In this episode, Mat Hotho sits down with Debbie O’Connell, a British Army veteran turned adaptive athlete. After a life-changing injury in 2015, Debbie found her way back into sport through sprinting and eventually CrossFit—where she finished second in her division at the 2024 Adaptive CrossFit Games. 

We talk about her transition from the military to athletics, the challenges of adapting movements with one arm, the nerves and highs of her first Games, and how trust in her coach shapes her performance. 

Debbie also shares her hopes for the future of adaptive competition and offers encouragement for anyone considering walking into a CrossFit gym for the first time.

Follow Debbie on Instagram: @sprinter.debbie

Learn more about the International Functional Fitness Federation

Send us a text

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @TheAdaptiveAthletePod