The CrossFit® Games represent the pinnacle of competitive fitness, a challenge where only the most mentally and physically prepared emerge. Antonio Boldrini, born in 1966, is not new to this scenario.
Lawyer from Ferrara and athlete at the CrossFit® RedWall box, led by coaches Alan Pellin and Andrea Trotta, had one of the most intense experiences of his sporting career this year, placing himself at the 6th place in the Masters 55-59 category at the CrossFit® Games 2024.
The preparation for this edition was, for Antonio, an intense and troubled journey, marked by a accident and a long road to recovery. In 2023, after having been very close to qualifying, a shoulder problem kept him out of competition.
When he was finally able to resume training, he did so with a force renewed but slightly late (in January 2024) making his preparation shorter and more concentrated than usual. Only six or seven months of preparation for Antonio, in a context where the margins of error are very thin, but this did not discourage him.
His focus has shifted to the intensity of coach Andrea Trotta's APM Program: two sessions per day in the last weeks of August, without stopping, with our eyes fixed on the goal of improving.
Index
The Return to the Games
The 2024 edition of the CrossFit® Games represented for Antonio an even more difficult test than that of 2022, where he had conquered the podium.
This year, however, the competition consisted of slightly younger athletes, which made the challenge even more intense.
“The workouts were even harder than last time, plus there were two events with max lifts, which I'm not very good at,” Antonio said, highlighting how each single exercise put not only his body to the test, but also his mind.
However, it has been able to hold its own against the best, optimising its performances especially in the wod sprint, one of its strong points.
Her individual workout placings tell a story of resilience and determination:
- WOD 24.1 – 14th
- WOD 24.2- 5th
- WOD 24.4 – 16th
- WOD 24.5 – 12th
- WOD 24.6 – 8th
- WOD 24.8 – 2nd
- WOD 24.9 – 23rd
- Final Wod 24.10 – 1st
Among the most memorable moments was his performance in the ladder of snatch, where he set a PR of 77kg in competition. “An incredible emotion,” Antonio told us, commenting on the moment he lifted the barbell in front of the audience.
Antonio was also satisfied with the 23rd place in the front squat max, having He also set a PR here in competition with a lift of 122,5 kg. He knew this wod would be the weakness.
But the real revelation was in final workout, where he took first place with an impressive performance. The muscle-ups, a crucial point of this workout, were dominated in an excellent way by Antonio, who performed most of the repetitions unbroken, and then finished the test in 3 minutes and 50 seconds, a sprint that left the spectators breathless.
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A Journey of Ups and Downs
Despite the sixth final place, Antonio reflected on some aspects that, in his opinion, could have been managed better. The first concerns the final score: due to the cut to 15 athletes, the final score could have been distributed differently, perhaps influencing the overall result.
Another criticism concerns the judges: Antonio noted a lack of uniformity in the criteria of judgment, with standards that did not always appear homogeneous among the various competitors.
Another significant moment was during WOD 24.8, consisting of 8 rounds of burpees, toes-to-bar and a clean. Antonio, convinced that he had to do another round, lost a few seconds precious to understand that he had actually already finished the workout.
The lack of warning from his judge caused him to lose the first position, as his opponent, Lima, finished just 3 seconds ahead:
“I thought there was still one more lap to go,” he commented by emphasizing how a slight confusion made him lose those precious seconds, allowing his Brazilian rival to pass him in extremis.
The weather conditions added further difficulties. Antonio told us that he faced particularly tough days, such as Friday, where the combination of extreme heat and three grueling workouts put all the competitors to the test:
“In the wod with race and deadlifts, I improved compared to training, but the heat was stifling, I couldn't wait to get back inside the gym" he said, recalling how, despite everything, he managed to beat world-class athletes, including the Brazilian who gave him a hard time from the beginning.
The Atmosphere of the Games 2024
One aspect that particularly struck Antonio was the atmosphere of this year's Games, which did not fully satisfy him. On the one hand the organization was impeccable, on the other hand, perceived a big difference compared to previous years, especially with the editions held in Madison.
“In Madison there was a completely different atmosphere, it lacked that visual emotion that made the experience more engaging,” said Antonio, remembering the warmth of the public, who participated with enthusiasm and supported the athletes.
This year, however, the audience was more restrained, likely due to the high cost of tickets, and the event was held in a convention center with limited stands, robbing the experience of the vibrant energy that characterized past editions.
Despite everything, he still enjoyed it much more compared to previous editions, enjoying the experience in a more relaxed way.
Looking to the Future
2025 will be Antonio Boldrini's last year in the 55-59 category, and we can't wait to see him step on those floors again. But Antonio doesn't stop there. His real ambition is to return to an old passion: athletics.
Before dedicating himself to CrossFit®, Antonio was a long jumper and now, looking to the future, he has a clear goal: win a medal at the world championships.
No matter what his next path will be, one thing is certain: Antonio Boldrini will continue to inspire not only those who follow him, but also the CrossFit® community, proving that with determination, passion and incredible discipline, limits can be constantly overcome.
Antonio, the warrior lawyer of CrossFit®, has never stopped fighting. And we at CrossMag will follow him step by step, ready to tell the successes of this extraordinary athlete.
