Reaching the CrossFit Games: What It Taught Me

In 2023, I achieved a goal I’d dreamed about for years… I made it to the CrossFit Games. For so long, that was the ultimate target. Every training session, sacrifice and choice I made was geared toward that one thing. I thought that crossing that finish line or hearing my name called on the competition floor would change everything.

And in some ways, it did. It was an incredible moment I’ll remember for the rest of my life. 

The moment didn’t change me. SHOWING UP every day did.

But here’s what I’ve learnt, achieving the goal isn’t the most satisfying part. When the lights faded and the competition was over, my life didn’t suddenly become different. I woke up on Monday, and the thing I needed to do was the same thing I’d been doing all along. Train. WORK HARD. Keep moving forward. The goal added a line to my athletic resume and a medal to my shelf, but it didn’t change who I was.

The real reward is in the process

I’ve realised the real magic is in the journey. It’s in the grind, the discipline, and the habits you build day after day. It’s in the countless unseen hours, the setbacks you overcome, and the lessons you learn when things get hard. It’s in the moments shared with people who understand exactly what you’re chasing.

None of it happens without support

I also know that none of this would have been possible without the people closest to me. It’s my wife’s ongoing support and belief in me that has kept me going, even on the toughest days. It’s my kids' faith in me that reminds me why I do what I do. It’s my family’s support through every high and low, and the unwavering commitment of my team behind the scenes that has been the foundation for everything I’ve achieved. I’ve learned that having just a few people close to you who truly believe in you is far more powerful than having thousands of people who simply know your name.

Chasing the goal is just the beginning

Being brave enough to dream big and chase it is everything. Whether you reach the goal or not, the pursuit shapes who you are. It makes you more resilient, more focused, and more capable. The goal might be the spark, but living the life required to get there is the real reward.

I’m grateful I made the Games. But I’m even more grateful for the lessons it has taught me along the way.