United States

Polly McKinstry

Ruination CrossFit
2024 open 53rd worldwide

I was raised to believe that daily participation in athletics is an essential part of life. My grandfather was a distance runner in the 1924 and 1928 Olympics. I was a varsity athlete in high school and college, including seven years of field hockey, swimming, and diving. I was proud to be awarded "most valuable woman athlete" in my senior year at Swarthmore College. I'm an oculofacial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, which means I operate on and treat the eyelids, orbits, and upper face. During fellowship, I competed in standard distance triathlons. I had a son, Troy, in 1990, and a daughter, Casey, in 1993. For the next two decades, most of my formal athletic involvement was as a team mom or coach for my kids. I still participated in recreational sports throughout, including swimming, tennis, and horseback jumping with my daughter. I stopped running about 20 years ago because of knee swelling and arthritis brought on by complications from a childhood skiing accident. Our son Troy introduced my husband, Art Astorino, and me to CrossFit in 2014, when I joined Ruination CrossFit. I love the intense group workouts! It's like being on a team again! In 2015, I had learned enough to compete in the CrossFit Open and qualified for the games in the 60+ women’s division. The historical damage to my right knee continued to plague me, and I had to wear a knee brace throughout. While the leg strength I gained from CrossFit delayed my knee's deterioration, I ultimately still needed surgery in 2016 and a total knee replacement in 2018. I've recovered by now, and am excited to compete in the new 65+ Masters division! I'm also grateful to my workout buddy and husband, Art, my head coach Michele Douglas, and everyone at Ruination CrossFit.

Open

Year Rank Worldwide Rank by Region Rank By Country Rank By Affiliate
2024 53rd Women (65+) 13th Women (65+) North America West 33rd Women (65+) United States 1st Women (65+) Ruination CrossFit
2023 14th Women (65+) 6th Women (65+) North America West 13th Women (65+) United States 1st Women (65+) Ruination CrossFit
2022 32nd Women (65+) 27th Women (65+) North America 27th Women (65+) United States 1st Women (65+) Ruination CrossFit
2021 15th Women (65+) 13th Women (65+) North America 13th Women (65+) United States 1st Women (65+) Ruination CrossFit
2020 231st Women (60+) – – 164th Women (60+) United States – –
2018 96th Women (60+) 19th Women (60+) West Coast 75th Women (60+) United States – –
2017 62nd Women (60+) 5th Women (60+) Southern California 46th Women (60+) United States – –
2016 29th Women (60+) 8th Women (60+) Southern California – – – –
2015 24th Women (60+) 2nd Women (60+) Southern California – – – –

Age Group Quarterfinal

Year Rank Worldwide
2024 25th Women (65+)
2023 46th Women (65+)
2022 22nd Women (65+)
2021 11th Women (65+)
2018 154th Women (60+)
2017 65th Women (60+)
2016 34th Women (60+)
2015 12th Women (60+)

Semifinal

Year Division Rank Semifinal
2022 Women (65+) 13th Age Group Semifinal

Games

Year Division Rank
2021 Women (65+) 3rd
2015 Women (60+) 20th

Benchmark Stats

  • Back Squat 165 lb
    Chad1000x --
    Clean and Jerk 95 lb
    Deadlift 202 lb
  • Fight Gone Bad 236
    Filthy 50 --
    Fran 6:29
    Grace --
  • Helen --
    L1 Benchmark --
    Max Pull-ups --
    Run 5k --
  • Snatch 75 lb
    Sprint 400m --