Once she tapped “Send,” she was committed. She knew as much, which is why she had a half-second of hesitation.
It was months ago when Carey Kepler texted her coach, telling him she wanted to qualify to compete in the Masters Women 40-44 Division of this year’s CrossFit Games. And she did. But the 41-year-old is no rookie.
Kepler stood on the podium at the 2009 Games in Aromas, California, finishing third that year.
The athlete from CrossFit Central Downtown in Austin, Texas, is among four former individual athletes competing in this year’s masters division for the first time. This year also marks the third consecutive that exactly seven former Games individual competitors are competing as masters.
“I feel great,” said a quintessentially smiley Kepler shortly before an athlete orientation on Monday afternoon. “I’m excited to be back and be in this space again.”
A year earlier at the Games, Kepler had run into her friend Annie Sakamoto, who also was a spectator that year. Sakamoto started CrossFit in 2004 with CrossFit Inc. Founder and CEO Greg Glassman in Santa Cruz, California, and is best known for her appearance in one of CrossFit’s most watched workout videos: “Nasty Girls.”
“We looked at each other and she was like, ‘Are you gonna do it next year?’ And I was like, ‘I don’t know. Are you gonna do it next year?’” Kepler recounted with a laugh.
When the two women first saw each other Monday afternoon, Sakamoto stopped in her tracks, quickly shuffled her feet front to back twice and pumped her fists as if she were riding an imaginary stationary bike. She wore a cheek-busting smile. They hugged as they swayed back and forth.
“I’m really excited,” said Sakamoto, who competed as an individual at the 2011 Games.
After missing Individual Games qualification at last year’s California Regional, Sakamoto said her thoughts immediately went to qualifying for the 2016 Games as a master.
“I’m so glad CrossFit honors masters,” said the 40-year-old. “We really need our own work load.”
As she stood surrounded by her fellow competitors, Sakamoto noted the depth of the field.
“It’s incredible. There are some amazingly fit and threatening women,” she said, adding, “But who I’m really excited about is Carey Kepler.”
Kepler started CrossFit in 2005 after watching Sakamoto in CrossFit’s “Nasty Girls” video.
“To have gone through this evolution, early evolution, as athletes—that’s who I’m most excited about,” Sakamoto said.
Kepler and Sakamoto aren’t the only familiar names.
Breck Berry, a Games individual competitor in 2007-2010, would take to the StubHub Center’s Soccer Stadium floor Tuesday afternoon.
“I knew it was the only way I could get back,” he said with a smile.
Berry turned 40 earlier in the month and said competing in the Masters Men 40-44 Division makes him feel young again.
“I feel good about that,” he said. “It’s about doin’ what I can do.”
Also making his first masters appearance is Rob Orlando, who competed as an Individual in 2009-2011.
“I never had any intention of it, actually,” said the 41-year-old, seeming relaxed and mellow.
When pondering the programming, which included snatches as heavy as 185 lb., muscle-ups and 150-lb. D-ball cleans, Orlando described it all as “appropriate.”
“People 40 to 44 are really fit and really strong,” he said.
Orlando continued: “I wear it as a badge of honor. I have gray chest hair and I can do more than a lot of 35-year-olds.”
He noted he was the most relaxed he’s ever been during competition. His goals are to finish all the events under the time caps and be there for the final event.
“On Friday when I got home, my kids will still look at me the same, my dogs will still look at my the same, my members will still respect me,” Orlando said.
He added: “It’s a privilege to be here.”
During Monday’s athlete orientation, four-year masters competitor Freddy Camacho took to Instagram.
“We are about to show the world what ‘old men and old women’ are capable of doing if willing to put in hard work,” wrote Camacho, who competed as an individual in 2007 and 2008.
As a 51-year-old, Camacho will have to deadlift 365 lb. for 16 reps in his first event of the three-day competition in the Masters Men 50-54 Division. And he noted the muscle-ups that will come in the ring and bar variety.
“The game itself just keeps getting bigger, no matter the age group,” Camacho said. “All you gotta be willing to do is not be a couch potato.”
He added: “It just proves that, hey man, if you’re willing to do work, the human body can do anything.”
