She made it to the other side of the world to be named 16th 'Fittest on Earth', but Army Logistic Training Centre's physical training instructor (PTI) Sergeant Sheree Willcox admits "you don't get anywhere by yourself".
At her first CrossFit Games, held in Birmingham, Alabama, last month, Sergeant Willcox competed in the 35 to 39-year-old Masters category, making it to the finals (top 20 of 40 athletes) and proudly taking 16th place overall.
While she attributes her success to a careful balance of training, nutrition, mindset and planning, the encouragement from back home was both humbling and stimulating.
"The support of that photo that I got from Chloe (fellow PTI) that she set up with the EESW (Electrical and Electronics Systems Wing) crew - my PT crew who I look after here - was just 'wow'," she said.
"Everybody's support meant a lot to me, especially when you're on the other side of the world."
While the competition was stiff and every small win or mistake slid her rapidly up or down the ladder, Sergeant Willcox said she was very satisfied with her performance, leaving nothing in the tank over 10 gruelling workouts.
"I was happy with all my results, everything that I did on the floor and I didn't," she said.
"It was between 40 of us, but one second, one rep can make a big difference between first and last. It really is that tight when you're at the games.
"I had some stuff-ups - first workout I smacked the dumbbells onto my barbell that rolled back into me and I'm like, 'oh man, I was winning that workout', and then I end up coming fifth or something.
"So going back next year when I make it, it will just be those little critiques, like the small bar was further away than the tall bar, so going back to training I need to train on a higher bar because those three seconds over eight rounds matter."
Sergeant Willcox has already activated her plan towards returning to the CrossFit Games in 2025, with the Down Under Championships coming up from October 18, followed by the Torian Pro in 2025 and the CrossFit Games semi-finals at the same time.
Although nothing can replace the excitement of competing at her first CrossFit Games, Sergeant Willcox will go into 2025 with the confidence she gained from the 2024 games and the thrill of aiming even higher, just as she did in this year's final.
"I went in there wanting to make the top 20 because they had the cuts on the Saturday night and I made the cut," she said.
"So Sunday was just a reward."
