Katharina Isele Shares her Journey and Challenges as a Female Athlete

By Uma Richardson

“Lifting weights is not only being strong in the gym, but it’s also the feeling that I’m capable of everything,” said famed athlete, Katharina Isele. 

On January 31st, 1st place champion in the 2023 CrossFit Games and ranked fittest women in Germany, Katharina Isele, visited MIS. This weightlifting victor is one of the many powerful female athletes illustrated in the Wall of Will mural established across the Fab’s walls. Isele has competed in a myriad of CrossFit games, placing in the top 10 in Germany, many times. A small group of 9^th grade journalists have been tasked to interview the female athletes displayed in the Fab, including Katharina Isele, to uncover more about this professional female athlete. 

“The feeling that you have when you put some weight on the bar, and you can lift it. It’s something like when you’re getting outside of the gym, you’re feeling strong,” stated Katharina Isele. 

Isele chose weightlifting as a competitive sport, because conducting this sport is strengthening in a physical sense but also empowering mentally. She finds that lifting some weight on the bar is refreshing in a way that makes her feel strong. 

“We always have to do double the amount of work than men. (…) We definitely need more female role models to empower the younger generation,” said Katharina Isele. 

The greatest challenges female athletes face, according to Isele, are that “we have to really fight hard to get the same reach as men,” regarding for example, media and sponsorships. She stated that women always have a more arduous journey for the technicalities in the field of professional sports than men. Consequently, Isele shared how it is really difficult to achieve fame and recognition in her position as a female athlete, as few are as famous as male athletes. When asked if she had faced any of these challenges, Isele responded that she’d recently seen a few sponsorships that were more popular for men. However, Isele shared a more unique insight on a more positive perspective, because once succeeding, for example, a company wants to work with a female athlete, it induces a feeling of female empowerment. Another positive side that Isele remarked, was that with each bout of female success, you can start to see a change in society. Although it’s a slow change, it’s a change, nonetheless. 

“I train three times a day. Maybe I’ll have free time and spend some time with friends or dinner or just go to bed,” replied Isele. 

When asked about what a day of training looks like for Isele, she responded, “Hard, hard, hard.” This is evident because upholding her strength for the strenuous sport of weightlifting is essential. Isele wakes up at 6am and coaches a class a 7am, followed by 2 hours training and hard workouts. An exercise included is 10 minutes of maximum calories on an E-Bike. After only the first difficult session in the day, Isele takes a small break, going back home and scrolling through Instagram. But it doesn’t last long, as she soon heads over for her second session, then afterwards, Isele has an hour rest followed by the third and final session in her rigorous day of training. As shown in the quote, Isele stated she “maybe I’ll have free time,” determining how her taxing training is the main priority in her days. By training three times a day, Isele demonstrates the complexity and her unwavering strength to maintain her position a female athlete, professional weightlifter, and Germany’s fittest woman. 

“I really need to dig deep, and I need my airpods and I need to be focused”, said Isele. 

Isele has some specific pre-competition rituals, as she shared how music is vital for her focus, going in depth how she really enjoys Eminem, and more intense songs. She also always had her drinks, food and supplements, always taken in the same way, and needs to have one hour of warm up to prepare. Another humorous thing Isele follows is that no one is allowed to talk to her, as she needs utmost silence in order to focus. 

“My goal for 2025 is to be back at the top, to be the fittest woman in Germany”, shared Katharina Isele. 

Lastly, Isele’s stated that her goal for 2025 was to be Germany’s fittest woman and be the best again. This would be achieved by qualifying for the CrossFit Games in New York.  

“So that would be the goal and I’m fighting for it very hard,” said Isele, finishing the interview.