CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
CF-Adaptive Athlete
CF-Aerobic Capacity
CF-Running
USPL Gold Medalist 60Kg, Classic-Raw
CrossFit Games Athlete Control Team Lead

Kristen’s athletic journey began with a rough start. At age 9 Kristen’s competitive figure skating career came to a holt after she fractured her L5 vertebrae. X-Rays showed that the fracture was caused by a birth defect in her back called spondylolisthesis. This condition caused her extreme back pain and complete numbness of her legs from acts as simple as standing for more than 10 minutes. Doctors insisted she stay out of sports and any athletic activities and insisted she get metal rods placed in her spine after she turned 21. Once Kristen was in college, on her own and without adult supervision, she immediately started testing her physical limits. This led her into her first CrossFit gym. Through proper and safe movement, an encouraging community, and understanding coach, she was able to build the muscles in her lower back strong enough to stabilize her spine and core and eventually was able to completely get rid of her chronic back pain. She was able to overcome her birth defect to the point she was able to join the Marines and is now a Firefighter without any back issues.

Wanting to share the quality-of-life changes with others that CrossFit provided her, Kristen began coaching in 2014 and eventually went on to work as a project manager for CrossFit HQ. Kristen continues to coach classes, stays involved with the Games, and specializes in helping others prepare for careers as first responders and military personnel.