Brazilian Julia Kato Finds a Path Back to the CrossFit Games
What’s better than qualifying for your second trip to the CrossFit Games?
For Julia Kato, it was doing it in her home country, surrounded by friends and family after two years of living abroad and just a few months after overcoming a set of injuries.
The Brazilian is one of only a handful of athletes heading back after a gap year (or several), and she earned her way by taking second place at the South America Semifinal by Copa Sur.
- “I want to do great this year [at the CrossFit Games], but I also want to have fun. My approach to training has been to enjoy every step of the process and get back [to the Games] to represent my gym and my country,” Kato told the Morning Chalk Up in an interview.
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Kato’s Story
Kato qualified for the CrossFit Games for the first time in 2022 by taking second place at CrossFit Copa Sur.
But right before heading to Madison for the Games, she sustained a tailbone injury after falling from a water slide, making any kind of hinging or squatting movement almost unbearable.
- She went on to place 37th place at the 2022 Games and sought medical treatment.
That same year, during a team competition in late November, she tore a muscle in her shoulder.
To add to this saga, she then sustained an elbow injury, diagnosed as a partial rupture of the infraspinatus, right before the Rogue Invitational Qualifiers last August.
All her doctors pointed to the usual: overtraining and general weakness.
Just before the 2023 Semifinals, Kato met with new medical advisors who alleviated the tailbone/posterior chain pain that hindered her ability to squat and hinge.
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She mentioned that only about 60% of her overall training sessions were CrossFit in the lead-up to that season.
- “I did CrossFit classes for a while,” she said, but she and her coach were focused on building strength while allowing her body to heal.
So, they prioritized weightlifting over met-cons.
This gained her a spot in the United Arab Emirates (where she had been living) National Weightlifting team in the 64kg/141-pound division and regained her confidence in competing.
Kato returned to elite CrossFit competition at TYR Wodapalooza in January but withdrew after the first event.
- “It was a lot of pulling volume, so I knew that if I wanted to be in good shape for the Open, I had to take a step back to move forward,” Kato shared.
Kato’s 2024 Comeback
After spending a year battling her injuries, Kato found a new perspective on training.
- “I’m more aware of the benefits of training for general health now and how coaches and medical staff can help with recovery and overall wellness,” Kato shared. “I believe all coaches and people in the sport and fitness industry need to be educated in how to treat injuries and refer people to the right professionals.”
In Brazil, to be able to coach at a CrossFit affiliate, one must pass a series of exams and regulations, such as having a BA in Sports Science.
Kato also holds the CrossFit L1 and L2 certifications, and her goal after the Games is to get her L3 Coaching Certificate.
- “I’m excited to compete in Texas; after a year off, everything feels new and I can’t wait to step onto the arena,” she said.
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Featured image: @crossfitgames / Instagram