Starting today i CrossFit® Games, an event that attracts the attention of the movement, which will finally close the season with the final clash between the best crossfitter on the planet and which we will follow with lots of insights here on CrossMAG. Starting with the American morning (the Italian afternoon) the powders will be set on fire: among the protagonists also our Stefano Migliorni, Italian athlete of the Reebok CrossFit® Officine Milano, e Oana Catalina Chelmus, both trained by the skilled hands of coach Ernest Briganti.
Just with coach Briganti, directly from Madison, Wisconsin where the three have been for a week to get ready, we did exclusive chat between preparation, favorites and the thrill of being there to gamble.
Let's start with the question that perhaps everyone would like to hear, surely that everyone would like to do: how do you prepare for CrossFit® Games?
La preparazione per i Games dev’essere ovviamente la più completa possibile. Siamo arrivati qui preparandoci a 360° perché non sai cosa succederà. E vale per entrambi. Poi, una volta qui, abbiamo lavorato con una sessione al mattino ed una al pomeriggio. Abbiamo lavorato su tutti i piani di movimento, pur non facendo richiami ai massimali nel weightlifting, abbiamo tenuto un occhio di riguardo all’aerobica. Abbiamo anche provato i vari dettagli nei passaggi, come l’entrata e l’uscita dal lago, cercando di fare il tutto nel minore tempo possibile; questo anche al di là del provare nel vero senso della parola delle sessioni nel lago: non si presta molto ad allenarsi ora, ci sono un sacco di alghe che ti avviluppano e ti impediscono i movimenti. L’infortunio alla spalla di Stefano ha naturalmente condizionato tutta la preparazione perché abbiamo dovuto girare intorno a quello. Mentre i limiti di Catalina in termini di force, nei lavori di Strongman o Sandbag Carry di vario tipo sono una sua debolezza. Sicuramente abbiamo fatto dei passi da gigante ma non è in 3 mesi di preparazione che superi una cosa così. Lei è un scricciolo e viene dalla ginnastica, è un’atleta leggera che ha altre caratteristiche e punti di forza.
Now that you're there, what do you expect from these games? You have one "Location-target"?
It is the first time that I am in a race condition like this. Any race in Italy, Stefano must win and Catalina must reach the podium. They have that pressure there, it's different even if the level is lower. Here at Games it's a bit of a reverse situation. We have been working for many years to achieve this goal, we are finally here, but we have no great expectations. The new competition format is totally to be known, nothing is known about the Workouts, less than zero. Tomorrow morning [today, ed] we leave and see. We are in the most important stage we could wish for and we are going with a light heart, we have no expectations whatsoever and consequently no target position. The only one target what we ask ourselves is that of passing more cut possible. The boys will do everything possible to overcome the cuts: this is the target.
What are the exercises you fear most and which ones you would like to meet?
Tra quelli che temiamo di più ci sono tutti i movimenti a carichi pesanti, in Overhead, per Stefano: la sua spalla è compromessa e quindi non può farli. Per Catalina invece i carichi pesanti in generale: Snatch superiori ai 60kg, Deadlift superiori ai 120kg sono per lei un po’ bestie nere. Sostanzialmente da temere è il bilanciere pesante. Quanto a quelli che vorremmo trovare direi tutti gli altri. Tutto il resto del CrossFit® anche perché, sicuramente, la diabolica mente di Castro avrà elaborato dei WOD bellissimi come sempre ai Games. E soprattutto CrossFit® nel vero senso della parola, che testano la capacità di lavoro in diverse modalità e domini di tempo.
Have you received any rumors, anticipations or ideas about which Wods will be there?
As I said: nothing is known. Less than zero. Last night [two days ago, ed] at the athletes' dinner, Castro left and said: "The first WOD will be announced later in the day". And he left behind the scenes. In his own way. As expected: ready for the unknown and unknownable.
Who do you think are the favorites?
Fraser surely among the men. I say the obvious but the gap between him and the others is enormous, his staff: he is built to win exactly as he did for Froning, all the people that revolve around him are his greatest support and he is a machine that is hard to beat . And by the way it has a very clear goal in mind from the point of cash prize: is its 4 ° Games, 1,2 reaches millions of dollars plus sponsors so it has 1 million and 200 reasons to do well and win again. Among the equally natural women say Tia Toomey. For the conditions in which she trained in the last year, practically always with Fraser. In the sanctioned events he dominated the field. Another athlete who has a great desire to do well, also because she has been penalized in recent years by events we say extra-floor, is Sara Sigmundsdóttir. All have a great desire to do well among the "-Dóttir", but I think she found the square a bit to train well and that she found a coach who could make her grow.
What is the feeling of being there at the center of the CrossFit®, with the strongest and on the most important stage?
It's a wonderful feeling. It is the most beautiful thing I could wish for as a coach, the most beautiful for Stefano and for Catalina, who qualified this year. It's a senseless cool! You're here with those you usually see in behind the scene, see on the tube. You are in their midst, doing exactly what they do and doing what you have been doing for so many years. It is truly a great gratification. I am super grateful to the boys for their commitment, to all those who support us. Being here, having the freedom to be able to arrive a week before, being able to face the last days of preparation with calm ... It's something to be fully grateful for. This is possible thanks to the staff of Officine, because the box remains open and my boys are working. We could not have had this freedom to move without them: I am grateful, I am grateful to all the enthusiasts who train with us. They are very close to us, they send us 10 thousand messages a day, they are very gasat and they give you the charge. It's a good feeling: you feel good, fulfilled, gassed. Like when you conquer something important.