Sara Sigmundsdóttir Will Miss the 2021 CrossFit Season Due to Ruptured ACL
On March 14, 2021, six-time CrossFit Games athlete Sara Sigmundsdóttir shared a post on Instagram that no athlete enjoys sharing. After suffering a knee injury earlier in the week while performing split jerks, the 28-year-old announced that she will not be a part of the 2021 CrossFit season due to a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
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“I experienced my biggest nightmare earlier this week when I hurt my knee in training,” Sigmundsdóttir wrote in the post above. “I felt a click in my knee during a split jerk and went straight to get an MRI scan. The results showed a ruptured ACL. I am still realizing that this has actually happened and that I won’t be taking part in the 2021 CrossFit Games season. This recovery process requires imminent surgery and then months of rehabilitation. When the timeline becomes clearer I’ll share an update on what that looks like.”
Sigmundsdóttir was hoping to rebound in 2021 after suffering a shin injury that played a role in what many believe to be a lackluster performance during stage one of the 2020 CrossFit Games. (She ended up placing 21st overall.) The Icelandic native has won the CrossFit Open three times in her career (including the last two years) and was considered a favorite going into this year’s edition of the season kickoff. This isn’t the first time that Sigmundsdóttir has had to withdraw due to injury. In 2018, she suffered a rib injury and was unable to compete in that year’s Games.
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In spite of the circumstances, Sigmundsdóttir also shared appreciation for support as well as optimism that she could recover from this setback and move forward in the future.
“I’m so thankful for the support I have received from my team and sponsors,” Sigmundsdóttir wrote. “Then of course from all of you who have supported me through thick and thin and have been my biggest motivation since I started in the sport. Knowing that this type of injury can be healed 100% gives me every reason to be positive and the hunger to make the strongest comeback is already there. This is my challenge now. Challenge accepted.”
Aside from her three Open titles, Sigmundsdóttir has finished on the podium at the CrossFit Games twice. Her highest placing has been third in both 2015 and 2016. She has also won the Filthy 150 and Dubai CrossFit Championship in 2019.
Featured Image: @sarasigmunds on Instagram