Congrats on winning Mayhem Classic! How did you physically and mentally handle ankle injury during this competition? What is your post competition plan for handling this injury?



Thanks! Figured I had to bring it home so that way Brent couldn't chirp me about not being a cool Sanctionals winner anymore. I lucked out a bit in that I wasn't seriously injured for the majority of the competition, so it was only something I had to grit my teeth for on the last workout. At the point that I injured my ankle, I was already nursing a wrist injury I'd had going in to the competition. Physically it hurt a good amount, but there wasn't an amount of pain I wasn't willing to go through to try and win the competition at that point. I wasn't sure how I was going to clean since it was hurting pretty badly, but I figured I'd get out there and yank the bar up really high and see what happened. Obviously, it wasn't the prettiest, but it got me through and that's what I needed.





What is one mindset lesson that you learned in wrestling that has translated over well into CrossFit? Why do you think it has been a crucial part to your CrossFit career?



I owe a ton of my physical development to wrestling, but the mental side is where I feel like the sport gave me the biggest advantage. Wrestling training is notoriously gruelling, and a hallmark of practice sessions in wrestling rooms the world over is a "go" in which the end of the session is continuously extended. Period after period of overtimes are announced, and it really teaches you that you're capable of digging way deeper than what your body tells you is possible. This lends itself well to CrossFit as it gives me confidence that no matter what is going on with how my body feels, I'm capable of going deeper still. The mental strength that came from spending so much time in discomfort has made me relatively calm while my body is wanting to quit, and that helps ensure that I can make the best possible decisions within the middle of the workout.



What mindset have you had to work on the most since becoming a professional athlete? Have there been any negative mantras that have been especially difficult to get rid of?



Confidence has been something I've lacked for years and years in my athletic career. I remember being in high school and researching my wrestling opponents to build them up ahead of our events. Not really sure why, but it's been a thing. I spent most of my time in this sport doing the same thing, but starting with Rogue last year I started to change perspective. Focusing on my work and abilities instead of those of my opponents was empowering and did a lot to make sure I was in a good mental space when I've been competing since then.





What’s the biggest tip you give to regular CrossFit gym-goers that you see the fastest results from?



Add some Low-Intensity Steady State work to your daily routine. Whether that's a 20 minute cool down row or a walk around the neighborhood after dinner, the cumulative effects of this on your aerobic system will make your WOD game stronger, faster.



Your first appearance at the Games was in 2019. What is one event that you still think about - and why?



The main event I think about in regards to Games 2019 was the Second Cut event. After a really strong first workout, I was optimistic for a workout where I could get the chance to show myself how much my handstands had improved. Unfortunately, I struggled to meet the standard and ended up performing VERY poorly. However, throughout the workout, I stayed focused on my effort and didn't get frustrated in an upsetting situation. Effort aside, I was super proud of my response and have used that moment as encouragement since that time.



You’ve been invited to the Games for a second time - what did you learn from your first Games experience to help you along into your second Games competition?



The main lesson I learned was in confidence, and was probably best demonstrated in Mary. Going into that workout my legs were fried from the sled push and I had serious doubts about my ability to execute the pistols well and was already concerned as I'm not an especially talented athlete in regards to gymnastics.I was super worried about the event going poorly as I had enough points to where a bad performance would leave me cut, but I got through it. Knowing that I could perform competitively among the best in the world even with less than favorable workouts and conditions did much for my confidence going into what was ultimately a successful 2020 Open and has carried into a strong start for the 2020 season.





You’ve mentioned before in interviews that you wanted to make the Games by 2022. You ended up doing that by 2019. What was the main driver behind that goal, and how did you stay so concentrated on your goal?



Games 2022 was a nice ten year goal I set when watching the Games during the summer of 2012. At the time I was only a sophomore at West Point, and knew that I would likely not be able to focus my efforts towards being a world class exerciser until a point in my military career where I'd have more time to focus on training and preparing myself for the Games. Staying focused on the task was easy for me as it was simply a redirection of the same energy I'd had while wrestling and being a student. Instead of those focuses, I turned my energies towards CrossFit and my military duties. I'd always been uniquely single-minded in pursuing my goals, but this one came without a time limit so I figured it was highly possible. Games 2022 still exists, but we're shooting for bigger things now!