A Great Benchmark

23
Aug

A Great Benchmark

Below is my favorite CrossFit video of all time.  James FitzGerald won the first CrossFit Games in 2007.  The sport, buy if you could call it that, was not what we would recognize today.  You can see from James’ movement that we have come along way in a short time.  Kettlebell swings got smoother and faster, no butterfly kip, and James was dodging parked cars to go faster.  The Home Depot Center this ain’t.
 
But that doesn’t make this any less important.  James is a different guy.  He was a driving force for CrossFitter’s to start thinking of the “sport” of CrossFit.  He is extremely cerebral.  He was one of the first guys to train multiple times a day, really break down workouts, and put true thought into how to get better.  After winning the first Games, James, who is an absolute metcon warrior, focused on improving his Olympic lifts for 2 months.  At the time of this video, he probably snatched 175 and clean and jerked 245.  It was unheard of at the time to pull away from met cons, but he knew the sport would require more strength, power and skill.
 
James ran afoul of CrossFit a few years ago, which is a shame.  I’ve met him a few times, and while I certainly don’t agree with everything he says, I wish he was more involved in the sport.  Egos get in the way, but as you can see, James had a lot to offer to the “sport of fitness.”
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5gL9IIzbsY?rel=0&w=420&h=315]
Workout of the Day
 
“Helen”
3 RFT
400m Run
21 Kettlebell Swings 53/35
12 Pullups

1 Response

  1. Robin Cadmus

    Thanks for sharing Brian. This goes back to your post a few days ago about remembering the “Originals”. This truly fits in that category>