VERVE Athlete | Katelin Van Zyl

Australian 2019 CrossFit Games Athlete Katelin Van Zyl joins­ VERVE

Van Zyl is the total embodiment of laser light focus.  In addition to the gruelling demands both physically and mentally of being an Elite CrossFit Athlete, Van Zyl adds both box owner (partner in two CrossFit boxes) and mother to her expanding repertoire.  Even more impressive is the fact that she competed in the 2019 CrossFit Open a mere 6 months post-partum. The Open involves a worldwide competition spanning 5 weeks that tests the Athlete’s abilities over a series of workouts involving gymnastics, barbell lifts and strength/stamina workouts. You truly have to be an all-around phenomenal athlete to excel in the sport of CrossFit.  Van Zyl loves to show that anything is possible if you work hard enough for it.  True grit.

 Van Zyl seems to do everything on an Elite level.  During her teens, she played with the Australian women's national field hockey team (nicknamed the Hockeyroos) who as of January 2019, ranked third in the world.  During a match in Argentina, she was struck in the jaw requiring full jaw reconstruction.  Not one to be held back, she returned to hockey only to be struck again by a hockey ball in the teeth.  This was a sign that she should change her athletic pursuits.  Van Zyl began taking CrossFit more seriously at this time.  She was a casual CrossFit athlete who caught the eye of a Gold Coast trainer who provided her with the life changing opportunity to work and train under his guidance. 

Van Zyl was again a natural Elite Athlete placing 30th in Australia during her 3rd try at the globally ranked CrossFit Open. 2019 sees Van Zyl placing 2nd in Australia for the CrossFit Games Open, outranked only by fellow Aussie and 2x World reigning CF Games champion Tia-Clair Toomey. August will be hotter than ever for this powerhouse as her performance was enough to secure Van Zyl a ticket to Madison, Wisconsin, USA to represent Australia at the 2019 CrossFit Games.  Truly the pinnacle for any CrossFit Athlete!

We at VERVE are so proud to be a big supporter of Van Zyl as an inspirational role model for young females and are honoured and ecstatic to watch this phenomenal Athlete make all her dreams come true this coming August.

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