Personal trainer Ben Thompson pushes through the pain
flipping a tyre at a CrossFit competition in Dunedin
yesterday. Photo by Gerard O'Brien.
Ben "Speedy" Thompson has shown there could be some truth
to his self-proclaimed title of being the "fittest man in
Dunedin".
Yesterday he blitzed five challengers in a CrossFit
competition in Dunedin involving tasks incorporating
weightlifting, gymnastics and aerobic exercise, with those
who did the activities in the fastest time winning.
One activity involved five rounds of a rope climb, flipping
tractor tyres and pushing a 100kg sled, which left most
competitors curled in a heap, gasping for breath and wincing
at the blisters on their hands.
Mr Thompson did it in 4min 28sec.
That was after completing the "Giant 50", 50 repetitions each
of 10 activities, including a 500m run up Rattray St,
pull-ups and 24kg kettle-bell swings, completed four times,
which he did in 24min.
The competition finished with 30 repetitions, lifting 70kg -
Mr Thompson at 171m tall only weighs 72kg, but he completed
it in 3.37min.
Mr Thompson was pleased with his performance and planned to
keep training for the next competition in Hawkes Bay with the
goal of making it to the world championships.
"There was a lot of talk around town about who was the
fittest... now everyone can stop talking."
Organiser Grant Hughes, CrossFit manager, said he was
disappointed many of those who indicated they would take part
in the challenge did not. He had hoped representatives from
other gyms and sporting organisations would take part. Six
men and six women took part.
The women's event was won by Ruth Anderson-Horrell, of
Invercargill.
- rebecca.fox@odt.co.nz
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