Gabriela Migala moves to Spanish island of Mallorca in search of CrossFit oasis

The 22-year-old relocated from Poland to the tourist island not for the beaches, but for the tightknit CrossFit community, which includes her coach and boyfriend

The Polish native, who used to be a competitive tennis player, is touted as one of the sport’s brightest young talents

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Gabriela Migala said she is fine with slowly making her way to the top of the CrossFit world given she is only 22. Photo: Handout

Published: 9:00pm, 27 May 2021Updated: 9:39pm, 27 May 2021

Off the coast of Spain is an island called Mallorca. Known for its beautiful beaches and tourist lifestyle, which is finally returning to normal after a long hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it is idyllic as idyllic gets.

The island is also home to one of CrossFit’s up-and-coming power couples, Hungary’s Kristof Horvath and Poland’s Gabriela Migala. Kristof, who is Laura Horvath’s brother, is a coach at The Progrm (he qualified for the 2020 CrossFit Games but had to withdrew due to a cycling accident), which is run by famed CrossFit coach John Christian Singleton, who also coaches Migala.

Migala said her life revolves around the sport as a sponsored, professional athlete, and she fits right in.

“Here in Spain I found a really good routine of training and life, and its very good for me,” said the 22-year-old who came 18th at the 2020 CrossFit Games. “I have this rhythm of being an athlete here, I have a lot of support and there are a lot of people like me on the island, they also focus on being an athlete and they understand my lifestyle. In Poland I was kind of the only person doing what I was doing, so at times it was a bit lonely.”

Migala moved to the island in February of 2020, right before the pandemic struck, however was lucky enough to have a place to train outside of the city, in Palma, on a farm with all the requisite equipment. She said the goal in moving to Mallorca was twofold: one for personal reasons, and one for professional reasons.