Issy Watson

My passion for health and fitness was born from surviving two life-threatening illnesses that forced me to rebuild my body and life. Training became my way back to strength, trust in my body, and hope. Each workout is a reminder that my body is capable of recovery, resilience, and growth. Fitness isn’t about chasing a look for me; it’s about using the body I’ve been given to discover what I’m capable of and proving that even after being knocked down hard, it’s possible to come back stronger.

My favorite way to train is hybrid—combining strength training with endurance work like running, cycling, and swimming. Lifting makes me feel powerful, while endurance challenges my mindset and grit. Together, they keep training exciting and purposeful, pushing me to be not just fit, but capable. I love testing my limits, building real-world strength, and proving that the body can do incredible things when you train with intention and consistency.

I would use the $20,000 to invest in my continued healing, education, and platform. I still live with ongoing health and autoimmune challenges, so prioritizing recovery, treatment, and expert support would allow me to keep competing at a high level across all my fitness endeavours. I’d invest in growing a platform that helps others rebuild strength after setbacks, reminding them that healing may be nonlinear, but hope and progress are always possible.