Latin American Masters

"CrossFit has given me back my life."

 

Victor David Franco, 47, Medellin, Colombia

Victor David Franco had been doing CrossFit for a while without even knowing it. Franco lifted weights until the age of 20, but since then has been through several periods of no physical activity. Three years ago, he got the courage once again and began exercising with what he could find on the Internet. Until seven months ago, he was unaware what he was learning in all the videos was the best and most efficient way to exercise: functional movement. He never expected that he would find such culture, such a level of camaraderie and such a vast community. But he did; he found CrossFit and all that it means!

Franco found the Sport of Fitness at 47 and immediately knew he would practice the discipline for life. Franco works out regularly at a park near his home in Medellin, Colombia but on the weekends attends Fuerza CrossFit where “they have helped me to not only improve my physical postures, but also to improve and develop as a human being,” he says.

Improve and develop was a detail; Franco entered his first local competition, and to his total surprise, came in third and way above the majority of the competitors who were more than 20 years younger. From that day forth he has taken over the role of inspiration for many of the newcomers at the box. His lifestyle proved to everyone that being healthy and seeking to improve work capacity could always be done. If a middle-aged man with a full-time job and a family still finds time to work out, then anybody who sets his goals clear could do so as well. “I consider that middle aged people who still work out in some form or other have a commitment with our Latin American youth to teach them that no matter what the circumstances in life, everything is possible”.

Victor joined the Open in order to gain more experience and do well in future local competitions. “I thought the programming was good, a well-designed variety of basic and complex workouts, and a good balance between strength and cardio resistance,” he says. Workout 12.4 came at a bad time for Victor; he did not have a time and place to perform and validate the workout in time and got disqualified from the Open. Because of the Open “I have a new personal Challenge for June 2012, a PR of 110 burpees in 7 minutes. I want to overcome my 89 reps of workout 12.1 by then,” he says. For Victor, CrossFit is a “Vice” that he does not want and will not let go of, if possible, ever!

Linda Salazar, 55, Guayaquil, Ecuador

Linda Luz Salazar Naranjo is no stranger to sports. She had been an athlete for most of her life and owned a Globo Gym with her husband Carlos Andrade for 25 years. Three years ago her son, also named Carlos Andrade, introduced the concept of CrossFit in Ecuador, and the philosophy of fitness and sport was changed for every single member of the family, including Linda who was 1 of only 3 Masters competitors in the Open for Latin America. “At first I was petrified to compete. I thought it would be impossible to manage such heavy loads,” she says. Linda also confesses that she is still uncertain of being able to climb a rope but that she has been chipping away at her weaknesses and making them strengths.

What Linda loves most about CrossFit is that it is not only an individual passion and way of life, but that it is a family thing. Everyone in their family has CrossFit as a common interest; in one way or another the whole family is involved in the two affiliates they own (CrossFit Quito and CrossFit Guayaquil).

Linda has a tough time deciding which was her favorite workout of the Open. She liked 12.1 very much and accomplished 91 burpees (13th overall in her 55-59 women masters category), but 12.2 seems like it was hers to take after 82 snatches and 11th overall. Workout 12.3 seems like it challenged her the most and she says, “I should’ve of practiced more to get quicker toes to bar.” In 12.4 she almost finished the double-unders with 206 points and 37th overall, and a very good score of 90 for workout 12.5 and 16th overall. At the end, Linda Salazar finished 27th out of 194 women in her Masters 55-59 category.

Although she will not compete in the 2012 Regionals or Games, “I am going to Regionals in Cali to root for the number one Team in Latin American, Team CrossFit Guayaquil,” she proudly claims, made up mostly of family members. She will also root for her son David Andrade who came in second in the Latin America Open after Orlando Trejo from Peru. Salazar assures she will compete as a Master in the 2013 CrossFit Games.

Cesar Avila, 50, Guayaquil, Ecuador

“Because CrossFit has made me live again.” This is Cesar Antonio Avila Muñoz´ motto by which he lives by every day. Cesar is also from Ecuador and was introduced to CrossFit by his son who convinced and brought him in to be a part of the CrossFit Guayaquil family where he trains every day. “Now I have something I share with my son, and it has brought us even closer,” he says.

Cesar who is now 50 had been involved throughout his life with activities such as rowing, soccer and volleyball.  He also comes from military school so he rapidly noticed the similarities between his past training and CrossFit. Cesar has also found a family, a great group of friends and training partners who help each other improve. “The most challenging workout for me was the snatch; I still have to work on my technique on those,” says Cesar about his performance on Open workout 12.2.

“Perhaps there should be a Masters Regional competition. I would have loved to be able to compete in something like the Regionals. Going back to international competition would have been incredible at my age. I am certain my chance will come again. I have already started working on some technical and flexibility aspects of my training for the next [2013] CrossFit Games,” Cesar says.

Unfortunately Cesar did not post his last scores on time and was disqualified, but he is extremely pleased with his performance and improvements. Cesar competed in the 2011 Open and “for workout 12.5 I got 80 points and I improved 150 spots in relation to last year. I enjoyed the programming and will do it again,” he says. “CrossFit has given me back my life.”

Victor, Linda and Cesar make it evident for our Region that age is not an obstacle to practice CrossFit as a sport. The Sport of Fitness gives everyone the opportunity to improve their physical condition, to improve their working capacity, and to overcome their goals. CrossFit is a blessing for the lives of many, and for Masters Athletes it is an inspiration, a new wind, and a rejuvenating force. CrossFit is growing fast in Latin America and with the these marvelous examples, we are positive that the 2013 Open will be packed with more competitors as a tribute to the hard work of these three.