Inspirational Stories

Real stories from real women kicking ass past age 50!

My Friends! 

We don't celebrate each other enough! So, with the help of my friends at Feisty Menopause, we reached out to YOU to share your stories.

This is just the second post of an ongoing series where we will be celebrating all you bad-ass women who, at age 50+, decided you were just getting started!

Cheers! 
Carla

Meet Rosie!

Rosie joins us from the great country of Australia! She is a 30-year veteran of the film and TV industry who found CrossFit in her 60’s! During her first year, she competed in the CrossFit Open placing 6th in her age group in Victoria and 145th in the world. Her story is truly inspiring!

Growing up, Rosie was never really into sport. She was a creative soul who pursued a career in the film and TV industry. This was a demanding career with a lot of time spent traveling, moving heavy equipment, and even hanging out of helicopters in pursuit of the perfect shot! Healthy food was hard to come by, the hours were long and there was no shortage of partying. To keep up with this lifestyle, Rosie would go to the gym before a shoot and lift weights, do some martial arts and run.

But it hasn’t always been easy for Rosie. She has suffered from anxiety for 40 years and she manages this with yoga, which she describes as a foundational element in her life. At 50 she became a yoga instructor. However, while traveling in Asia, she contracted a virus that left her with chronic fatigue putting her practice on hold.

Through yoga, martial arts, and running, Rosie found her road to recovery. She also started running. Her first milestone race, The Rip to River, was followed by many more best-in-age category finishes at MS charity and Parkruns.

At 60, Rosie was getting bored with conventional fitness.

“One day I walked past a CrossFit Gym. I found it fascinating with people doing gymnastics, swinging on rings, flipping tires, rowing, and lifting weights. They were all young and extremely fit. Due to my social anxiety, I didn’t go in. I stopped at the open door every day ….. until one day a guy said, “For goodness sake come in”.

From that day on, she was hooked! CrossFit had become a major part of Rosie’s life mentally, physically, and emotionally.

That first year, she competed in the CrossFit Open and won in her 60+ age group in Victoria and was ranked 6th in all of Australia and 145th in the world.

Today, at age 67, Rosie still does CrossFit 5 times a week mixed with 2 sessions of gymnastics and a pilates class - and, of course, recovery and rehab through yoga.

“Feeling strong and eating healthy is now my forever life”. I am kinder to myself these days… Working around arthritis, fatigue, and past shoulder surgeries, I balance my competitive nature with a recovery and mobility program.

Rosie lives in Australia, walks her puppy ‘Raffy’ 5-8 km every day, and always has time for coffee with friends. She combats her anxiety with humor, humility and by embracing the inclusive nature of the CrossFit culture. She walks the beach daily listening to her ‘go-to podcasts’ by Dr. Stacy Sims and Selene Yeager.

Thank you, Rosie, for sharing your truly incredible story!