Amy Cringle doesn’t quite say she’s going to win the CrossFit Games.
But she doesn’t need to.
In a revealing behind-the-scenes look at her preparation and mindset leading up to competition, the British CrossFit athlete navigates the fine line between confidence and superstition, ambition and realism.
What emerges is a portrait of an elite competitor who’s learned that consistency, not bravado, might be the real secret to reaching that top spot.
Jump to:
- The Struggle to Say It Out Loud
- Body Composition and Performance Realities
- The Competitive Switch That Turns On Automatically
- Event Wins and Signature Performances
- What Sets Her Apart From Other Competitors
- The Moment She Knew She Could Make It
- Realistic Goals and Performance Standards
- Sizing Up the Competition
- The Long-Term Vision
- Where CrossFit Ranks Among Life Achievements
- The Granola Side Business
- What She’d Do With Prize Money
- The Bottom Line on Confidence and Humility
The Struggle to Say It Out Loud
When asked directly if she thinks she can win, Cringle’s response is refreshingly honest and remarkably human.
I mean like I could. Everything will have to go right and there’ll be no one else competing. Just me.
It’s a response that might sound hesitant, but it reveals something deeper about her competitive psychology. She struggles with making bold predictions, worried about the consequences of falling short.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
I struggle with saying it. Maybe in case I don’t but then what’s like if I don’t I don’t I don’t know.
Yet this same athlete has shown she belongs among CrossFit’s elite, climbing from 37th place in her 2019 Games debut to eighth place in 2024.
Body Composition and Performance Realities
At 5’6″ and weighing between 70-72 kg, Cringle maintains elite-level body composition while staying remarkably grounded about the numbers.
When tested, her body fat came in at 11.7%, though she thought it might be higher. Her matter-of-fact response speaks to someone who doesn’t obsess over metrics but understands their relevance.
She’s also candid about how her menstrual cycle affects performance, noting that being “on heat” makes her feel strong but leaves fitness feeling “horrific” in the week leading up to it.
The Competitive Switch That Turns On Automatically
One of the most intriguing aspects of Cringle’s psychology is her relationship with competition itself.
Sometimes I worry that I’m not even competitive. I just use my natural ability. But I must be somewhat competitive.
She describes a transformation that happens when competition begins—something her coach Larissa has noticed in warm-up areas. There’s a switch that flips, an intensity that emerges without conscious effort.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
I think when the timer when the when the clock goes I must just switch switch.
This unconscious competitive drive might be her greatest asset, allowing natural ability to shine without overthinking.
Event Wins and Signature Performances
Cringle has accumulated five event wins throughout her CrossFit career, with particularly strong performances in endurance-based workouts.
When asked about favorite movements, her list reveals a clear preference for gymnastics and cyclical work:
- Bike toes to bar combinations
- Kipping handstand push-ups
- Dumbbell bench press
- Ring muscle-ups
Her signature moment came with triple-unders, a new skill she not only mastered but dominated, winning by over two minutes and answering questions about her ability to handle technical challenges.
What Sets Her Apart From Other Competitors
Cringle identifies something crucial about her competitive edge.
When I started competing CrossFit high level, I was winning some endurance events, but I coming last in other things, but I’ve still I’ve I’ve always had that kind of event I can win or I’d get a top three in.
She recognizes that having top-end potential in certain events—the ability to win, not just place respectably—creates opportunities that consistent mid-pack finishers don’t have.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
That ceiling matters more than many athletes realize.
The Moment She Knew She Could Make It
Cringle pinpoints exactly when she realized Games qualification was within reach: the 2023 semifinals during a rowing and sandbag workout.
I was side by side with Gabi and Laura and the commentator was just shouting our three names and I was like, I’m against two of the people I was like looking up to.
Competing stride-for-stride with athletes she’d previously idolized confirmed she belonged at that level. She qualified for the Games that year.
Realistic Goals and Performance Standards
Rather than fixating on winning, Cringle focuses on execution and improvement.
I need to remember you don’t need to win every event. Just be consistent across the weekend and just see where that gets me. That is one thing I have gotten better at being more consistent.
Her definition of success centers on executing every event well and staying mentally engaged throughout competition.
I want to come away with every event executed well and just like being in it. You know, and sometimes you like you’re not in a workout and you you’re just not giving it everything you have and just a bit sloppy.
She’d be pleased with top six, though she admits a 20th-place finish would be disappointing given how far she’s come.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
Sizing Up the Competition
When assessing her competition, Cringle demonstrates respect without intimidation.
She identifies the top threats clearly:
- Lucy: “Legit” competitor who took second the previous year
- Alex: All-around solid in everything
- Emma and Paige: Strong swimmers who’ll excel in water events
Her analysis is tactical rather than fearful, recognizing strengths without dwelling on her own potential weaknesses.
The Long-Term Vision
Cringle has made the Games three times and wants to reach five or six appearances before reassessing.
I want to keep loving it. I don’t want to just do it for the sake of it.
She’s clear about not wanting to be the “washed up person who’s just kind of barely dragging by,” preferring to exit while still performing well rather than clinging to past glory.
Physical concerns like wrist durability factor into these calculations, as does maintaining genuine passion for the sport.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
Where CrossFit Ranks Among Life Achievements
When asked where qualifying for the Games ranks among life achievements, Cringle’s answer is unequivocal.
At the top. Nothing’s better. Like this would have been my dream years ago. So, to even be considering like top 10 is like wow.
This perspective creates an interesting tension—she’s living her dream while simultaneously pushing herself not to be satisfied with just participating.
The Granola Side Business
Beyond CrossFit, Cringle is developing a granola business, joking that prize money could “speed up the granola process.”
When asked about US availability, her response is practical: “It needs to be available in the UK first.”
She admits her weight fluctuates between 70-72 kg “depending on the granola amount I’ve had the day before”—a relatable acknowledgment that even elite athletes enjoy their own products.
What She’d Do With Prize Money
Cringle’s financial aspirations are refreshingly modest and practical.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
The smart move would be investing, she acknowledges, but she and her partner are considering upgrading their house. When pressed about something less sensible, she mentions maybe upgrading from her Audi A3 to a “nicer version.”
Not exactly supercar dreams—just incremental improvements to an already satisfying life.
The Bottom Line on Confidence and Humility
Amy Cringle represents something increasingly rare in elite sports: genuine humility combined with legitimate capability.
She won’t boldly predict victory, yet she’s positioned herself through consistent improvement to be a legitimate podium threat. She worries she’s not competitive enough, yet something switches on when competition begins that her coaches notice immediately.
Perhaps most importantly, she’s learned the lesson that eludes many talented athletes: you don’t need to win every event to win overall. Consistency, execution, and staying mentally present throughout competition matter more than dramatic performances in isolated workouts.
Whether she says it out loud or not, Cringle has built herself into someone who absolutely could win—and maybe that quiet confidence is exactly what will carry her to that top spot she’s still learning to claim.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
