Iceland Annie: The Evolution of a CrossFit Games Legend

by Annie Thorisdottir

An inspiring memoir by CrossFit legend Annie Thorisdottir, the first woman to win the CrossFit Games twice.

In 2011, Annie Thorisdottir earned the title “Fittest Woman on Earth” after winning the CrossFit Games in only her third year as a competitor. In 2012, she did it again, becoming the first woman to ever win the Games twice, solidifying herself amongst the CrossFit greats.

Iceland Annie is the story of how she got there, and everything that happened after. From bursting onto the CrossFit scene at the 2009 Games and famously hitting her first-ever muscle-up mid-competition, to becoming a two-time champion and mentor to athletes like Katrin Davidsdottir, to surviving the traumatic birth of her daughter and the battle with postpartum depression—culminating in a stunning 2021 comeback, when she placed third at the Games less than a year after giving birth.

Now, for the first time ever, Annie shares the intimate details of her career, delving into her mental resilience, determination, and the struggles and triumphs she’s faced as a top-level competitor over three separate decades.

Audible Audio

First published February 17, 2026

Reviews

[Amanda H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this Audio-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As a huge CrossFit fan, who has watched Annie for almost her entire career, I am amazed at her ethos, her growth and how she becomes the person she is today. The way she describes getting bored with a workout plan, how she's constantly achieving; she needs a new goal and a new challenge at all times, but then how it all evolves after Freya is born.

I love hearing of Annie's early life- how she came to CrossFit, how she was supported so heavily from her entire family; her relationship with Frederik (I had to text my husband telling him I was delayed because Frederik and Annie just kissed for the first time and I can't stop listening!), and how she navigates the challenges of injury, heat stroke, the psychology behind overcoming that and also navigating the post-partum depression and fitness. The way she talks about hiding in the back corner of the gym so she can pee herself while doing double unders is so real for so many women.

It's an interesting situation to be in- Annie doesn't really recognize the privilege she has as a CF Games winner- she has more than enough money to travel around the world, meet specialists and hire coaches for literally everything she needs in order to become The Fittest on Earth. This isn't so much a deterrent to Annie- it just makes me feel really sad for people who DON'T have that access.

Overall, I loved this book and would listen to it again whenever I needed some more motivation when things stall for me. Annie has been an inspiration to me in my CrossFit and fitness journeys since I started. Will I ever be as fit as Annie? Hell no. But her story will absolutely inspire another woman in the future and that is what matters most. Congratulations, Annie, on this achievement.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Iceland Annie: The Evolution of a CrossFit Games Legend is an inspiring look at Annie Thorisdottir’s journey from a young athlete in Iceland to becoming a two-time CrossFit Games champion and one of the sport’s most influential figures. Rather than simply recounting victories, the book focuses on her growth — highlighting the injuries, setbacks, and moments of self-doubt that shaped her resilience and mental toughness. It offers an honest portrayal of what it takes to compete at the highest level.

Accessible and motivating, the book emphasizes mindset over mechanics, making it appealing not just to CrossFit fans but to anyone interested in perseverance and high performance. While it doesn’t dive deeply into training specifics, it succeeds as a story of grit, evolution, and the relentless pursuit of improvement.

[Geeah Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Net Galley, for this Arc!
Audiobook.

As a CrossFit Lover, I was excited to listen to Annie's memoir about her time in CrossFit. It was great that she narrated the book herself as well. It was easy to understand despite her accent, even listening at 2x speed. The story itself was very well done. The structure she chose to tell the story kept me really intrigued. Despite watching all the CrossFit games and documentaries and behind the scenes, you never really know what's going on with the athletes. This memoir definitely pointed out how much these athletes have to sacrifice and push to be in the top. There was a lot of great motivating quotes that will stick with me. I enjoyed that Annie touched on her postpartum and training afterwards.

I think if you are a female athlete or love CrossFit you would enjoy this memoir.

[Luna and Co · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really interesting. Learning about her upbringing, her parents and how she was raised helps us understand her mindset and how she thinks about sport. It's fascinating to hear how she managed to get to the point she is. She is truly inspiring, and hearing about her pregnancy and mental health was amazing. I felt like workout descriptions were going into too much, but I'm guessing this might be a plus for other people. I listened to the audio version, at first I was unsure about the narration, but in the end, who could tell this story better than the athlete herself!?

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a huge CrossFit fan, I was so excited to learn more about Annie Thorisdottir. I loved hearing about her experiences competing in CrossFit and how she balances elite athletics with motherhood. Her journey is both inspiring and insightful, especially for anyone who appreciates the dedication it takes to perform at such a high level.

My only critique is that her accent is quite strong at times, which occasionally made parts of the narration a little harder to understand. That said, if you enjoy autobiographies and sports memoirs, you’ll definitely enjoy this one.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this audiobook ARC!

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a huge crossfit fan, I have followed Annie's career throughout the years. This was a fantastic timeline of what brought her to eventually find crossfit and her career through the years. I loved the details and insights into her process and thoughts. It was very tedious and workout focused so if you don't find that subject fascinating I do think this could feel like too much detail.

Annie did her own narration which I really appreciate! Loved hearing her Icelandic accent throughout the book.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not me already crying through the intro 😭🤣

As a former crossfitter, current fitness enthusiast, and mom of a young child, I loved this memoir. I have always been a fan of Annie’s, and hearing her story in her own words just made me like her even more. She has incredible grit and determination, overcoming so many obstacles over the course of her CrossFit career. The story of her struggle back to herself as a new mom was all too relatable.

HIGHLY recommend the audio, as Annie reads it herself. There is no better way to experience this one!

4.75 ⭐️ rounded up

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of the audiobook!

[Cassondra Perea · Rating 5 out of 5]

ALC Review:

Special thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Annie Thorisdottir for the complementary audiobook. This is an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Back in 2017 I stumbled upon a collection of CrossFit documentaries (Netflix) that changed my perspective on fitness. At the time, I was trying to figure out a workout plan to aid in weight loss. While I had immense respect for CrossFit, I was too intimidated to enter a gym/box.

Despite my trepidation, I credit those documentaries (Froning, Fitness on Earth, Redeemed and Dominant) with my fascination in the sport. In addition, in served as my introduction to Annie Thorisdottir- the first two time champion. Her bubbly personality and athleticism made her an instant star/standout.

So when I saw that Annie was releasing her memoir, I immediately jumped at the opportunity to read it. Iceland Annie: The Evolution of a CrossFit Games Legend was a five star read!!! It was not only
insightful, but highly inspirational; leaving no doubt that Annie Thorisdottir is an elite athlete with unmatched mental resilience.

Be sure to read/ listen to this book for Annie’s:
-Icelandic Roots
-Athletic Background
-Record Breaking Statistics
-Post Games Life

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read. This memoir is about a legend in CrossFit and her life in and out of the sport. This book gave the reader insight into what makes Annie tick and how she was able to compete at a high level despite some very challenging setbacks. This story makes you see her 3rd place finish in 2021 with new eyes and I think readers will appreciate her even more.

[Jennifer Cronin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved learning about her early life, her dedication and determination. I never knew she had to overcome such terrible injuries. Her attitude was so uplifting. I couldn't put it down.