“I just love the fact that I can be a part of the Open, to see how far I have come. It’s going to be me versus myself, and as long as I can wholeheartedly say I gave it my all after the five weeks, that’s all that matters. I will have won for myself.”
Photos courtesy of David Olmeda
Just over a year ago, Amanda Rakos got the wake-up call of her life.
Deciding to get behind the wheel after having a few drinks, she got into an accident, although no serious injuries were reported. In the aftermath of being charged with reckless driving and losing her license for two months, Rakos stood at a crossroads.
“I thought to myself ‘What the hell am I doing,’” she said. “I needed to get myself together and straightened out because the life I was living (partying and drinking) was not who I was.”
Shortly after regaining her driving privileges, Rakos heard about CrossFit through friends.
Through the testimonials of some of her acquaintances, she found herself at CrossFit Arx, in Toms River, N.J.
“I remember my first day walking into the box, and how intimidated I was,” Rakos recalled. “But I soon realized that CrossFit was a huge part of helping me get my life back on track and focusing on what was truly important to me. It saved me from falling into darker, unhealthier patterns that could have been detrimental to my life.”
Rakos said CrossFit has helped her maintain the pursuit of her other great passion: completing her nursing degree.
“CrossFit changed my mindset towards everything, including helping me continue with my education to become a nurse,” she said. “The accident was definitely a horrible experience that I would never want to go through again, but at the same time it led me to the place where I am today.”
That place, one year into her transformative journey, is the CrossFit Games Open—Rakos’ first.
“I remember I had only been doing CrossFit for approximately two months prior to last year’s Open,” she recounted. “I went every night to watch my fellow athletes and friends compete. It was so inspirational. I wished I could have been competing alongside them, but I didn’t think I was ready. Now, I am hungry for it.”
Lauren Conner, head coach at CrossFit Arx, vividly recalled her first meeting with Rakos, talked about the progress she has made, both in her personal life and as an athlete.
“Amanda came in a timid, self-conscious person who hid in crowds of people,” Connor said. “She was bored and out of shape by even her own standards. Now, Amanda is a role model. She stands out without trying because she leads by example. Athletes want to work hard just like her. They have seen that it isn't a myth, folklore or some miracle that happens to people you only read about. The reward from hard work is real. It's a very powerful, life-altering thing, the evolution Amanda has gone through.”
Rakos credits her coaches and fellow Arx athletes for nurturing her confidence and helping her develop a stronger mentality.
“I love the athlete I am now and always wanted to be,” Rakos said. “My confidence and self-esteem has changed dramatically because of CrossFit and my Arx family, both inside and outside of the box. I have a stronger mindset than ever and believe I can do things if I put my mind to it. That’s very powerful for me.”
Rakos said the Open is her chance to go toe-to-toe with a pretty fiery competitor—herself. In 14.1, she got a score of 223.
"Double-unders can be one of the most frustrating movements for me, and going into 14.1 I was nervous about not getting that flow or stringing them together,” Rakos said. “I tried to stay focused and control my breathing, and that helped me get through the (workout) with way more reps than I expected to get.”
“The energy and support that our Arx family has for one another is definitely a huge factor, as well,” she added. “I am proud of my score, and everyone's performances during 14.1 and cannot wait to see how the rest of the Open goes."
With the first Open workout under her belt, Rakos is looking ahead to the remaining weeks of competition.
“I don’t expect to be close to the top finishers, but I just love the fact that I can be a part of the Open, to see how far I have come,” she said. “It’s going to be me versus myself, and as long as I can wholeheartedly say I gave it my all after the five weeks, that’s all that matters. I will have won for myself.”
For anyone who may be lost or going down the wrong path in life, Rakos offered advice.
“There is always a way out, and always a light at the end of the tunnel,” she said. “You just have to believe enough in yourself that you can get there. It will be difficult at times; you just have to want it bad enough. CrossFit was the light at the end of the tunnel for me in so many ways.”
