'CrossFit my safe place' says woman with Parkinson's

"This is my safe place, this is where I feel the happiest," says adaptive CrossFit athlete Jules King with a beaming smile on her face.

The 46-year-old from Pembrokeshire, who has early onset Parkinson's disease, has gone on to prove many wrong, including her GP.

After experiencing her first symptom at 19, King required the use of a wheelchair by the age of 35

A decade later, with a bronze medal at the Adaptive CrossFit Games to her name, she hopes her story inspires others to keep moving.

"At the start of my diagnosis I couldn't even carry a cup of coffee without spilling it, I couldn't carry my shopping in, couldn't get myself out of bed," King told BBC Sport Wales.

"But now I have abs of steel!

"My first symptom was my big toe curling up and I noticed I'd lost my natural rhythm, I wasn't able to dance and I was a dancer all my life.

"I started falling over not knowing why, loss of coordination, I couldn't put things in bags it would take me forever after scanning things through the till [at the supermarket].

"My symptoms slowly got worse over time, I ended up having to use the wheelchair to go out and do things with my children so I could still be involved with the family things."

After visiting a private neurologist, King was then diagnosed with early onset Parkinson's disease and received the correct medication to help manage her symptoms.

Parkinson's is a currently incurable degenerative condition which affects how the brain communicates with the muscles in the body.

It is commonly associated with a visible tremor or muscle rigidity.

According to the NHS, it is caused by a loss of nerve cells in the brain, leading to a reduction in a chemical called dopamine which plays a vital role in regulating movement.

"I went into my GPs for a routine check up after being diagnosed and I joked to him and said I was going to do a triathlon," said King.

"He replied, 'you can't do that,' and I went on to do three!"

Despite her triathlon successes, King says she soon lost interest in the discipline.

"I got bored quite quickly of the triathlons and I needed more of a challenge.

"My daughter decided to enter me into this competition where they lift heavy weights and do silly things.

"I couldn't do any of it!

"She dragged me round this course in a pairs competition, but it was so much fun and then after that was my introduction to CrossFit.

"After that I went then into CrossFit Pembrokeshire in my local town [Haverfordwest] and I was welcomed with open arms and never looked back."

King would go on to earn a bronze medal at the Adaptive CrossFit Games in Texas, USA in 2024.

She hopes her story resonates with others.

"I'm hoping it inspires loads of people because I just want everyone to keep moving and know the importance of keeping moving," said King.

"Life doesn't have to end when you get a diagnosis like young onset Parkinson's.

"CrossFit has changed my life, it's given me a second family and whole community."