Laughing Through the Struggle, Lifting Through the Pain – A CrossFit Warrior Defying Parkinson’s
At 35 years old, Jules King was trapped in a wheelchair, unable to care for herself, and told she would never regain her independence. Today, at 45, she is a CrossFit athlete, a triathlon finisher, and a bronze medalist at the Adaptive CrossFit Games.
Her story is one of grit, resilience, and humor in the face of adversity. It’s not just about surviving Parkinson’s—it’s about thriving with it.
From Dance Floors to Wheelchairs – The Diagnosis That Took 16 Years
Jules was only 19 when she noticed something strange. While dancing in a club, her big toe curled up and refused to relax. It was odd, but she dismissed it.
Years passed, and other symptoms crept in—stiffness, balance issues, overwhelming fatigue. She lost her natural rhythm, something that had always been part of her identity.
By her early 30s, the symptoms were impossible to ignore. Walking became dangerous. Falls were frequent. Eventually, she couldn’t safely carry anything—not even her baby son. She started crawling across the floor just to move.
Doctors couldn’t explain it. One told her she had chronic fatigue syndrome and needed “bed rest for a year.” But instead of improving, she ended up in a wheelchair, needing 24-hour care.
She was misdiagnosed for 16 years.
Then, in 2015, a neurologist finally figured it out—Stage 5 Parkinson’s disease.
The doctor gave her levodopa, a standard Parkinson’s medication.
The first pill didn’t do much.
The second? She was walking.
The Mindset Shift – Fighting Back with Movement
Parkinson’s is a progressive disorder— it used to be believed that Parkinson’s is always a slow, inevitable decline. Doctors said she would never regain full mobility.
Jules didn’t care.
The moment she could move again, she set a goal: Walk one full lap of a 2K course without stopping.
It took six weeks, but she did it.
Then she set another goal: Complete a triathlon.
Her doctor laughed. “I know you’re a fighter, but that’s not possible.”
A year later, she walked into his office wearing a Pembrokeshire Olympic Triathlon finisher’s shirt.
She came in last. But she finished.
And she wasn’t done.
finding Strength in CrossFit – From Panic to Power
Her daughter, Sophie, suggested she try CrossFit.
Jules drove to CrossFit Pembrokeshire and sat in the car watching athletes lifting barbells, jumping on boxes, and throwing weights around like it was nothing.
“I had a full-blown panic attack and drove home,” she laughed.
Then she laughed at herself and went back the next day.
From that moment, CrossFit became her therapy, her medicine, her power.
She learned to adapt:
- Her grip locked up during lifts? She adjusted her technique.
- Her legs started marching uncontrollably? She called them her “happy legs” and kept training.
- She fell during workouts? She laughed, got back up, and kept going.
Soon, she was doing handstands, box jumps, and Olympic lifts. CrossFit did more than just build her strength and balance—it gave her confidence, freedom, and a deep sense of community.
“It’s helped my balance, strength, and getting the signals in my brain to the places they are meant to be,” Jules said.
Competing on the World Stage – And Spreading the Message
Jules trained like a beast, and in 2023, she qualified for the Adaptive CrossFit Games in Texas.
At 45 years old, she won bronze in the major neuromuscular category—a podium finish on the world stage.
Now, she’s on a mission.
She’s tired of the uninspiring medical advice given to people with Parkinson’s.
- “Take a walk? Do some light stretching? Are you kidding me?” she jokes.
She believes in pushing limits, training hard, and proving that Parkinson’s doesn’t mean stopping life.
- “I want people to know that life doesn’t stop when you get diagnosed. You can be at Stage 5, where I was, and still have a life. I’m proof of that.”
Her message is simple: Never stop moving. Never stop challenging yourself. Never stop laughing.
If you ask Jules, she’ll tell you:
- “I fall down. A lot. But I get back up. Every single time.”
Why Jules’ Story Matters
Jules’ journey isn’t just about Parkinson’s. It’s about:
Defying expectations.
- Refusing to accept limits.
- Using humor to fight back.
- Finding strength in movement.
She’s living proof that exercise is one of the most powerful tools against Parkinson’s.
If she can go from a wheelchair to the CrossFit podium, what’s stopping you?
- Push yourself. Lift something heavy. Challenge your body. Laugh at the setbacks.
And like Jules… Never. Stop. Moving.
- “If I can do it, so can you.” – Jules King
