Blindness: An Invisible Disability — Kym Dekeyrel

Blindness is an invisible disability.

When she was 5 years old, Kym Dekeyrel was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative genetic condition that causes loss of vision.

In her 20s, she was diagnosed with lupus, carrying symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. During surgery to correct liver failure caused by complications from lupus, Dekeyrel almost died from excessive blood loss.

Although she survived, any remaining vision she had was gone, leaving her feeling “empty” and “lost,” until, with the help of her husband, Adam, she found CrossFit.

In an emotional, candid, and raw interview, Dekeyrel shares her story about living with blindness and accepting the reality of her disability, overcoming fears and defying stereotypes, and finding herself, confidence, and empowerment through CrossFit.

“It’s incredible that it took the sport of CrossFit for me to not only be able to admit to being blind, but to being proud.” — Kym Dekeyrel, 2021 CrossFit Games Champion, Women’s Vision division