Published on Tuesday, February 4, 2025
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Tica female athlete (a term used for a native of Costa Rica) Amalia Ortuño took first place in the Wodapalooza Adaptive CrossFit competition, held at Lummus Park in Miami Beach, U.S.A. 

Ortuño, competing in the Weightlifting Seated Adaptive category for wheelchair users, secured the top spot with a total of 560 points. She lifted weights using dumbbells, barbells, and machines to outperform her competitors. 

Chilean athlete Sophie Wilson pointed in second with 540 and Finn athlete Elizabeth Foster followed  and 530 points, respectively. 

“Dream, and dream big, because all your dreams will come true,” Ortuño said after securing her victory. “This first place means a lot to me.”

 

This marks Ortuño’s third Wodapalooza Adaptive CrossFit championship win, having previously claimed the title in 2020 and 2022. 

Her victory adds to Costa Rica’s growing list of international athletic achievements. Recently, Noelia Vargas-Mena won gold at the Lusatian World Athletics Race Walking Tour in Zittau, Germany. 

Wodapalooza, which began as a grassroots, one-day fitness competition in 2012 with 145 athletes and 500 spectators, has since grown into a premier functional fitness festival. Organizers reported that in 2025, more than 2,700 athletes competed and 35,000 people attended the event. 

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What other international competitions should Costa Rica’s adaptive athletes consider? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com