“I had to learn how to deal with my nerves and anxiety before and during a competition. And not to doubt my abilities. Actually, the Games lit a huge fire under my ass.”
2014 has been a year of change for Jolaine Undershute.
In 2013, Undershute competed at the Games as a masters athlete, representing Canada West. You’d know her as Jolaine Bloom back then.
“My husband and I separated, which was a mutual decision but still very difficult and painful,” Undershute said.
To deal with the change she leaned heavily on CrossFit.
“I'm so grateful to have CrossFit in my life,” she said. “I love being able to lift a barbell and do a WOD to melt any stress away.”
Hardened mentally by the experience, Undershute used the offseason to work on other mental strengths. After her 2013 appearance at the Games, Undershute said she knew she had to spend more time inside her own head.
“I had to learn how to deal with my nerves and anxiety before and during a competition,” she explained. “And not to doubt my abilities. Actually, the Games lit a huge fire under my ass.”
To start, Undershute focused on snatches and ring muscle-ups.
“Those used to be my biggest weaknesses, and they’re constantly improving. Of course, rope climbs, too. I’m getting better at the foot clamp,” said Undershute, referring to the difficulty she had with rope climbs at the 2013 Reebok CrossFit Games.
With a new year and a new season, Undershute seized the opportunity. After the Open, she sits in third place as an individual in Canada West and second in her masters category. She took three event wins in the individual category and two top-two performances as a masters athlete.
Although she gave it everything she had, she said she didn’t expect to place as high as she did.
“I don't think ‘expect’ is a good word. I'd say I strived to do the best that I could,” she said. “I was focusing on my placement worldwide, which drove me to score higher. I really enjoyed the higher skilled movements in the Open this year.”
The workout she’d like to have back was 14.3: deadlifts and box jumps. Before the workout, Undershute was nursing an injured back.
“I was worried about the combination being too hard on my back and I paced it a little too slow,” she said, “subbing step-ups for box jumps and breaking up the deadlifts too early.”
She was able to come back hard on 14.4 and 14.5.
“(Workout) 14.4 was the most fun and toes-to-bars are strong for me,” Undershute said. “I love thrusters, so I was excited to see them in 14.5.”
Now, Undershute will take on the four workouts of the Masters Qualifier, which will be announced Thursday, April 17. While she plans to complete the online events, her main focus is on the Canada West Regional in Vancouver, Canada.
“My goal is to make it to the Games as an individual this year,” she said. “That’s why I’m going to regionals.”
“It's never easy,” she added, “but I know it will get better from here.”
