Yesterday, elite Australian CrossFit athlete Kara Saunders revealed why she won’t be competing in the 2019 CrossFit Games season. Around the same time the Down Under CrossFit Championship will be taking place in Queensland, Australia in May 2019, Saunders is expecting.
On Instagram, Saunders and her husband Matt Saunders made the reveal in the perfect post that captures the essence of both CrossFit and Australia. In her Instagram description she writes, “Looks like I’ll be substituting my weight vest for a different kind this season. Baby SHE bear due May 2019″
For Saunders’ fans, this news comes as both an amazing and slightly bittersweet announcement, as it also indicates that she won’t be competing in 2019 CrossFit Games season.
Over the last decade, Saunders has competed in the CrossFit Games seven times and has steadily improved her average placing over time. From 2015-2018, her highest place finish was seventh, and she took home second in 2017. On top of that, Saunders won the Australia/Pacific Regionals competition 5-times and came in second only twice. Needless to say, the CrossFit Games landscape has lost a very competitive athlete for the 2019 CrossFit Games season.
To celebrate Saunders’ announcement, we wanted to take a moment and highlight some of her awesome strength feats that we’ve written about over the last few years.
- That Time She Snatched 100kg/220 lbs
- Her Accidental 130kg/286 lb Jerk PR
- The Time She Pistol Squatted 42-Reps In a Minute for a World Record
- Her Best On Earth 18.5 Workout
Saunders is definitely missing an interesting pivotal season for the CrossFit Games. With all of the 2019 Games changes, it will definitely be an interesting year for all athletes, especially those at the most elite levels. If you’re just now catching up to all of the changes and the season restructure, then check out the 2019 CrossFit Games Schedule.
We’re sad to see Saunders out for the 2019 season, but of course we wish her the best and a healthy pregnancy!
Feature image from @karasaundo Instagram page.