Krystal Cantu, a one-armed CrossFit athlete in San Antonio, can deadlift 210 pounds

Krystal Cantu, a 25-year-old CrossFit athlete from San Antonio. Krystal Cantu, a 25-year-old CrossFit athlete from San Antonio. Photo: Spencer Peeples / Barcroft USA , Courtesy, Krystal Cantu Photo: Spencer Peeples / Barcroft USA , Courtesy, Krystal Cantu Image 1 of / 27 Caption Close Krystal Cantu, a one-armed CrossFit athlete in San Antonio, can deadlift 210 pounds 1 / 27 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO - Krystal Cantu likes a challenge.

Cantu, a 25-year-old San Antonio CrossFit athlete, competes around the country in workout events despite having her right arm amputated last year after a one-car crash caused by a tire blowout.

"I love being pushed to my limits," Cantu told the San Antonio Express-News.

Cantu, who can deadlift 210 pounds, said she works out five times a week and would even more if her schedule allowed.

Cantu has been called "wonder woman" and "all the sporting inspiration you'll ever need" in international and national publications, including Barcroft Media and Buzzfeed.

"(Being called an inspiration) still shocks the hell out of me," Cantu said. "To me, I'm just a normal person."

Cantu, originally from Weslaco, works in sales for Rackspace Hosting Inc. She was injured in the car wreck last August while driving in Pleasanton and was released from the hospital three days later.

"It was back to normal living," she said. "I picked up everything on my own... I actually began cleaning my apartment as soon as I got home."

Cantu said she kept a "strong mindset" and was grateful to have escaped the accident with only an injury to her arm.

"I can do anything I could do before with both arms, with my left arm," she said.

Cantu competes in both regular and adaptive divisions in CrossFit competitions. Her next event is in Houston on Aug. 30.

CrossFit is high-intensity workout combination of weight-lifting, gymnastics and metobolic conditioning, according to its website.

"I'm glad (people who are inspired by me) can take something like this, from a complete stranger, and put in into perspective in their own life," she said.

See Cantu in action in the gallery above (video at end).

kparker@express-news.net

Twitter: @KoltenParker