The most dominant athlete in the sport of CrossFit, Tia-Clair Toomey-Orr, announced that her appearance at the Torian Pro in May will be a “goodbye to this chapter.”
The details: The seven-time CrossFit Games champion announced her decision on Wednesday in a YouTube video, seemingly signaling the end of her CrossFit career.
But Toomey-Orr did not go so far as to officially announce her retirement from competitive CrossFit altogether, leaving the door open for a possible Games run later this summer.
- “In May, I’m taking the floor at Torian Pro, but this time, it’s different. This time, it’s my moment to say goodbye to this chapter. This sport has given me everything, every challenge, every triumph, and, most importantly, the incredible community that surrounds it,” Toomey-Orr said in the video.
The Start of Something New
The Australian athlete has recently focused her competitive drive on HYROX fitness racing, which primarily entails running and stations incorporating cross-training movements such as sled pulls and burpee broad jumps.
Last year, she made headlines by announcing her participation in a race alongside her friend and fellow CrossFitter James Newbury. More recently, she set a world record in the women’s pro doubles division with Joanna Wietrzyk.
It’s quite evident that Toomey-Orr is prioritizing HYROX training and has openly discussed training as an elite athlete for both HYROX and CrossFit.
- Her fitness brand, PRVN, has also launched a HYROX training program that athletes can follow to receive specific coaching from HYROX elite athlete and coach James Kelly.
In her video, Toomey-Orr mentions HYROX and her other athletic endeavors. However, she primarily focuses on expressing gratitude to the community and reflecting on what the sport has given her and on what lies ahead in her career.
- “Competing to be the most dominant athlete in CrossFit history has been my life, my passion, and my purpose, and it shaped me in ways I can never imagine, but I’m always going to remember and be so grateful for the love, the lesson, and the legacy I will continue on striving to build now. It feels only right to bring it full circle, celebrating where it all began,” Toomey-Orr added.
While not explicitly stating what’s next for her, she shared some insights into what the sport has given her.
- “I think that just being able to apply my fitness elsewhere in different sports has helped widen my horizon, widen my knowledge on health and fitness, on training, on how to be a better coach, athlete, programmer, all the above – that’s what it’s really all about,” Toomey-Orr said.
Going for Gold
It’s not surprising that the G.O.A.T. is ready to move on to something else. She has repeatedly stated that she is a competitor and her athleticism extends beyond CrossFit.
Amid winning seven Games titles, Toomey-Orr also competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics in weightlifting. Additionally, she was part of the Australian qualifying team for the two-man bobsled at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
Oh, and she also welcomed a baby in May 2023. Her daughter, Willow, is never too far from her mom, even during training, racing, or attending events. Toomey-Orr notably returned to elite-level CrossFit just five months after giving birth, finishing second at the 2023 Rogue Invitational.
Aside from the Torian Pro, Toomey-Orr is also preparing for the HYROX World Championships in June. It’s clear she is a unique competitor, and she will certainly still be on the competition floor in some capacity.
- “I think when you’re addicted to something, a lot of people don’t understand where it comes from or why you want to do something. It amplifies the grind, the hard work you do, and it amplifies that reward after accomplishing your goals or whatever you’re out there to achieve. And for me, I think I’m addicted to challenging myself and putting myself in a position to really fight for it,” she said.
The Bottom Line
While it may not be a formal retirement announcement from Toomey-Orr, it’s a declaration that change is afoot and that her days are numbered in this sport as an elite individual.
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Credit: Enrique Villaseñor, @evillmediasports / Instagram
