My name is Nadia Gracio, I’m from Madeira, Portugal, I’m 37 years old and I recently qualified to the Master CrossFit Games.

Being the eldest of 8 children, I grew up in a very competitive environment, always fighting for my parent’s attention, a sit on the table (last piece of bread), the best clothes, etc., you name it. This way it didn’t take me long to fall in love with this sport, it took me a bit longer though to memorise the difference between a Snatch and a Clean and Jerk.

Growing up I practice volleyball in school in that’s what I like to say it’s my sports background.

 

In 2015 I moved to London working as a waitress then quit to start a full-time coaching job at CrossFit Hammersmith in 2016. This was the perfect chance to grow as an athlete so I started taking training more serious and had qualified to a lot of important competitions not only in the UK but also abroad such as French Throwdown (June 2018), Wodapalooza (January 2019), Norwegian Throwdown (February 2020) and we all know what happened next (covid) so since there was no idea when I was competing next in 2021 we thought was good timing to get pregnant (up until then I kept pushing the decision entering on another competition :D), and so it happened.

CrossFit changed my life; It taught me so much about myself, introduced me to a new career path: coaching which I’m deeply passioned about, it was through it that I met my husband Eddie and so many other incredible humans.

 

Matilde was born in January 2022, she is the best thing that happened to us but I was sure that I didn’t want to just be her mum. I wanted to continue to be Nadia, continuing having my own identity and plus I had some unfinished business as CrossFit athlete, I never lost the fire I had the dream of making to the CrossFit Games I now could try as a Master 35-39, it’s all athletes goal, right?

 

After 2023 season when I entered the CrossFit Open, 12 months postpartum I surprised myself with a 54th place quarterfinals finisher. I was far but not impossible.

Together with my coach we set a 3-year plan, made a few changes in my lifestyle such as not drinking alcohol, eating better, I moved back to Madeira so I could have family support to help with Matilde and put my coaching career on hold.

 

Since then, it’s not been easy at all, day in and day out in the gym working my weaknesses is u, going to the gym with Matilde still breastfeeding and waking up at night was rough, not providing financially for my family to pursue my DREAM is an immense responsibility.

BUT WE DID IT! Not in 3 but in 1 year of hard work, tears, laughs and sweat.

 

This was a worldwide online qualification that started with more than 28 thousand athletes in my age category and I ended up in 25th place after the semifinals earning my spot to the Masters Crossfit Games at the end of August, in Alabama.

I did not expect this year of hard work to go so well and I surely didn’t think I could qualify this soon.

I’m kindly asking for your help to cover some of the financial costs of making to this final stage of the competition such as travelling to and from airport, accommodation and transportation back and forth each day to the venue as it needs to be all funded by ourselves.

Come and be part of my dream

Thanking you all from the bottom of my heart.

Follow my journey on Instagram @nabereu