gym.
- “It opened my eyes to what was possible,” she said.
But still, a muscle-up wasn’t even “on the radar as being a possibility” at the time.
Two years later, Peterson competed in the CrossFit Open in what was then known as the neuromuscular division, now referred to as the multi-extremity division.
However, after competing for three seasons, including at the WheelWOD Games, Peterson returned to doing CrossFit for its health benefits. She has also become passionate about helping others do the same.
- “It has made me the fittest version of myself, and not competing and just doing it for overall health has made me happier,” Peterson said.
She remembers feeling afraid and even embarrassed about trying to move in front of others, as it looked a little different. “Walking through the door is the hardest part,” for most people, she said.
- “I never did burpees to the floor. I did them to a box to make sure I was in a comparable position to an able-bodied person,” she explained.
But now she realizes that it’s okay if her movements look a little different, and she’s no longer ashamed of how her body appears.
Even though she has cerebral palsy, which sometimes makes things more challenging, she no longer places additional limits on what she can achieve.
- “It’s not uncommon for us to put expectations on ourselves, but all it really takes is a willingness to try and a willingness to not be afraid of what it looks like,” she said. “Don’t ever say, ‘No, I can’t do something.’”
And her strict muscle-up is all the proof she needs.
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