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?
Preparation for the Games must obviously be as complete as possible. We arrived here preparing 360° because you don't know what will happen. And it goes for both. Then, once here, we worked with one session in the morning and one in the afternoon. We worked on all levels of movement, although we did not refer to the maximum limits in the weightlifting, we paid special attention to aerobics. We also tried the various details in the passages, such as entering and exiting the lake, trying to do everything in the shortest time possible; this even beyond trying the sessions in the lake in the true sense of the word: it doesn't lend itself much to training now, there are a lot of algae that envelop you and prevent your movements. Stefano's shoulder injury naturally affected the whole preparation because we had to work around that. While Catalina's limitations in terms of force, in the works of Strongman or Sandbag Carry of various types are a weakness of his. We have certainly made great strides but 3 months of preparation cannot overcome something like this. She is a wren and comes from gymnastics, she is a light athlete who has other characteristics and strengths.
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?
Among those we fear the most are all the heavy load movements, in Overhead, for Stefano: his shoulder is compromised and therefore he cannot do them. For Catalina, however, heavy loads in general: Snatch above 60kg, Deadlift above 120kg are a bit of a beast for her. The main thing to fear is the heavy barbell. As for those we would like to find, I would say all the others. Everything else about CrossFit® also because, surely, Castro's diabolical mind will have developed some beautiful WODs as always at the Games. And above all CrossFit® in the true sense of the word, which tests work capacity in different modalities and time domains.
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.