Julie Foucher Pulls Out of the 2013 CrossFit Games

Some big news in the CrossFit world today, with 2012 CrossFit Games runner-up Julie Foucher, revealing she won’t be competing at next years event!

Foucher, who is a full-time medical student at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, made the announcement on her blog recently. In the post, she tells us she’s sacrificing competing at the 2013 CrossFit Games, to give her more time to focus on her studies:

“As I pursue my goal of becoming the best physician I can be, this year stands out as one that will lay the groundwork for caring for patients in the future. Recognizing the importance of this goal and the time commitment  necessary to pursue it, I know that this year it must be prioritized above others, including competing in the 2013 CrossFit Games. As much as it pains me to consider not competing in the sport I love, that has become a part of who I am and who I aspire to become, I know that in this particular year, I have another goal that has to take precedence.

I have considered every possibility (believe me, every possibility), and I have decided that rather than giving half an effort to medical school and half an effort to the CrossFit Games this year, I must shift my focus to dedicating a full effort to school and the board exam.

I would never want to look back on this year and my career and wonder whether I could have done better had I not been distracted by training for the CrossFit Games. This year my goal is to crush the USMLE Step 1 exam, and in order to reach my full potential in this endeavor I know it requires me to sacrifice training for the 2013 CrossFit Games. But don’t you worry – I’ve still got my eye on the top of the podium in 2014, and training for that particular goal starts today.  “

While the decision is very understandable, it does come as a shock to the community, especially after Foucher’s emergence in recent years. After finishing 5th at the 2011 CrossFit Games, Julie Foucher led for much of this years event before finally finishing 2nd to two-time champion, Annie Thorisdottir.

Julie Foucher also finished 2nd at the CrossFit Open, and competed for Team USA in the inaugural CrossFit Invitational, held in London earlier this month.

The news is also a blow for the female competition in general. This year, Foucher showed signs she is more than capable of stopping Thorisdottir’s dominance in the sport. Unfortunately, we’ll never find out if that would have been the case in 2013.

Let’s hope she returns bigger and better in 2014!