CrossFit: Athletes with a difference
NGN speaks to two CrossFit athletes taking part in this year's Africa Regionals Competition.
AN athlete moves from a hanging position below a set of gymnastics rings to a supported position above the rings. A second athlete is performing chin-ups while another presses 50kg over his head with consumate ease. It’s all part of one of the most challenging sports sweeping South Africa and the world, and it’s called CrossFit.
CrossFit athletes are like modern day gladiators, who keep getting stronger.
Northglen News spoke to two competitors taking part in this year’s CrossFit Africa regionals. For Mt Edgecombe’s Charlotte van der Haer and Durban North’s Taryn Paola, the sport offers the best way to keep challenging themselves. They are part of a six-man crew (mixed) competing in the team challenge.
Charlotte, a former World and South African Miss Fitness title (WPF) and South African Powerlifting champion, said her stamina has greatly improved and she’s able to push herself harder through the sport.
“When I won the world title, I felt I needed a bigger challenge, something to work for and something to make myself stronger. After seeing the sport on ESPN for the first time, I was hooked,” Charlotte said.
For mom, Taryn, the feeling was similar. I started in 2011 and my passion for the sport has only increased over the past two years. When I started I could only deadlift 40kg, now I can deadlift 90kg, so it’s a sport where you constantly grow from strength to strength,” Taryn said.
One of their coaches, and CrossFit competitor, Dean Ridgway, said he’s been impressed with everyone’s growth and fitness.
“Their biggest strength in the CrossFit arena is their ability to fight and keep moving. The key to momentum is maintaining your pace without ever breaking down and that’s what the coaches work on. We have to motivate while also helping the athletes with good foundational movements,” he said.
But like any athlete, both Charlotte and Taryn feel there is a long list of things to improve on, both mentally and physically.
“Having said that, we’re looking forward to this year’s competition and our aim is to make the top 15,” Charlotte said.
