South Australian athlete Jamie McInerney was just five years old when a horrific car crash changed her life.
She lost her ability to walk and her memory. She also acquired a lifelong brain injury and a neuromuscular condition.
Despite her enduring challenges, Jamie has been crowned second in Australia and 19th in the world in the neuromuscular division in the CrossFit Open.
Across the world, athletes have competed against themselves in a series of shared workouts over a three-week challenge to be named the fittest athletes on Earth.
McInerney said she was surprised by the result and hoped more competitions could be held for athletes living with disability across Australia and the world.
The 27-year-old also hopes her achievement will encourage other people living with a disability to enter similar athletic events.
"And no matter how hard it is, prove to yourself that you can do it."
McInerney, who has been training in CrossFit for three years, said the workouts were modified for the CrossFit Open adaptive section.
"For example, instead of using a skipping rope, my adaptive division did lateral hops, which is jumping side to side over a line," she said.
"So, I had the same sort of movement, it was just adapted.
"I've got an acquired brain injury, which affects one side of my body — my right side is affected with hemiplegia."
McInerney said it was the first time CrossFit had included an adaptive division.
"I knew it was going to be a bit challenging because I didn't kow how competitive it would be," she said.
McInerney thanked her coach and the other CrossFit athletes in Mount Gambier for their support and encouragement.
Inspiring others
Crossfit coach Adam Ruediger said he was incredibly proud of McInerney's achievement.
"She was given a standard to meet in her division and smashed it," Mr Ruediger said.
He said McInerney competed in three set workouts over three weeks, which were judged on her performance and time.
"She must had met the standards and did it quicker than other competitors."
He said McInerney never made "any fuss" about her disability and was determined to reach her goals.
"A lot of people don't even know her story," Mr Ruediger said.
Defying odds after crash
While McInerney does not remember the car accident, it has had an enduring and significant impact on her life.
The three-car collision unfolded on the Princes Highway 10 kilometres west of Mount Gambier in regional SA.
"My parents remember the sunny lunchtime I spent playing with Dad and our 16-week-old puppy Elmo in the backyard at home," McInerney said.
She said her mum was giving way to an oncoming car while waiting to turn right.
"Our car was hit from behind by one car and pushed into the path of the oncoming car. This car hit directly into my side of the car," McInerney said.
"The forces involved in being hit twice, at high speed, caused my brain to move violently around in my skull.
"My brain actually fractured my skull from inside."
One of the highlights of McInerney's athletic career was being chosen to represent Australia at the International Paralympic Committee Athletics World Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand, in January 2011.
