Summary: Three-time Games athlete and owner of CrossFit St. Helens, Carleen Mathews isn’t your typical CrossFit Games competitor. A former collegiate softball player, when Carleen’s athletic career came to a close she found herself struggling first with an eating disorder and then with alcohol and substance abuse.<br> <br> With the help of therapy, her family, and CrossFit, Carleen overcame her addictions and self-destructive habits to return to competition, this time in a new sport. Since 2012, she has steadily risen amongst the ranks, progressing from a Regionals athlete to a multi-year CrossFit Games competitor. In 2017, she won the West Regional, but suffered an injury that forced her to withdrawal from the CrossFit Games on the first day of competition. For 2018, she is back on track, with her sights set on a top finish at Regionals and another trip to Madison.<br> <br> I caught up with Carleen to learn about her journey from athlete to addiction and back, how her body image has changed since starting CrossFit, and her advice for helping others who may be suffering from an eating disorder or substance abuse.
