Olivia's Story: CrossFit and the First Line of Care

Olivia Tompkins, 27, is an ICU staff nurse specializing in cardiothoracic care in London, England.

It’s a job that pushes physical, mental, and emotional endurance to its limits. To withstand it, it’s critical that Tompkins takes care of herself first. That’s why she does CrossFit.

“Having CrossFit as my relief has benefitted me massively,” says Tompkins, who trains at WIT CrossFit in London. “It just really sets off a different mindset and tone as to how you’re gonna approach your day. You’ve looked after yourself, and now you can look after others.”

Tompkins became a nurse to help other people.

“The reason that you do this job is not because of the money or anything, it’s because you actually value life and people,” she says.

And she wants to do the same thing with CrossFit, using her platform to show others that it’s possible to work a demanding job caring for others and still take care of yourself. It’s also an opportunity to show that prioritizing your own health and fitness leads to longevity and a better quality of life.

“You always need to be able to get up from a chair, you always need to be able to pick up something from the floor, and all of that CrossFit methodology relates to life,” Tompkins says.

“I get asked at work all the time, ’Oh, what do you do?’” she adds. “And I’m like, ‘CrossFit.’ … And it opens a conversation, it opens a door, and all you have to say is ‘you should try it, too.’”