Keira McManus – 2024 & 2025 Age-Group Winner at the CrossFit Games - has joined Team INOV8 for 2026!
The 16-year-old, based in the West Midlands, UK, has joined the team ahead of her trip to Miami Beach to compete in the Elite Divisionat Wodapalooza, alongside the best cross training athletes in the world, including fellow INOV8 teammate Dani Speegle.
After winning the 14-16 category in two successive years at the CrossFit Games, Wodapalooza will be her first step into the Elite Division on the international stage.
We caught up with the teenage sensation to hear more about her journey so far.
Welcome to the team, Keira! How does it feel to join Team INOV8?
It honestly feels amazing. I’m so excited to be joining Team INOV8 in 2026!
My very first training shoes were actually a pair of INOV8s that my brother handed down to me when he grew out of them. They were the shoes I started my journey in, so it feels really special to now be part of the team.
You're only 16 and you've achieved so much in the sport already, what have been your highlights so far?
Definitely winning the CrossFit Games at 14. It was my very first season, so I honestly just wanted to see how far I could go.
To end up winning every stage - The Open, Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, and then the Games was such a surreal moment. It’s something I’ll never forget and a memory I’ll always carry with me.
How did you first get into cross training?
I grew up around it because my parents both competed, and we also run our own gym, CrossFit ST1. So, it’s kind of always been part of my life.
I originally started getting involved to improve my fitness for the sports I was playing at the time, street dance and football. But once I started on the competition floor, I completely fell in love with it.
Since 2024, I made the decision to step away from dance and football to fully focus on fitness training, and I haven’t looked back since. Getting to train alongside my older brother, who also competes, is very special to me - we love the sibling rivalry!
What are your goals for 2026?
One of my biggest goals for 2026 is Wodapalooza. I’ve competed there for the past two years in the Teen Division, and I’ve honestly loved every minute of it.
This year, instead of entering the Teen category again, I decided to take on the RX/Elite qualifiers to see where I stood against some of the best female athletes in the world.
Securing a qualifying spot honestly blew me away. Getting to step onto the competition floor as an RX athlete at just 16 years old feels like a dream.
My goal is to step out there and really soak it all in. I want to enjoy every second of being on that floor, take in the atmosphere, and just be proud of how far I’ve come. I’ll give it everything I’ve got and I want to compete with a smile on my face and truly enjoy the experience.
And of course - The CrossFit Games 2026! We are a few weeks away from The Open, and I am really excited to give this season my all!
What are your strengths on the competition floor?
I definitely love anything with a barbell. I’d say my strength is one of my biggest attributes, but I also really back my engine.
I enjoy workouts where I can combine strength and endurance and just keep pushing the pace.
Which are your favourite INOV8 products?
My favourite INOV8 products are definitely the running trainers, like the ROADFLY MAX. They’re always my go to when I see an endurance/running workout come up.
I’ve actually won two international events in my INOV8s, so they feel pretty special to me. I just trust them when it comes to running and longer workouts.
