In December 2022, six-time Fittest Woman on Earth® Tia-Clair Toomey announced that she and husband Shane Orr were expecting their first child. And on May 12, 2023, Toomey took to her Instagram to formally announce the birth of her daughter, Willow Clair Orr.
“This journey of bringing Willow into our lives has been nothing short of extraordinary,” Toomey wrote on Instagram. “From the moment we held her in our arms, we were overwhelmed with emotions. The joy and awe we felt are indescribable.”
Willow was born a few days prior, on May 9, with Toomey writing that the newborn “has already captured our hearts with her adorable presence and enchanting smile.”
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[Related: The Insider’s Guide To Tia-Clair Toomey’s CrossFit Diet]
Toomey’s 2023 Journey
Toomey kept training throughout her pregnancy, going so far as to compete in the weeks-long CrossFit Open, finishing in 2,831st place out of a worldwide field of over 100,000 women.
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[Read More: 2023 CrossFit Adaptive Divisions — Who Is the Fittest on Earth® and Who Is Going to the Games?]
Still, despite the incredible performance well into her pregnancy, she didn’t qualify for the Semifinals and won’t compete at this year’s CrossFit Games. Toomey hasn’t missed the Games since 2015 and has been at the top of the podium every year since 2017. The landscape of the sport will look much different in 2023 as a result.
Tia-Clair Toomey’s Competitive History
Toomey made her CrossFit Games debut in 2015, when she came in second place to Katrín Davíðsdóttir. The result was the same in 2016, with Davíðsdóttir again edging her out. Then, since 2017, it’s been all Toomey: She won six consecutive CrossFit Games titles, becoming the winningest Individual athlete of all time in 2022.
Her sixth title put her ahead of the previous record holder, Mat Fraser, and four ahead of the next-closest women, Annie Thorisdottir and the aforementioned Katrín Davíðsdóttir.
Looking Ahead to the 2023 CrossFit Games
With Toomey out, the top of the podium is open for every woman in the Individual division. Mallory O’Brien already made a statement by winning the 2023 CrossFit Open, but other competitors like Paige Powers and Laura Horvath have also had strong showings thus far.
The 2023 CrossFit Games kicks off in Madison, WI, on August 1 through August 6.
Featured Image: @tiaclair1 on Instagram