A headteacher from Bristol has described it as an “incredible honour” to be selected for Team UK at two upcoming international fitness championships.
Katherine Ogden, principal of King’s Oak Academy in Kingswood, earned the top spot at the British Functional Fitness Championships National Finals held in Sheffield. Her victory secured her place on Team UK.
She will compete at the Masters IF3 European Championships in the Netherlands this June. Later in the year, she will travel to Australia for the IF3 World Championships in November.
“This is a powerful way to show our students that commitment, balance, and resilience can lead to extraordinary outcomes—whether in sport, education, or life,” said Ms Ogden.
She added that she feels both excited and slightly nervous about the scale of the upcoming events. “These competitions are on a completely different level from what I’m used to,” she said.
Ms Ogden views the challenge as a chance to grow. “It’s an opportunity to keep learning, keep pushing myself, and hopefully inspire the young people and staff in my school community.”
Earlier in the year, she reached the semi-finals of the CrossFit Games in the 35-39 age category, further demonstrating her athletic commitment.
Training for such competitions requires significant dedication, she explained. “Preparing for CrossFit means training before and after school, as well as on weekends, so I can balance it with my responsibilities as a school leader.”
She said success in the sport takes “planning, discipline, and support.”
