Aimee Cringle’s mum has paid an emotional tribute to her daughter after the Glen Maye athlete was crowned the Fittest Woman on Earth at the 2026 CrossFit Games.
Roberta Cringle described her youngest daughter’s remarkable journey from a determined toddler who wanted to do things herself to a world champion athlete, saying she was ‘deeply proud’ of everything Aimee had achieved.
The 27-year-old Manx competitor made history with a dominant victory at the CrossFit Games in San Jose, California, producing a stunning four-day performance at the SAP Center to claim the biggest title in the sport.
The CrossFit Games are the sport's annual world championship, bringing together the world's fittest athletes to compete across a series of constantly varied events designed to test strength, endurance, speed, gymnastics, power and skill. The winner earns the title of 'Fittest on Earth'.
Having finished 13th on her Games debut in 2024 before improving to eighth last year, Cringle completed a remarkable rise to the top of the sport at her third appearance.
With eight-time champion Tia-Clair Toomey-Orr absent from this year’s competition, many expected a tightly contested battle for the women’s crown.
Instead, Cringle took control from the opening events and continued to extend her lead with a series of outstanding performances across a range of disciplines testing strength, endurance, speed and skill.
She claimed victories in the Ranch 7200m, Deadlift section of the CrossFit Total, Grass Track Race, 500 Run and Triple Pig workouts, while also securing several top-10 finishes throughout the competition.
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By the final event, her advantage had become unassailable, with Cringle holding a lead of more than 100 points over her nearest challengers.
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Her achievement prompted her mum Roberta, watching back in the Isle of Man, to write a heartfelt letter reflecting on the years of dedication that had taken Aimee to the summit of her sport.
She recalled how her daughter had shown her independent spirit from an early age.
‘From the age of 12 months she was different to the other kids - she insisted on going down a big slide independently! She wanted to do it herself and that was it!’ she wrote.
Roberta described how Aimee excelled in gymnastics and athletics throughout her school years, collecting trophies and medals while representing the island in competitions across the UK.
She also highlighted her daughter’s commitment after discovering CrossFit at around the age of 14.
‘Every early morning on the turbo bike in her bedroom sweating away, to training in the home gym we built for her, to going out on her road bike for hours, sea swimming, not wanting to go out drinking with her friends - she’d say the other athletes won’t be drinking!’
Roberta said what makes Aimee special is not only her ability, but her love for the sport.
‘What sets her apart is her passion and love for the sport. Aimee genuinely loves being in the gym and competing, so to do it as a full-time job is living her dream.’
She also spoke about the sacrifices her daughter made when moving to the UK to pursue her ambitions.
‘I am so deeply proud of the athlete she is especially when she had to make the move to go to the UK, it was tough but very necessary.’
One of the defining moments of the Games came during the Triple Pig event, a gruelling workout combining bar muscle-ups, wall-ball shots, triple-unders, in which the skipping rope passes beneath an athlete's feet three times in a single jump, and repeated flips of a 350lb weighted 'Pig'.
The victory capped another remarkable year for the qualified nurse and Island Games athletics gold medallist, who had secured her place in California after finishing 10th in the Worldwide Open, 19th in the quarter-finals and fifth at the European semi-finals.
Roberta ended her message with a tribute to her daughter’s achievement, writing: ‘Aimee, you’ve earned every single second of this moment and you belong right there at the top.
‘I’m so sorry we couldn’t get there this time!!
‘We all love you so much Aimee!!!’