MEMBER FEATURE: Arianna Materi

Reigniting Passion, Building Strength, and Finding Connection at CFCL

When Arianna Materi first stepped through the doors of CrossFit CL, she wasn’t sure what to expect. After a lifetime of sport—from soccer and karate to competitive cheerleading and volleyball—she knew what it meant to train hard. But following the pandemic and the cancellation of her plans to play college volleyball in the U.S., Arianna’s passion for fitness began to fade. What once gave her energy started to feel like a chore.

Fast forward to today: CrossFit has reignited that spark.

“Moving to CrossFit has allowed me to re-discover my passion for fitness,” Arianna says. “It's no longer something I feel I have to do. I want to be here.”

From the Gym to the Community

Currently in her fourth year at the University of Saskatchewan and finishing her degree in Psychology, Arianna is no stranger to structure and discipline. She first heard about CFCL through her dad, who works with Brett (a familiar face at the gym). After a conversation with him, Arianna decided to give it a shot—thinking CrossFit would help her start preparing for a career in law enforcement.

Though she was nervous at first—especially after hearing mixed reviews from friends who had tried other gyms—she was pleasantly surprised.
“The community was incredible,” she says. “I didn’t feel out of place at all. Everyone was so welcoming. I quickly felt like I belonged.”

Burpees? Back Squats? Bring It On.

While she jokes that wall walks and thrusters still aren’t her thing, Arianna’s list of favourite movements is growing fast. She’s developed a fondness for power cleans, deadlifts, and even burpees (yes, really!). One of her favourite parts of a workout is building to a 1-rep max in back squats, and she’s also discovered the mental and emotional benefits of training in a group setting.

“CrossFit has helped me grow my confidence,” she explains. “I’m definitely a happier person. My social life has improved, and I’ve created amazing friendships that extend outside the gym.”

Redefining Strength—and Self-Worth

What inspires Arianna most is the strong community of women around her.

“To see women striving to be stronger, faster, and better—it’s incredibly powerful,” she says. “It’s challenging the norms of how women are ‘supposed’ to look or act. That alone keeps me inspired to keep going.”

For Arianna, fitness is no longer about looking a certain way. It’s about feeling strong, showing up for herself, and embracing the journey—burpees and all.

What’s Next?

With a possible CrossFit competition in her future (Jason’s idea, of course), Arianna is excited to keep learning, growing, and getting more involved in the CFCL community.

“I’m probably most excited to keep building my skills and getting stronger—inside and out,” she says. “And to be a bigger part of this amazing community.”

And her advice to newcomers?

“Accept that it’s going to be hard. But if you stick with it, you’ll improve in every class and every move. You may even start to like the stuff you never thought you would.”