With her third-place finishes at the 2015 and 2016 CrossFit Games, fourth-place finish in 2017, and a deadlift PB of 155kg, Icelandic athlete Sara Sigmundsdóttir certainly means business.
Here’s her recipe for staying mind-body strong.
1. When it comes to training, she puts in the hours
‘I am the opposite of a morning person. I could train at midnight and have the best session of my life, but at 6am, no one wants to be around me. I’ll wake up at 7.30am and then train from 8am to 10am. I’m so lucky that, as a professional athlete, training in the gym is my job. I train for between six and eight hours a day, with breaks in between.’
2. She works on fine-tuning her mental chatter
‘I write in my journal every morning. The ritual helps me be present, especially on those days whenI wake up and there are so many things to do that my mind feels overwhelmed. I love the journal’s structured format: it will prompt me to write three things that I’m grateful for, along with one “I am…” affirmation. I’m always working on: “I am calm” – it’s an ongoing goal for me.’
3. She does fitness on her own terms
‘It doesn’t matter what other people think; what’s important is that you’re honest with yourself about what type of training will help you hit your goal. Maybe that’s three months of the year with no-pressure workouts, where you just do your thing. Or maybe you work best under pressure. Do what works for you.’
4. And does the same for beauty
‘I used to be shamed for being muscular. I’d walk through an airport and get so many comments like, ‘Oh, that girl can beat me up!’ Those men would never say that to another man. Once I started coaching, I fell in love with the idea that the more you push yourself and work hard, the more attractive you are.’
5. She finds motivation in unlikely places
‘In 2021 I hurt my knee. I felt it click during a split jerk [raising the barbell from the shoulders to the overhead position, with the feet jumping into a lunge position to receive the bar] and an MRI scan showed a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament [which meant I had to miss the 2021 CrossFitGames]. So, I thought,‘What can I do about it?’ I can have surgery, recover and then achieve the most epic comeback. It’s all about finding a story that can motivate you.’
6. She is emotionally resilient
‘Just before I got injured, I came out of an 11-year romantic relationship and then my beloved dog, Morley, was hit by a car. It’s been tough, but I remind myself that everything is teaching me something. I’m still going through this in a positive way, and I’m learning to enjoy every day instead of always projecting into the future. I’ve had a difficult time, but it’s teaching me to be present.’
7. She expresses her creativity
‘In my downtime, I love to draw, which I’m pretty shit at to be honest! I’ve also started playing guitar. It can be so frustrating – the way you’ll be progressing nicely with it, but then you’ll pick it up again the next time and be hopeless. But I love the way that whenI’m practising, I’m so engrossed in the process that it takes my mind to an altogether different place.’
8. She embraces all aspects of her job – even the boring parts
‘The other side of my job is the admin: all the pieces of paper I have to sign and endless meetings I need to attend. But the way I see it, I can either whine and put off all these things I’d rather not do or I can just be in the present moment, maybe stick on some good music (I love classic rock) and just get it done. I tell myself often that I’m choosing to do what I do and that I’m thankful for it. It’s so important not to lose sight of that.’
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