Two years ago Jamie Hagiya shared a photo on Instagram and commented that she had been struggling with her body image. This was the same year that Hagiya competed as an individual at the 2016 CrossFit Games. So while she was one of the fittest women on the planet, she still, like many women, had issues with how she looked.
Fast forward two years to this week and Hagiya looked back at this and shared that she continues to struggle with accepting how she looks. Hagiya shared the original photo that sparked her issues in 2016 and the new group photo that retriggered her emotions.
Hagiya wrote, “It bothers me that this is still an issue and constant battle I’m trying to overcome. Even though I’ve made a lot of progress in learning to love and accept my body. And I may come off as super confident, I just want to let you know there’s still times that I struggle with it.”
She continued, “For me it’s my stomach, for others it might be different parts of their body, as we all have this “PERFECT” image of what our bodies should look like. But like I tell others, “love and appreciate your body for what it can do and not what it looks like”. And with that, I’ll be kinder to myself and if you deal with this issue as well… I hope you can all do the same ❤️#bodyimageissues #loveyourself”
Fellow CrossFit Games athletes have since commented on Hagiya’s posts.
Mekenzie Riley commented, “We all feel alone in this but it seems we all feel shades of this same sentiment. Flat out, the comparison game sucks. I’ve concluded that no matter how we look, or what amazing feats our able bodied achieve we still won’t ever be satisfied with ourselves. It’s a fight we gotta fight every day. Strong IS beautiful. Fit IS empowering. However that looks IS irrelevant. Thanks for reminding me.”
Kelsey Kiel also left an an encouraging comment, “Take it from someone who struggles with this every.single.day : I am not sure it’ll ever get easier. But we’re just constantly wading through the sludge trying to love ourselves for what we are and all that we are capable of. AND just doing our freaking best.
“Also plz hear this from someone who looks up to YOU every single day: thank you for being open and honest and vulnerable. You are amazing, Jamie!!!”
Hagiya will be returning to the CrossFit Games this year, but as a team member in the team competition. Hagiya is a member of Torrance CrossFit.
