CrossFit’s Kari Pearce is America’s Fittest Woman and the third Fittest Woman on Earth as of the 2020 CrossFit Games, and now owns a thriving business called Power Abs. Her CrossFit career began with a strong foundation in gymnastics.
Kari started her fitness life at the age of 3, and prior to CrossFit competed in the Big 10 for gymnastics. Today, she is the third Fittest Woman in the World.
Here is her story.
Related: Kari Pearce Transformation – Before and After CrossFit
Kari Pearce,
(Gymnast, Physique competitor, CrossFit athlete)
| Full Name: Kari Pearce | |||
| Height | Weight | Age | Date of Birth |
| 5’3 (160cm) | 135-145lb (61.2-65.8kg) | 32 years | July 5th, 1989 |
| Nationality | Era | ||
| American | 2010, 2020 | ||
Early Life
Kari Pearce is a known name internationally, and it comes from being the third Fittest Woman in the World. She comes from a long life of fitness, with humble beginnings in Michigan.
At the age of 3, Kari began gymnastics, and her competitive spirit was unleashed. She studied gymnastics for 18 years, and competed at the Big 10 level. She then came upon strength training, and that led her into the world of physique competitions and bodybuilding competitions.
Those passions would lead Kari Pearce into the CrossFit world. Within six months, she was a regional competitor that had the eyes of the elite in wonder. It didn’t take long for people to realize that Kari Pearce was one to watch.
Today, she’s the third Fittest Woman in the World and America’s Fittest Woman. She’s known for her awesome abs, due to her brand she’s developed with her fitness supporters. Kari Pearce is now the founder and owner of Power Abs, a comprehensive fitness and nutrition program that teaches everyday people how to have Kari Pearce’s Power Abs.
Competition and Career
After spending her childhood and college days in competitive gymnastics, Kari Pearce found the switch to CrossFit a natural one. It was recommended to her by her friends, and she didn’t take it seriously at first.
The 18 years of gymnastics paid off. But Kari Pearce wasn’t ready to head into the CrossFit world at first. She tried both weightlifting and physique competitions. Her competition streak here included an injury streak. But by 2012, one physique competition later, and Kari Pearce had a good solid taste of competitive weightlifting and bodybuilding.
In 2013, Kari Pearce had moved to the Big Apple and was looking for something new. She began her CrossFit career in November 2014 but wasn’t thinking about seeing it as a major career change. At first, she was just trying it out.
Six months into the CrossFit journey, Kari Pearce attended her first East Regional event. Within just a few months she qualified for the 2015 CrossFit Games and finished in 21st place overall.
Notable Placings
- 2015 – CrossFit Games (21st), Regionals (3rd, East Regional), Open (108th worldwide, 77th United States)
- 2016 –CrossFit Games (5th), Regionals (4th, East Regional), Open (17th worldwide, 7th United States
- 2017 – CrossFit Games (10th), Regionals (3rd, East Regional), Open (2nd worldwide, 3rd United States)
- 2018 – CrossFit Games (6th), Regionals (2nd, East Regional), Open (17th worldwide, 7th United States)
- 2019 – CrossFit Games (5th), Open (8th worldwide, 2nd United States)
- 2020 – CrossFit Games (3rd), Open (6th worldwide, 1st United States)
Also in Kari Pearce’s CrossFit career she competed in two team events. In 2015, she competed in the CrossFit Team Progenex Misfits with Alexis Johnson, Jordan Cook, and Travis Williams. That year they finished in sixth. In 2016, she competed with the same team but renamed to FitAID MisFits, coming in third.
Kari Pearce, after her 2020 CrossFit Games podium win:
“We didn’t get the event plaques at the @crossfitgames this year but how cool is it that they have our names on them!! Since winning that event was the top highlight of my career, I decided to replicate it in my backyard 😉 It still feels just as amazing knowing I am the 3rd fittest woman on earth as it did the day I stood on the podium!! 🇺🇸”
Benchmark Statistics:
• Back barbell Squat: 310 lbs
• Clean and jerk: 214 lbs
• Snatch: 185 lbs
• Deadlift: 365 lbs
Kari Pearce’s Training Program
As the third Fittest Woman on Earth, Kari Pearce has a strict training program. In addition to CrossFit famous, she is famous for her Power Abs program that she promotes to her supporters to help them get fitter, starting with the abs. Her Power Abs program includes all of the things that she does to stay fit, and is a comprehensive program that includes nutrition, meal planning, and workout and training tips.
Kari Pearce’s individual training program includes high-rep weight lifting and strength work and swimming. Her own workouts can last up to three hours daily, and sometimes more.
She will start with her strength work, do some swimming as cardio, and finish with some high-rep weightlifting. When she is not swimming for cardio, Kari Pearce is rowing, and sometimes running.
In between sets for her strength training, Kari will rest from 15-30 seconds. After heavy strength training, Kari finishes with mobility work that can last up to 15 minutes.
She offers PowerAbs workouts on her website, and posts a new workout like her Three Rounds for Time Workout every day on Instagram.
3 rounds for time:
- 30 T2B
- 30 Alternating DB Snatch (50/35)
- 30 lateral burpees over DB
- At the end of each round complete 100ft HS walk
Check out the Kari Pearce Candlestick to Sunshine Workout:
“Candlesticks To Sunshine’s ☀️
💥 Let’s get in 3 sets of 10 reps
💥 This will get your heart pumping and work your abs and obliques along with your hip mobility.
💥 If you can’t keep your legs straight, it’s ok to bend them.
Did you know there are 7 separate PowerAbs Programs available? No matter what level you are or where you are in your fitness journey, there’s a PowerAbs Program for you! 😊
Start getting ready for Spring by getting the abs you’ve always wanted. 💪”
Kip Swing
This is a hollow to an arch, followed by a hollow to an arch, hanging from the bar. It’s a common movement in CrossFit, and is one that strengthens the core, and builds strength for a lot of other movements.
• Jump up to the bar.
• Make sure your head is neutral.
• Go from hollow to an arch, with the core staying engaged the entire time in a controlled movement.
• Squeeze the abs when you go from hollow, and work your lower back and your glutes and your hamstrings when you go into the arch.
Burpee
The dreaded burpee, that Kari Pearce says on YouTube is basically a movement where you fall down and get back up
.• Drop down to the ground, as if doing a push-up
• Keep chest and thighs and feet in contact with the ground, so we always use
• Stand up and jump.
• Make sure chest and thighs and feet come in contact with the ground.
Diet and Nutrition
Kari Pearce eats like a CrossFitter and eats approximately 5 to 6 meals daily. She will also have protein shakes in between meals for a snack. Her diet includes a balance of macros in each meal that includes lean protein, complex cab, and healthy fat.
Kari’s favorites include chicken breast, eggs, peanut butter, and like many CrossFitters, oatmeal. She likes that it is easy and simple, and takes it with her when traveling. She also tells her supporters how to make snacks look easy for those watching their macros.
Kari Pearce offers more detailed meal-planning for her supporters that includes recipes, shopping lists, and foods that are delicious and healthy. She also offers 75 very easy recipes and 30-day meal plans. All of her food planning includes methods with easy-to-find ingredients and a list of things to avoid from your diet. And, Kari being Kari, she also adds things on her food planning, on what to do if your nutrition planning slips a little.
Now, Kari is gearing up for the 2021 CrossFit Games and we can’t wait to tell you where that goes.
