by Brian Yalung
As CrossFit continues its steady growth in the country, the same holds true for athletes who not only want to stay in tiptop shape but compete against individuals who practice the same around the globe. Most of the top athletes are expected to be on tap at the Reebok CrossFit Games that will be held over in Madison, Wisconsin from July 29 to August 4, 2019.
For the first time, the Philippines will be represented in the CrossFit Games. Given the inevitable task to set the bar will be Crosstrain.ph brand ambassador Kristen Lim and Justin Hernandez alongside Chris Yanguas, the head coach of Avant Garde CrossFit.
Being the first female to represent the country, Lim admits that it is a surreal feeling, adding that it was extremely difficult to qualify for the games.
“It definitely felt surreal. For years, the CrossFit Games was a competition that was extremely difficult to qualify that we were expecting the younger generation (cross-fitters who started in their early teens) to be the first one to get a chance to participate,” Lim said in an exclusive interview with the Manila Bulletin.
The 26-year-old full-time athlete and coach already made her mark as one of the top CrossFit athletes in the local scene. And aware that both she and Hernandez have an enormous task ahead, Lim said that there is no pressure on their part.
“Honestly in terms of pressure, I don’t think there is. We are not really tipped to win although we are at least expected to make the Philippines proud by performing our best and giving it our all,” she said.
Lim will be joined by other women who also worked hard to qualify for the CrossFit games. Half of them will be cut after the first event and will be reduced in succeeding rounds until the final 10 athletes are determined. For Lim, the probability of advancing will be hard and that the only thing she can do is to do her very best.
“We know that the probability of us getting cut is pretty high. So what we are trying to do right now is setting the proper mindset. We are really here more for the experience and bringing that back with us to the Philippines,” Lim ended.
