Jodie was already a CrossFit athlete when she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2025. She had boxed for years, competed in bodybuilding, and had no intention of giving up competition.
After her diagnosis, she set her sights on competing in adaptive CrossFit.
In her first season, Jodie finished 11th in the world in her division in the Adaptive CrossFit Open and qualified for the semifinals. She ultimately chose not to pursue the Games that year, but she wants to make another run at it next season.
Jodie and Eric talk about what training toward a goal like that looks like with Parkinson’s. They also get into adaptive competition, returning to golf, her 22 years in nursing, and where she wants to go from here.
Top Takeaways
➡️ Training has to change with the day.
Jodie found that even established CrossFit programs could be too much volume. She now mixes different approaches and adjusts her training based on how she is feeling rather than forcing herself to follow one program exactly.
➡️ Adaptive competition still has room to improve.
Jodie’s experience at the New Zealand Championships showed her what real inclusion can look like, with adaptive athletes competing on the main floor and being treated as part of the event rather than an afterthought.
➡️ Parkinson’s is changing how Jodie thinks about what comes next.
After 22 years in nursing, Jodie is starting to think about what happens if she can no longer do the work she has done for so long. She is also looking at ways to bring together her experience in nursing, fitness, and Parkinson’s to become more involved in the Parkinson’s community.
Key Moments
01:50 Early Parkinson’s Symptoms; Boxing, Weight Training & CrossFit
04:14 CrossFit Coach Notices Changes; Seeking Medical Help
05:00 Testing for MS; Parkinson’s Diagnosis
08:08 Telling Her Family; Life After Diagnosis
09:34 Non-Motor Symptoms; When You Can’t “Just Send It”
10:54 Adaptive CrossFit; 11th in the World; Qualifying for Semifinals
12:12 Adjusting CrossFit Training With Parkinson’s
14:12 Adaptive CrossFit Classification; Competition Standards
16:04 Bodybuilding, Nutrition & Parkinson’s
17:02 Starting Parkinson’s Medication; Stiffness & Rigidity
20:24 Carbidopa/Levodopa; Protein & Training
22:58 Chasing the CrossFit Games
24:47 Adaptive Competition; Inclusion at the New Zealand Championships
26:00 CrossFit Community; From Bodybuilding to CrossFit
27:34 Competitive Bodybuilding; Discipline & Diet
28:55 Returning to Golf; All Abilities Golf
31:56 Parkinson’s, Rigidity & the Golf Swing
33:09 Adaptive Bodybuilding
34:24 All Abilities Golf; Paralympic Possibilities
35:58 Jodie’s Response to Her Parkinson’s Diagnosis
38:29 Young-Onset Parkinson’s; Hesitating to Join Support Groups
39:22 Getting Involved in the Parkinson’s Community
40:38 Nursing, Identity & What Comes Next
Connect with Jodie
Instagram: @trainingthroughparkinsons
Facebook: Jodie Tickle
About the Host
Eric Von Frohlich is a fitness entrepreneur, coach, and athlete living with Parkinson's who founded EVF Performance and Row House before his diagnosis in 2020. On the podcast he talks with athletes, experts, and people refusing to let a diagnosis be the end of the story.
Parkinson’s: An Athlete’s Journey
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Disclaimer
This podcast shares personal experience and general education, not medical advice. Always talk with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to medication, treatment, or exercise.
