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Tia-Clair Toomey’s Australian Bobsled Team Qualifies for 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics

January 18, 2022 by
Photo Credit: Scott Martin
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Tia-Clair Toomey’s dream of competing at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics just got one step close to becoming a reality. On Monday, the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) released their final rankings, with her driver Ashleigh Werner ranking 20th in the world, placing them in an Olympic qualifying spot.

One big thing: The feat could put her in unchartered territory in terms of multi-disciplinary athletics. If Toomey is selected for the team, she will become the first active CrossFit Games athlete to qualify for the summer and winter Olympics (in different sports). If she qualifies for the 2022 CrossFit Games, that will add another record, qualifying for the Olympics and Games again in the same year.

  • 2016 Summer Olympics: 14th in the 58kg weightlifting division
  • 2017 CrossFit Games: 1st
  • 2018 Commonwealth Games: Gold in the 58kg weightlifting division
  • 2018 CrossFit Games: 1st
  • 2019 CrossFit Games: 1st
  • 2020 CrossFit Games: 1st
  • 2021 CrossFit Games: 1st

In response to qualifying, the Olympics’ Instagram account posted: “Tia – teach us everything you know please!”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Olympic Games (@olympics)

Side note: We’re not even counting the other off-season competitions she’s won.

What happens next: Technically it is Werner who has secured the Olympic spot as the rankings are based on the driver of the 2-person bobsled. Brakewomen, which Toomey is, are often traded out during the season and the final selection will be left up to Australia.

  • The five-time reigning and defending CrossFit Games champion has been Werner’s brakewoman during the last few races and has been training with her exclusively.
  • The Winter Olympics take place in China from Feb. 4-20, concluding just four days before the start of the 2022 CrossFit Open.

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