The Athlete of the Month for May is Michaela!
Our latest featured athlete is one of CFT’s newest additions to the coaching staff. A certified personal trainer, she’s been going strong since she began coming to Tradewinds and making an impact very quickly. Let’s hear from the woman herself!
Athlete Interview
CFT: Where are you from?
Michaela: North Kingstown, RI – but I’ve been living in Massachusetts since I moved to Boston for college, and Revere has been home for the last 11 years.
CFT: How long have you been doing CrossFit?
Michaela: Just over a year.
CFT: Did you have a fitness background prior to starting CrossFit?
Michaela: I played sports throughout my entire life and continued to stay active as an adult with regular running and bootcamp style workouts. However, my dad died suddenly and unexpectedly from a heart attack 10 years ago, just a few months before I got married. This was when I really started to make health and fitness a priority in my life. More recently, I was boxing and doing mixed martial arts, which was my primary form of fitness until I started CrossFit. I am also a certified personal trainer.
CFT: What motivated you to try CrossFit?
Michaela: My MMA gym closed and I was looking for a new home that gave me the same sense of community. I tried another martial arts gym and programming my own workouts, but I found my motivation waning. So I took the leap into CrossFit.
CFT: If you could program your dream WOD, what would it be?
Michaela: Full body burner – push press, back squats, bar facing burpees, and ab mat sit ups.
CFT: What is your proudest accomplishment since joining CFT?
Michaela: Passing the L1 and joining the Tradewinds team as a coach. I’m really looking forward to growing as a coach and athlete in this role.
CFT: How has CFT helped you in your everyday life?
Michaela: By doing CrossFit, you not only grow more confident in yourself and your own abilities, but you also become invested in the successes of fellow athletes. This has definitely had an effect on how I manage my staff at my day job, as I am more cognizant of their accomplishments instead of just getting the job done. I also feel good physically and mentally, which has had a positive impact on all areas of my life.
CFT: What do you like to do outside of the gym?
Michaela: My husband and I both work a lot, so we love having impromptu get-togethers with family and friends. I love travelling and going to concerts, and can’t wait for beach weather!
CFT: What is your favorite song to workout to?
Michaela: Punk rock all day!
CFT: Anything you want to say to wrap up?
Michaela: When I started at CFT, I had somewhat lost my way in fitness. The gym that I had been going to for several years had closed abruptly. I had lost my fit fam, and the other gym I was attending was not a good fit. I did not realize how much I valued and was motivated by being part of a fitness community of like-minded people. So that, and being interested in learning more about CrossFit, brought me to CFT, and I haven’t looked back since. CFT is the first gym that I’ve ever walked into where every coach and athlete is truly welcoming. I quickly learned that even with my inexperience, CrossFit was accessible to me and that I could push myself to do things I never envisioned. I also learned that the CFT coaches and athletes are the best motivators, which makes it really fun to walk in that door every day and keep working on getting stronger and crushing my goals!