21 year old Brooke Wells is the 6th fittest woman in the world, and an impressive and inspiring young Crossfitter.
6. CHALLENGE YOURSELF IN ALL ASPECTS OF YOUR LIFE
Brooke Wells competed in the CrossFit Games in 2015 and 2016 and won the Regionals in 2015. She is used to operating at a high level. But also in her free time she always tries to push her limits and challenge herself. Whether that is through skydiving, travelling, or in her academic life, Brooke applies what we all learn through Crossfit to all other areas of her life, and that transition of thought is something that we can all do. How has Crossfit and your training helped you in other aspects of your day to day life?
5. VALUE YOUR TIME: SCHEDULE YOUR WORKOUTS, NUTRITION AND EDUCATION IN DETAIL
Brooke Wells is not only a successful Crossfit athlete but also a full time student at the University of Missouri. She studies business alongside her daily workouts, but her goal is to concentrate on Crossfit later on. Having this kind of a double life only works if you schedule your days strictly!
Being super ambitious and diligent is a requirement for a challenging schedule like hers. Attending to classes and 6 meals every day need to fit in with multiple hours of daily training. There is not a lot of free time left, but Brooke is willing to challenge that exhausting everyday life to be successful, both as a student and as an athlete, at the same time.
Compete hard, eat well and recover properly
4. BE HONEST ABOUT YOUR WEAKNESSES. THEN WORK ON THEM UNTIL THEY BECOME STRENGTHS
Talking about her weaknesses in interviews, she states honestly and openly which skills need to be improved in time for her next competition. This ability to remove her ego and be objective allows her to develop quickly and intelligently.
This is not easy! It takes a strong mind to admit when we are wrong, or just aren’t good enough yet with a particular skill. If we can be honest to ourselves then we will improve much faster and more effectively.
After having problems on the pegboard in the 2015 CrossFit Games she announced that she would work on this challenge to improve her performance. In the first event at the 2016 CrossFit Games, a 7km Trail Run, she finished in 37th place, yet she didn’t let this dishearten her. Instead she picked herself up and took first place in the next event: The Deadlift Ladder.
A bad result does not define you. Don’t let it get you down. Instead be smart and use it to highlight an area of your skillset that you need to work on. Despite her successes Brooke keeps looking for weak points which can be strengthened. Her honesty and strength to use failure as a way to improve is impressive, and a hard lesson to learn.
I never lose, either I win or I learn
Never give up
3. SET CLEAR GOALS AND RESPECT THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF OTHERS
Setting goals is an important part of your development. Experiencing and learning new skills and going beyond your perceived limits will make you into a better version of yourself.
Brooke Wells likes to compete in all different areas of her life. She and her sister were always competing, especially in sports like gymnastics and Crossfit. Brooke‘s personal goal is to become the fittest woman on earth. That‘s a high goal, but after her achievements, it doesn’t feel impossible for her to reach that aim. Set your goals high, but don’t get frustrated if they don’t come easily. On the other hand, don’t make them too easy, they should still be a challenge and bring you forward as an individual and an athlete.
But Brooke Wells also states: no matter how ambitious you are, never forget to acknowledge and respect the success of others.
Always respect your fellow athletes around you
2. BE DISCIPLINED AND ACCEPT THAT SACRIFICE IS A PART OF SUCCESS
Brooke manages to juggle her University studies with 2 or 3 Crossfit training sessions per day. Often when her friends head for nights out, she has to say no, avoid drinking and get an early night because of her early morning training sessions. She has an incredibly mature head on her young shoulders but talking in a recent Road to the Games Episode from CrossFit Inc, she talks about how she has her eyes on bigger targets and goals, so small term sacrifices don’t bother her.
We aren’t all training for The CrossFit Games, but this attitude is incredibly effective when you really want to push yourself. Concentrating on the long term goals, if you really want them, will help you not to mind as much when you might have to miss out on a few everyday occasions such as nights out.
“Sacrifice the ordinary in favour of the extraordinary”
Train hard and put in the work
1. BROOKE WELLS: “NEVER FORGET TO BE YOURSELF”
Even though Brooke Wells is a highly successful Crossfit athlete, she is still a down-to-earth and kind hearted woman. She talks about herself as a really competitive person but you experience her as lovely and caring. Family and friends are very important and make up a big part of Brooke‘s life.
Despite her strict training hours and the time spent at university she never forgets to enjoy time with friends or Sydney, who is her best friend and twin sister at the same time. The pressure is huge during competitions, but you can see her positive and friendly charisma in effect, still smiling whatever the situation.
Brooke at the 2016 CrossFit Games
