Publishers Weekly
05/27/2019
CrossFit Games champ Davidsdottir maps out how she was named the games’ “Fittest Woman on Earth” two years in a row, in this breezy yet high-impact memoir. A former gymnast and track athlete from Reykjavík, Iceland, 26-year-old Davidsdottir credits her supportive family and that storied Icelandic Viking blood for her drive and strength, but it wasn’t until she was 18 that she “found my home” with CrossFit: “The mix of mental challenges and competition fanned the flame inside of me to a red-hot glow.” She delights in each seemingly impossible challenge (e.g., muscle-ups, which are pull-ups with arms extended above the bar, followed by a dip), obsessing until she conquers it. After training for less than a year, she starts competing in 2012, and in 2014, after falling short in regional competition, she dumps law school to pursue her passion full-force. “Failure has been the key ingredient to my success in sports and in life.” Through brutal dawn-to-dusk sessions with her coach, Davidsdottir—writing in prose as efficient as her workouts—cleans up “the space between my ears” and finds her ferocity, snatching the Fittest Woman title in 2015 and 2016. This is an inspiring narrative for girls, women, CrossFitters, and anyone searching for physical or mental toughness. (Aug.)
From the Publisher
"I met Katrin during her first week of attending CrossFit classes, shortly after my first CrossFit Games championship...Her story is a reminder to fans and aspiring athletes that anyone can achieve greatness if they are willing to work hard enough. It’s also a testament to the power of Iceland’s Dottirs that makes my heart swell with pride." —Annie Thorisdottir, Two-Time CrossFit Games Champion
"Katrin Davidsdottir is a fierce competitor with a great story. In the season leading up to my first CrossFit Games championship she was my primary training partner, and she pushed me to new levels of performance. That year I trained by myself mostly, but I would picture her there next to me and think, she wouldn’t be putting the bar down… she would be taking shorter breaks. But Kat wasn’t always fierce. She was forced to overcome huge setbacks. Instead of running from failure or accepting mediocrity, Katrin learned from her mistakes and worked even harder, both inside the gym on her fitness and outside of the gym on her mindset. Katrin became a champion by choice, and her story highlights what I believe above all things. That there is no magic pill. There are no superior genetics. There are no shortcuts. There is only hard work. And hard work pays off." —Mat Fraser, three time defending Fittest Man on Earth
"Hundreds of books claim to possess the secret ingredients of becoming a champion. In this book, Katrin Davidsdottir gives you her actual recipe from being one! Through a candid look at her personal and professional life, Katrin shares the struggles and triumphs that helped to build her successful career, which includes two gold medals at the CrossFit Games. From childhood gymnastics to the CrossFit Games podium, Katrin provides tangible and relatable stories about reframing failure, striving for greatness, evolving your mindset and chasing your dreams. Dottir serves as a reminder that there is a 'best version' of all of us, and every day provides an opportunity to get one step closer to yours, if you’re willing to work hard." —Lewis Howes, New York Times bestselling author of The School of Greatness
"A native of Reykjavík, Iceland, Davidsdottir chronicles her passion for physical challenges dating back to her early years: 'I came out of the womb hypercompetitive.' She describes her experience as a competitive gymnast and two-time CrossFit Games Champion (2015, 2016), earning the title Fittest Woman on Earth.
Davidsdottir, with the unwavering support of her family, especially her beloved grandparents, and a tight community of fellow competitors, was able to overcome self-doubt and experience mental and physical growth with each competition." —Booklist
"Through brutal dawn-to-dusk sessions with her coach, Davidsdottir—writing in prose as efficient as her workouts—cleans up “the space between my ears” and finds her ferocity, snatching the Fittest Woman title in 2015 and 2016. This is an inspiring narrative for girls, women, CrossFitters, and anyone searching for physical or mental toughness." —Publishers Weekly
“As raw a picture into a Games champion's life as anything we've seen before.” —Morning Chalk Up
Praise for Katrin Davidsdottir:
"In 2016, four-time CrossFit Games veteran Katrin Tanja Davidsdottir did what only two other athletes have done in the history of the CrossFit Games: win the CrossFit Games twice." —CrossFit.com
"At what was billed as the 'toughest' CrossFit Games in history, Iceland's newest CrossFit queen once again out-pushed, out-pulled, out-ran, and basically out-worked one of the most competitive fields in history to win the 2016 CrossFit Games."—MensFitness.com
