Mal O’Brien has been on the top of the women’s leaderboards in CrossFit for the entire 2023 Season so far, but her streak will now come to an end. O’Brien shared some unexpected news to her Instagram on May 16th where she revealed that she will not take part in this week’s 2023 CrossFit Semifinals. Obviously, the Semifinals are the only way of qualifying for the 2023 CrossFit Games. So, there will be no way for Mal to earn her qualification for the most prestigious CrossFit competition in the world.
Mal O’Brien did not reveal any exact reasons for her withdrawal from the 2023 CrossFit Season. She did, however, issue a statement revealing that she is dedicating her time to some personal challenges.
“With a heavy heart, I’d like to share that I won’t be competing at Semifinals this weekend.
Sometimes, we face personal challenges that demand our attention and care. It’s important to prioritize our well-being and embrace the support of loved ones.”
O’Brien knows that she still has many years of competition ahead of her, but something unspecified has happened and it is evidently more important than CrossFit. So, she has come to a conclusion for what her priorities are.
“Remember, life isn’t just about winning trophies or achieving goals—it’s about finding balance, taking care of ourselves, and cherishing the moments that truly matter.”
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Mal O’Brien At a Glance
Mal O’Brien has been unparalleled this season, having emerged victorious in both the 2023 CrossFit Open and 2023 CrossFit Quarterfinals. So, it was evident that Mal was in the shape of her life and that she was the main favorite for the title of Fittest Woman On Earth this year.
Born in 2004, Mal O’Brien is just 19-years-old. So, she still has a lot more time to claim the most coveted title in the sport. However, she has achieved a lot in the sport already. After spending some time in the Girls division, Mal O’Brien tried her luck in the Individual Women’s division in 2021. She immediately found success with a seventh place finish at the 2021 CrossFit Games and earned a “Rookie Of The Season” title that same year as well.
In addition, Mal O’Brien returned to the CrossFit Games in 2022 as well and put up an even better result. She took an early lead but was unable to fend off Tia-Clair Toomey. So, Mal settled for a second-place finish.
Mal O’Brien’s 2023 CrossFit Season Performances
- 2023 CrossFit Open — First Place (116 points)
- 2023 CrossFit Quarterfinals — First Place (53 points)
2023 CrossFit Season Withdrawals
It seems that the 2023 CrossFit Season has seen more major athlete withdrawals than ever before. Most notably, Tia-Clair Toomey announced at the start of the season that she won’t be competing due to pregnancy. Some months later, Tia-Clair gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. So, with the 6x CrossFit Games champion out, everyone was eager to battle.
One of the biggest favorites for the women’s title this year was Kara Saunders. However, Kara also got pregnant and withdrew.
One more major name in the women’s division decided to take some time to rest and it was Haley Adams. Haley had battled with an eating disorder and experienced mental health struggles which forced her to focus on what matters the most.
On the other hand, the men’s division also experienced a major loss, as Ricky Garard injured his shoulder in a mountain bike accident and had to conclude his season way too early.
Related: Tia-Clair Toomey Unveils Full Day of Eating During Pregnancy
Now Mal O’Brien is added to this list of athletes who withdrew as the biggest upset so far. She was without a doubt the biggest favorite for the title this year, but there is a high probability that she will come back stronger and win it in the years to come.