CLUTCH CITY COMMUNITY FITNESS
ATHLETE OF THE MONTH

November Athlete of the Month

From Setback to Comeback: 

Joelyann Redefines Resilience After Hip Surgery

When I spoke with longtime CCCF athlete Joelyann, her energy was unmistakable—equal parts grit, gratitude, and joy. She joined Clutch City Community Fitness in July 2022, already six years into her CrossFit journey, but still vividly remembers her first few classes.

“I was blown away,” she said, smiling. “There were so many strong women here! The community and the vibes were so motivating. I knew immediately—this was where I belonged.”

Fitness had always been a priority, but CCCF offered something deeper: a second home.

“It’s funny because I spend so much time here, it really does feel like family,” she laughed. “When I started, I wanted to get stronger and improve my gymnastics. I could barely do a single kipping pull-up or one toes-to-bar.”

With the encouragement of coaches and fellow members—those familiar voices saying “Don’t scale down!” or “If you can do one, you can do five!”—she quickly found herself completing full workouts with movements that once felt out of reach.

But her journey took a dramatic turn about a year ago.

“There are moments that split your story into ‘before’ and ‘after,’” she said. “For me, that moment was hip surgery. On both sides.”

Before the injury, she was at her peak—strong, confident, and fresh off her first intermediate competition. Then came the pain. Imaging revealed a congenital hip deformity: the head of her femur was misshapen, causing cartilage tears every time she squatted.

“I was terrified,” she admitted. “I had so many doubts. What if I couldn’t squat again? What if I ended up with permanent limitations?”

Recovery was projected to take over six months. But with the support of CCCF’s coaches and community, she returned in under three.

“I cried sometimes. I couldn’t decompress the way I used to. But the coaches helped me modify workouts, and the encouragement from everyone here—it meant everything.”

Four months of physical therapy later, she was discharged. Five months after surgery, she was back on the competition floor in the scaled division with Steven, Hector, and Faye.

“We had an absolute blast,” she said. “And when I was cleared to lift without restrictions, I hit new PRs in almost every lift—except squats, which I now cap at 285 lbs per my surgeon’s advice.”

Her story is one of transformation—not just physical, but emotional and mental.

“This experience taught me resilience, patience, and how to truly listen to my body. Wellness isn’t just about progress—it’s about knowing when to pause, recover, and care for yourself.”

As we wrapped up, she left me with one final reflection:

“Wellness is a lifelong journey. And it’s so much more meaningful when you’re surrounded by amazing people like our CCCF community.”