As we head into the 2023 CrossFit Games season, there is someone you should keep your eye on…Gracie Walton. Not heard of her? That will likely change this year. Gracie has only been doing CrossFit for three years and made it to the Torian Pro Semifinal this past year where she finished 15th overall.
With another year of training under her belt, don’t be surprised if you see her battling for a spot to the CrossFit Games later this year. So we wanted to catch up with Gracie and learn a little bit more about her as he head into the 2023 Games season…
Who is Gracie Walton? Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m 22 years old from Perth, Western Australia and I’m training out of CrossFit Dignus.
When and how did you get started in CrossFit?Â
COVID-19 actually helped me to find CrossFit. I had to make the decision to cut a backpacking trip short at the start of the pandemic. When I got home I had no real plan of what I wanted to do, then a close friend of mine told me to try a CrossFit class. I haven’t looked back since!
Did you participate in sports prior to CrossFit?
I’ve been doing sport since as young as I could remember. During primary school I would always have 2-3 sports after school from netball, swimming and gymnastics to athletics and cross county running during weekends. Throughout high school I dropped back to mainly swimming and bodybuilding-styled training.
You made it to the Torian Pro Semifinal in your second year of competing. Were you nervous competing next to the greats like Tia and Kara?
Making it to Semifinals was my goal in 2022 and although competing next to Tia and Kara was very cool, it didn’t really impact me too much. I respect the work they have put into this sport. However, I see myself as an athlete and so the only difference between myself and them is experience.
Has your mindset changed as you’ve gotten more experienced competing?
My mindset has definitely changed. Not only am I more confident in workouts but I’m understanding the hardest part of being an athlete which is listening to my body and knowing when to push and when to rest.
What have you been focusing on in this off-season to prepare for the 2023 season?
I’ve been mainly focussing on gymnastics which is still my biggest weakness. I’ve also been working on resting my body enough so I can train with more intensity.
Who is your support team? Who is your coach/ training program? Who else supports you throughout the season?
My support team is made up some amazing humans. Firstly my coaches, Kosta Ilic coaches my CrossFit and George Winston coaches my weightlifting and I’m currently following the compete programming from CrossFit Dignus. My training team who push my in training include Zane Shellabear-Healey and Kosta. I could go on forever about the people who have supported me this season but Cam Watkins from Darcy Physio and Josh from Walter Road Chiropractor are two that help keep my body in good condition every week!
What does your diet look like? Do you take any supplements?
My diet is pretty consistent during the week and around training, mainly focusing on getting in enough carbs around training. I’m currently working with Tara Emily, a sports dietitian, to find what foods work best. In terms of supplements, I currently take whey protein, dextrose, beta alanine and creatine.
What do you enjoy doing outside of the gym?
My main hobbies include eating out with friends and drinking coffee, going to the beach and hanging out with my dogs and pets. Simple things keep me happy.
What would the perfect open workout look like for you?
A perfect open workout would definitely be a combination of wall walks, double-unders, box jumps and thrusters.
Make sure you follow Gracie on Instagram (@graciewaltonn_) and keep an eye out for her coming out of the Oceania region this year! Oh, and check out her crossover double-under skills below!
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