Eugénie’s story

More self-awareness

At Protec, Eugénie found support and the right guidance she needed for her leg prosthesis. “I struggled with my prosthetic socket at my previous prosthesis provider and was referred to Protec by my running group in Eindhoven. At Protec, I learned to listen to myself and ask the right questions. They helped me express my feelings and experiences more clearly and become more aware of my prosthesis. This allows me to stand up for myself much better. That’s really great and a big difference compared to other prosthesis providers. I never want to complain or be a burden to others, but at Protec, I learned that I’m allowed to advocate for myself and that by being passive, I only make things harder for myself.”

‘At Protec, I learned to listen to myself carefully and ask the right questions’

Crossfit: a sport for everyone

After her amputation, Eugénie quickly found her way back to CrossFit at the gym. CrossFit combines strength, endurance and gymnastics by merging different exercises at high intensity. “In the beginning, you really have to search and find your balance on your prosthesis. It’s not like they just screw on a prosthetic leg and you walk away with it, but I definitely found my way.”

Eugénie continues to challenge and inspire herself. “This year, I had to do box step-overs, where you step onto a box and then step forward down into the depth. At first, I thought that was impossible with my prosthetic leg. But then I called another amputee CrossFit athlete and he could do it too. So, I started practicing step by step, gradually increasing the height of the box. And now I can do it! The best part is that I don’t even need a handrail anymore to go down the stairs. Before, going down the stairs without holding onto something was a real challenge for me. Every time you discover something new that you can do, it boosts your confidence and self-worth. That feeling is just amazing.”

Eugénie emphasizes that CrossFit is a sport for everyone. “With CrossFit, you’re not dependent on special sports facilities. I just do it with my everyday prosthesis and sometimes I even choose to take it off, like when jumping rope. Plus, CrossFit consists of different elements, so there’s always something you can develop. One time, I focus more on strength and another time, I discover ways to improve in gymnastics. There’s always something to get better at and that’s incredibly motivating. At my gym, there’s even a woman in her 70s who does it.”

Competitions

Adaptive CrossFit is still in its early stages, especially in competition form. “I discovered other CrossFit athletes through Instagram and thought it was a big sport in America, but that turned out not to be the case. It’s still relatively unknown everywhere. In a way, I’m pioneering.”

For the past three years, Eugénie has competed in The Nationals Adaptive Edition of CrossFit in the Netherlands. “My first competition experience in 2022 felt like being in a candy store. For the first time, I stood alongside others with disabilities. It was amazing. It was a real eye-opener to see how others with disabilities practice CrossFit – people in wheelchairs, those with an underdeveloped arm and even athletes with Down syndrome. Sometimes, you hide behind your amputation. But seeing how these people embrace their own challenges completely changed my mindset.”

“My amputation has truly become a part of me; it’s part of who I am. It hasn’t changed me much as a person, but it has made me more decisive. I live for today, not tomorrow. Because of that, I set shorter, achievable goals and no longer postpone things. My adventure at the Adaptive CrossFit Games in Texas is a direct result of this mindset. I’ll be competing there in September 2024. Normally, I would have waited another year until I was stronger and could prove more. But now, I see things differently. I don’t know what next year will bring, so I’m taking on this adventure now.”