Dubai CrossFit Championship: Games rookie Emily Rolfe’s journey from Canada’s Kamloops to UAE
- Rolfe came out of nowhere to win the Granite Games earlier this year
About four hours north of Vancouver, British Columbia is a small town named Kamloops. When it comes to sports, the Canadian city is mostly known for producing a number of National Hockey League players, and of course, National Basketball League player Kelly Olynyk, who suits up for the Miami Heat.
Kamloops might have to add another athlete to that list, as Emily Rolfe has quickly made a name for herself in the world of CrossFit.
In June of this year, Rolfe surprised everyone (including herself) by winning the Granite Games in Minnesota, beating out Carrie Beamer. This meant the 30-year-old Canuck was able to book her ticket to the 2019 CrossFit Games, something she is still wrapping her head around.
“So I wasn’t really expecting to make the Games,” said the former gymnast who has a father that was a weightlifting coach. “I just accidentally won one of the Sanctionals and I ended up going, and the first thought of it was super intimidating because I have looked up to these girls and now I’m on the floor with them.”
Turns out Rolfe, who currently sits sixth after the second day of the Dubai CrossFit Championship, didn’t get stage fright at all. She ended up winning one of the events (the rucksack run) and finished 18th overall, which was ahead of Sara Sigmundsdottir, who came 19th and is currently leading in Dubai after the second day of four.