Did somebody say training hurdle, surgery, immobility? If so, BISS certainly didn’t hear! This powerful lady recently had surgery on her wrist which has by no means slowed her incredibly progressive training down. There’s so much to be said for the impact of an athletes mindset on their success in the CrossFit world and Em really epitomises this! She captivated hearts the moment she walked through the doors with her electric energy and quick witted banter!
Her professional cricketing background meant that she was no stranger to fitness- Biss has taken to CrossFit like a duck to water going from strength to strength on the Niche dance floor.
These days, as her wrist surgery heals, you’ll find her single-arm scaling errthang! Not for a moment was this going to let her fitness gain train halt and we couldn’t be more impressed! Thank you for being such a wonderful example of how to break those boundaries and jump those hurdles with little more than a shrug of the shoulders- she’s a legend and a damn fine athlete! Read more about our fabulous Athlete Of the Month for Feb
Why did you start CrossFit?
In the middle of 2017, I stopped playing cricket, mainly due to injury. After that, I started at a gym, just doing rehab and basically doing the same exercises every week with no real purpose. This went on for about 8 months, saw no change in my fitness or body, maintained bad eating habits (still dabble in some pancakes and chocolate every now and then), until I just stopped doing everything. Then Katie messaged me and said “Let’s do CrossFit, Niche is half way between us”. I just said OK, as I like weights, I sometimes like to push myself, and exercise is good for your health! I wanted to find that “something” again in my life that was different to other “somethings” I’ve had before. So here I am!
What is your most memorable moment to date?
The most memorable moment I have had was the “A-Ha” moment of a kipping pull up! These were a battle for me, my body just wouldn’t let me kip in any fashionable way. Whether it was the multiple swear words that happened on a Sunday open gym session in prep for the Chasing Better Throwdown, or Hailey just saying “now do another one, and another one”, no one’s to know, but it was amazing! Then translating the kipping motion into T2B. It’s been a massive help to helping me complete workouts with less procrastination and get through more reps and rounds.
What is your most and least favourite WOD or movement?
My favourite movement would be handstand walking, there’s something about being upside down that makes me happy. Not that I can do the movement for anymore than 10cm, it’s just so much fun! I also love most things KettleBell.
My least favourite is definitely Double under’s, they have been painstaking for me, I half wish I was masters already so I could just stick to singles! I know Karen agrees with me on that one haha!
What tip would you give someone just starting in CrossFit?
I would definitely tell them to back themselves. People say they get nervous about it but in the end, our bodies can do it, it’s our brains that challenge us the most.
I would also tell them to go with a tall person for any Partner WOD that involves Rowing. Or go with Ben Armstrong for any Partner WOD with HSPU’s!
What keeps you coming back to CrossFit?
The satisfaction of knowing the following:
1. There are great people around me always
2. I can eat more when I do CrossFit
3. The coaching is unreal
4. Exercise will prolong our lives!
What is one random, non-CrossFit ‘thing’ about yourself?
I’m pretty open about everything so it’s quite hard to think of something I’ve not already said haha!
Maybe that I can wiggle my ears on demand, most of my fingers are double jointed, and even though I have a lazy eye, I cannot go cross-eyed.
