Interview with the best Czech crossfitters - Sonia Karásková and Martin Feiferlík!
Author: The2020 CrossFit Games Open is in the past, but for those who won the Open in their country, it's just the beginning as they begin their preparation for the 2020 CrossFit Games. We have aninterview with the best Czech CrossFitters in the CrossFit Games Open 2020 and thus the future representatives of the Czech Republic at the biggest CrossFit Games in the world!
Sonia Karaskova
Hi Sonia, you are the fourth winner of the Reebok CrossFit Games Open (2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020) in the Czech Republic. What were your feelings immediately after you found out that you had defended that championship again this year?
Hi. I'll admit that there's no time for feelings. Respectively, when the Open ended, I definitely didn't feel like a winner. It's an automatic obligation I've checked off and I've been preparing for weightlifting competitions. So there was no joy. That will come when I finally do something at the Games...I hope (laughs)
I was more happy for the people who cheer for me and like me during the Opening and not only during the Opening, I'm very happy about that. I do it a lot for them, among other things.
Could you describe in your own words what the Open is? After all, CrossFit is not a very popular sport in our country.
The Open is short for the World CrossFit Championships qualification. It runs for 5 consecutive weeks, with a qualifying workout coming out every Thursday night (our time), and you have until midnight on Monday to get the best possible result.
If you become a National Champion, you send your qualifying videos to USA for approval and then you get an invitation to the CrossFit Games.
It should be noted that until this year, the open was "run" in the spring. This year the organizers put it in the fall. What's your opinion about it?
It's very unusual...Going twice a year Open is very mentally demanding. Physically too, of course, but it bothers me more mentally. I don't suffer from nervousness, but I'm rather uncomfortable when it takes me out of my normal work and training process.
I train completely differently than I usually do throughout the Open, and I'm always looking forward to the Open being over and me getting back to my routine. I need order and system in my life, then everything is fine. So as long as the regular Open is always in the fall, I have no problem with it, because next year I will count on it.
Recommended
Nebbia Dámské tvarující push-up legíny INTENSE Heart-Shaped 843
Nebbia Kraťasy FIRST PICK 379
Nebbia Washed-off oversized košile 90s THROWBACK 347
Nebbia Sportovní podprsenka se střední oporou 305
How challenging was this year's Open for you?
It was quite challenging, but not because of the workouts, they suited me perfectly. I had some health complications, the first week I raced on antibiotics, the second week I had another health complication, but I got through it all and the result was good. Not as much as I would have liked, but enough to qualify for the Games this year.
So considering all the circumstances mentioned, I'm quite happy...quite...(laughs)
You've won four waters, and only in one you were second. Patricia Jezkova was the one who beat you in the wod 20.3. What was the problem? Was it the standing walk or was Patricia just better? Many people may not know that you have been struggling for a long time with the standing walk, which was part of the 20.3 wod.
Patia was simply better...she walked exactly 1.5 meters more on her hands than I did and that put me in second place in that round.
Walking on my hands is still my curse, it has messed me up an awful lot, but I have tried not to crumble over the years. I do my best, but sometimes the body just shows its limits and it takes longer to overcome them. Anyway, I'm not giving up, I'm taking it as it is and it will just work out one day. It can't be any other way.
This year you were the first Czech woman to head to the legendary Reebok CrossFit Games 2019 and next year you will represent us again. Are you looking forward to it? Aren't you disappointed after this year's edition?
I'm really looking forward to it! Of course I was disappointed...But I've gotten over it and even more so now I'm much more eager to come back to the US and finally show what I'm made of! If everything goes according to plan, I will devote all my energy and time to preparing for the Games.
Wouldn't that be too long a break now, since the Games won't be until August 2020?
Honestly, I need a break like salt. Since I started CrossFit, I haven't taken a bigger break. It's not that easy to switch off you know... (laughs) I haven't trained for 2 days and I already feel like my belly is growing, I have no strength and I can't even pull myself up on the trapeze...(laughs)
However, thanks to my gym, I am forced to slow down for a while and focus on recovery, among other things. I love racing! It's my whole life, but the older I get, the more experienced I am and I realize that sometimes less is more.
What do you think of Kara Freyova from Slovakia, who finished an amazing ninth in the Open in the global comparison?
Karinka is incredible! I wish her so much, she is a huge hard worker and a very nice girl. We always cheer for each other when we are at competitions together. I'm really proud of her! I believe she's going to make it really high. It's a pity I'm not getting younger, I missed her a little bit... (laughs)
Okay Sonia, we congratulate you very much and wish you many more successes - both in sport and in life.
Thank you very much.
Martin Feiferlik
Hi, Martin. This year you won the Open for the first time in our country and you won a place at the Reebok CrossFit Games 2020. Are you scared or are you looking forward to it?
Yes, I am the unofficial winner of CROSSFIT OPEN 2020 on the Czech scene. I'm not afraid, I'm rather looking forward to it. I'm thinking about how to prepare myself in the best possible way.
Who will become the best Czech crossfitter in Open 2020 had to be decided by the last wod on 20.5. You and Martin Czakan had the same points after wod 20.4. Were you nervous before wod 20.5?
I'm not nervous, I'm more excited to give my best performance and if it will be enough or not, we'll see later. I've been competing for over 20 years now and even at the professional level in World Cups where it was about Olympic nominations and the like, where the pressure was the order of the day. I take this sport as fun and motivation for myself and those around me in Coaching.
How did you find the Open Waters?
This year's workouts weren't really for me, but I have to thank my Coach Zack GEORGE, who I've been working with for over a year. He prepared me well for the worst possibilities!
You're not going to the Games for another six months, what are you planning now? Are you just going to train or do you have some other races in mind?
The Games are still a long way away, but I won't delay my preparation. I'd like to do my best if everything goes according to plan, so that I can get some nice results with my feet on the ground, of course! Furthermore, I'm already planning Wodapalooza in the USA in February, where I'd like to try different events than in Europe. I will definitely try the German Throwdown Crossfit Sanctional again.
We know that you would like to organize a big Crossfit competition in the Pilsen brewery, would you give us some information about it or are these just plans for now?
I am planning to start the registration for BOHEMIAN Throwdown in early December, where I would like to have competitors from abroad as well. I would like to organize a spectacular event for the development of this sport in the country.
Not many people know that you are the owner and head coach of Getup Gym in Pilsen. How do you manage to train yourself, your charges and run the gym?
Honestly? It's quite challenging, but if you sacrifice everything for one thing, it will pay off. The results of the mentees and young athletes, whom I want to give only the best that sport has given me, to learn to overcome obstacles and to learn to be focused, determined and confident in themselves, surpass all the long and hard moments that this kind of business offers. Gym is my home!
Martin, we congratulate you very much and wish you many more successes - both in sport and in life.
Source,
No posts have been made yet.
