Teenager Heads to International CrossFit Contest Backed by Mornflake

We are thrilled to share that a Stoke-on-Trent schoolgirl who took up CrossFit training during the pandemic is heading to an international contest in America after becoming a British teen champion in just two years.

Keira McManus, 14, from Norton near Hanley has received backing from Mornflake as she trains for the CrossFit Games Finals in Michigan in August.

The youngster, who also plays for Milton United under-15s, took up the sport during lockdown, training with her parents Joel and Lisa McManus at home when football was cancelled due to the pandemic.

And now CrossFit, which involves performing fast-paced power lifts, lunges, squats and burpees against the clock, has brought the Endon High School pupil success on a national and international stage.

Keira won ‘Fittest Under 15 Female CrossFit Athlete’ at the British Teens Championships last autumn and fourth place in a world championship in Miami in January.

She’s been back on the winners’ podium many times since including a hat-trick of first place medals in qualifiers leading up to the Finals in America where youngsters from 24 countries hope to be crowned ‘Fittest on Earth.’

Mum Lisa, an operations manager for a training company in Warrington, said: “CrossFit is a fairly new sport in the UK but children do it in schools in America so the competition will be tough. Judges set the level and time each competitor so it’s mentally and physically demanding.

“But Keira has thrown herself into the sport and we couldn’t be more proud. She looking forward to Michigan and thanks to Mornflake’s help towards her travel, she can hopefully show the world Britain can take on anything and excel.”

Keira has also gained a place in the British Weightlifting Pathway Squad and hopes to compete in the Olympics when she’s older.

Away from the gym, she is captain for her football team and a keen street dancer with SCDS dance school in Longton.

She said: “The road to success is costly so I am so grateful to Mornflake. I would recommend sport to anyone my age, just find what you like and do it.”

Our managing director, James Lea, said: “Not only is Keira a great success at CrossFit, she’s also raising awareness of a new sport in this country. We were happy to support her travel and wish her all the best in Michigan in August.”

Good luck, Keira!