Eight-time CrossFit Games qualifier Kara Saunders: “I’m one person that can contribute to uniting these women, and in particular mums. My main message is, don’t feel like you have to jump back on and be going to the CrossFit Games. Be relevant. Make it relevant to where you are. But, by all means, do not take a single excuse. There's reasons. Things are really hard but also wicked cool. Sometimes I don’t get to warm up because I’m with my daughter. Wouldn’t change it for the world. Other times I get to warm up, cool. Take it as it comes, but keep it relevant. No pressure, but don’t ever accept a single excuse. Don’t ever be a victim to something that is something so amazing — being a parent — and just do the best you can. I’m hoping to prove that. Maybe we (mums) can do a little bit more than we are given credit for with a bit of hard work — a lot of hard work.” 

This past weekend, Saunders dominated the Australian CrossFit Champions with six event wins and 11 top-five event finishes. 

Saunders has seven consecutive CrossFit Games appearances and returns this year after taking a year off to give birth to her daughter, Scotti. A little less than six months after giving birth, Saunders finished 12th in the worldwide CrossFit Open, earning a qualifying spot to the 2020 Reebok CrossFit Games. 

For Saunders, this weekend was about knocking the rust off and getting a feel for competition again. Follow Saunders’ journey on her YouTube channel.

Learn more about Australia’s first Sanctionals event of the 2020 season.