Mal O’Brien has confirmed that she will not compete in the 2024 CrossFit Games season. In a video released on Instagram, O’Brien said she is “at peace” following her recent move to Hawaii and her newfound focus on her well-being.
O’Brien added that while she will not compete again this year, she will not rule out returning to competition. But, she won’t put a timeline on making a decision to return or not. She said she plans to create content going forward, train how she wants and that she thanks those who have supported her throughout her journey.
O’Brien stepped away from the CrossFit Games after withdrawing from the 2023 CrossFit Semifinals. O’Brien, who was the favorite coming into the 2023 Games season, finished 1st in the world in the 2023 CrossFit Open and followed that up with another first place finish in Quarterfinals.
O’Brien competed four times at the CrossFit Games. Twice in the Teenage Girls 14-15 year-old division in 2018 and 2019. Then, in 2021, she jumped to the elite division where she would finish 7th overall in her rookie debut. The next year, in 2022, O’Brien stood on the podium after finishing in 2nd place, behind Tia-Clair Toomey.
As for future announcements regarding what O’Brien plans to do, she shared you would hear from her directly. Until then, she is “at peace”.
