On the Bubble: Shelly Fleming and Sharen Leung

April 3, 2013

Quin McConnell

What happens when a two-time Games athlete and a police officer are fighting for the last qualifying spot for Regionals?

Photos by: Colin Hill

What happens when a two-time Games athlete and a police officer are fighting for the last qualifying spot for Regionals?

Sharen Leung, from Sheepdog CrossFit, is in 48th place in Canada West — just one point above Shelly Fleming from CrossFit Calgary.

Leung, a police officer and mother, was only hoping to beat her own score from the 2012 Open and to contribute to the overall score for her team.

“I finished 241st in Canada West and learned that I needed to work on a lot of movements,” Leung says. “I didn’t expect to see my name on the first page of the Leaderboard this year. I am super happy with my current standings.”

Her goal at registration was to compete with her Sheepdog team. She didn’t anticipate the Individual option.

“We’ll have to see what happens after 13.5. Knowing someone is one point behind makes me realize how anyone could leap in front of me in the standings, and it all depends on that last workout,” Leung says.

One point below Leung on the Leaderboard is Fleming. A two-time Games athlete and a mother, her goals for the Open were to have fun, do her best and spend time with friends at the box.

Fleming competed as an individual in 2008 at the Ranch in Aromas, Calif., and again in 2010 at the Home Depot Center.

“I love the Games!” Fleming says.

“Sitting in the basement of the (Home Depot Center) waiting for the announcement of the workout, then barely having time to pee, let alone warm up was extremely stressful and took years off my life. In 2012 I was happy and preferred to be back as a spectator.”

Fleming had to tone down her competitive side when her daughter was born two years ago. Since then, she does CrossFit to stay in shape and hang out with friends at the gym. Like Leung, she didn’t expect to be close to qualifying for Regionals as an individual.

“I was in the same spot last year — just a few spots away from qualifying. The workout went well and I qualified, but it could have just as easily gone the other way,” Fleming says. “As long as I do my best, I am happy.”

“I kind of see Regionals as a party you don’t really want to go to, but you definitely want to be on the invitation list,” she adds.