The 38-year-old received a late funding boost from The Royal British Legion to help finance a trip that saw her travel to Ohio with hopes of a top ten finish.
Once stateside, a bout of illness scuppered her performance in the early rounds, while the workouts did not play to her strengths, but she recovered to showcase the impressive form that saw her qualify in style.
“I got really ill with nausea and sickness,” Spence told SoldierSport. “I don’t know what it was.
“I wanted to enjoy it but there were points where I was just getting out of bed and doing the workout before heading back again.
“I remember looking at the kettlebells and thinking ‘I am going to be sick on these’ and it was only towards the end of the second day that it started to clear up.
“At that point I was down at the bottom of the standings but then had a good workout – five rounds of six ring muscle-ups, nine overhead squats and 12 box jump-overs – and that took me from 19th to 14th and a place in the final.”
Spence also posted a personal best in the clean and jerk and went on to finish 13th in the overall standings.
“It could have gone better, but I am not disappointed with my performance,” she continued. “I’m pleased to have come away with something to be proud of as I was worried about letting everyone down.
“I got a heat win and proved that I deserved to be there.”
Spence is now bidding for a place in next month’s British Army Warrior Fitness finals and will start her qualifying journey for the 2026 World Crossfit Games in February.
