By Rebecka Vitesson - CrossFit Athlete • Jan 14, 2024
I’m CrossFit Games athlete Rebecka Vitesson, now in my 10th year of doing CrossFit and still going strong.
My journey to becoming the elite athlete I am today hasn’t been smooth, and as we speak, I’m currently recovering from my third ACL and meniscus surgery. But that’s the beauty of challenges, right? They make the journey a bit more exciting and definitely worth fighting for.
I started CrossFit in 2014 thanks to a friend who had been trying to convince me to try it for a while.
She knew I’d always been sporty and was sure I’d love it.
I hesitated, though, because I thought my days of competing in sports were over. In December 2012, I tore my second ACL playing the sport I’ve always loved, basketball, and the surgeon convinced me that elite sports were behind me. The rehab was tough, and I struggled to get back to being active again.
After a phase of being a bit of a party queen, I couldn’t stand feeling unhealthy, weak, and not liking what I saw in the mirror. So, I started going to the local gym, and it became my safe space, lifting weights and getting stronger. What triggered me was how, in the gym, the guys typically took up a lot of space while many women seemed more reserved. It’s always been in my nature, since I was a kid, to challenge that dynamic—to show female strength and independence. I’ve always enjoyed proving that we can be just as strong and should be confident in who we are.
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Once I felt I could trust my knee again, I slowly eased into CrossFit—and yes, I fell in love with it.
Everything felt like a playground; there were so many skills I could quickly learn but also constantly improve on. Plus, the community was amazing. I met incredible people who pushed me to be better, and I had fun getting to know tem on personal levels beyond just workouts.
I got fully immersed in CrossFit, and just a few months after starting, I entered my first local competition, which reignited my competitive spirit.
From there, I kept signing up for smaller competitions and rapidly developed new skills. I balanced work with CrossFit but always knew that I would have to go to university at some point, but year after year, I pushed it off. In 2017, I took it to the next level—bigger competitions, individual coaching, and training camps. I was even part of a team as a reserve that qualified for the CrossFit Games that year.
Our goal was to qualify for the Regionals, but we made it all the way to the CrossFit Games! Being part of a team was an incredible experience, but in the back of my mind, I knew I wanted to compete individually at some point. That transition started in 2019 when I began studying “architectural design and building management” in Copenhagen, finally back to school that I have kept telling myself to do.
Things escalated quickly. Starting my second year in school, I was prescribed a three-month sick leave because I hit a wall. School consumed 100% of my time, and on top of that, I had my individual CrossFit goals and was receiving opportunities I had to turn down because of my studies. Deep down, I think CrossFit was my true passion, while school felt more like something I "had" to do. The stress led me to take a gap year to fully commit to CrossFit and chase my dream. That decision wasn’t easy—I felt like I was failing by choosing a path that wasn’t “traditional.”
But coming home was a harsh reality check for all of us. COVID-19 hit, and everything shut down. Ironic, right?
Even though the pandemic made training impossible, it gave me clarity. I realized I wasn’t pursuing school for myself—I was doing it for my family and because of societal expectations. I became the box manager at Butcher’s Lab from 2021 to 2023, which allowed me to keep pursuing my athletic goals.
I made it to my first individual CrossFit Games in 2023, and the feeling of seeing sacrifices and belief come together in success is indescribable. Today, I proudly wear the title of “professional elite athlete” and have made peace with the fact that this is my true path.
This year, 2024, I’ve never felt more prepared and ready to take on the Crossfit Games again. My goal was to crush my previous placement, but things didn’t go as planned. A freak accident—the nightmare still haunts me. Semifinals 2024 started well but ended with a third torn ACL and meniscus. Just like that, the season was over.
As I write this, I’m four months post-surgery and working through a challenging period.
But mentally, I’ve never been stronger. I’m taking it one day at a time, inching closer to getting back on the competition floor. What I love most about this journey—and about sports in general—is showing the world the strength of females. Normalizing muscular, strong women, and demonstrating mental strength and independence. Pursuing an unconventional path is hard, but I believe that learning to compete, to dare to fail, strengthens your mental health and gives you the confidence to be or do anything.
Building a support network that shares your values and beliefs is key to success.
Going through this rough period has been so much easier when being surrounded by an incredible community, both in person and online.
One of those is RXSG.
Not only do they have amazing products, but the people behind the company are incredible, which makes it more special. Thank you!
To wrap up, I want to share my top 3 favorite products reviews from RXSG.
Rebecka Vitesson
EVO G2 Speed Rope
"Because the handle is slightly heavier and a little bigger, which gives you more to grip on and feedback to your hands since the wire is so light."
Rebecka Vitesson
EVO GO Speed Rope
"This would be my other choice for speed rope, depending on the workout. These handles are so light and speedy so I would probably pick those for shoulder-combined exercises."
Rebecka Vitesson
FREVO Freestyle Rope
"The best tool package for freestyle jumps, aka crossovers. So easy to play around with and to change heights and cables."
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