Fittest Staffordshire siblings celebrate CrossFit competition wins

One of the country’s fittest families is celebrating after a brother and sister won UK and world CrossFit titles.

Keira McManus, 14, was crowned the fittest girl in the world under 15 at the CrossFit Games in Michigan, US, a week ago.

Just days later, brother Tyler McManus, 20, won the British under 21 title in Southampton.

Their father Joel McManus, who runs gym Combat Fitness Stoke, said he had shed a few proud tears during a “surreal” fortnight and was “still trying to take it in.”

Joel trains both children in the high intensity fitness method at his own CrossFit gym.

During competitions, athletes take part in a series of scored challenges to test their strength and speed.

Keira said it was “a dream” to come out on top.

“The amount of hard work I put into my training, I wanted it all to be worth it for something,” she said.

“I wanted to show everyone how hard we actually work.”

She started practising CrossFit when she was nine and entered her first competitions after Covid lockdown restrictions lifted.

“The more competitions I did, I just grew to love it more,” she said.

Tyler described how he had been brought up “surrounded by fitness”.

“I began doing it to help me out with my other sports but I began to prefer it,” he said.

Joel said he was still “taking in” his children’s accomplishments.

“I’m constantly on their backs, training them, and shouting at them because I believe in them sometimes more than they do themselves,” he said.

When Keira won, he broke down.

“I was just relieved for her because over the last four months it’s been hard work.

“I’m literally proud of both of them,” he added. “I knew they could do it and I knew they would.”