Hello there! I'm thrilled you've taken the time to visit.
My name is Karolina. I’m a former elite volleyball player turned ultra runner. My passion for healthy life choices has been a driving force in my life since my teenage years, shaping who I am today. Growing up, I went through it all – vegetarian, vegan, keto, intermittent fasting, you name it. I tried all the ‘cool’ stuff and that path led me all the way down to an eating disorder. No half sends.
Luckily, becoming a professional athlete at a very young age made me understand very quickly that food is fuel and therefore, your friend, not your enemy. I became very passionate about understanding how nutrition affects sports, my performance, and my recovery.
It wasn’t until my early 20s that I realised something was off. Suddenly, I couldn’t attend game day lunches with the team without spending the whole afternoon cramping and going into competition drained and underfueled. I paid hundreds of euros for useless tests, skipped artificial foods, spices, and milk products and eventually dug myself out of the worst. But even though the symptoms improved, there has barely been a day when I could eat whatever I wanted without feeling the consequences.
This made me want to dig deeper into the processes in the human body. I got certified as a holistic nutritionist, sports nutrition coach and obtained diverse gut health specialisations. Since then, I have been able to help people around me make positive lifestyle changes through nutrition, sports, and self-care, which fills my life with joy.
In 2021, when my mother was diagnosed with celiac disease, initially I started creating lists and recipes for her to help with transition. But then it hit me… hold on a second! Celiac IS genetic. And just like that, I finally got the answers to all my problems of the past 15+ years. It only took one round of tests to confirm the damage in my gut was caused by celiac, too.
My sports and nutrition expertise helped me navigate through the initial change very quickly, though I still learn every day.
I have created the G-Free Athlete to share my experiences, thoughts, and knowledge. My goal is to raise awareness about the gluten-free diet in sports and teach you how to connect the dots between science-based nutrition techniques and a gluten-free life that’s fun and easy, with your performance and long-term health in sight.
My inspiration comes from my travels, races, people, books, trends, and everyday life experiences. I am constantly seeking new perspectives that enrich my understanding of the needs of a celiac athlete.
Join me on this journey. No matter if you’re a fellow celiac, suffer from non-celiac gluten sensitivity, or simply believe in the good in the gluten-free diet, the G-Free Athlete is your safe space. Whether you’re here for inspiration, information, or to share experiences, I’m grateful for your presence. Reach out, leave a comment, or connect on social media.