We recently spoke with Alex Gazan and she shared her thoughts on competing at the CrossFit Games, adapting under pressure, preparing for the biggest week of the season, how Strivee supports her training, and more.
At the recent CrossFit Games she finished 4th, with event wins in both The Climbing Snail and The Shoulder Press portion of the CrossFit Total. She also set a historic new CrossFit Total record with three incredibly impressive lifts.
Squat – 330 lbs / 150 kg
Shoulder Press – 170 lbs / 77 kg
Deadlift – 420 lbs / 191 kg
The three lifts from The CrossFit Total were divided into three events, each worth 50 points. She secured fourth in the squat, first place in the shoulder press, and second in the deadlift
Hey Alex, why do you want to compete at the CrossFit Games?
It is what we train all year for. Originally, I wanted to make the Games just to check off a box because it was a dream of mine. Now, I want to be on the podium.
What made this year’s CrossFit Games a success for you, regardless of where you finish?
Giving my best in each event and enjoying the moments.
What type of events were you most, and least, looking forward to at the CrossFit Games?
I was most excited for the strength events and the events you cannot replicate at home.
Do you prefer competing in your own box during events like the Open and Quarterfinals, or in stadiums in front of crowds during the Semifinals and Games?
Definitely in front of a crowd.
Is competing a skill in itself? Are some athletes naturally better at stepping up on game day than others? Can this be trained, or is it intrinsic?
I definitely think it is a skill to be able to execute and show up on the competition floor. A lot of people train in a very controlled environment, but at the Games and Semifinals there are always crazy schedules or things you need to adapt to. I think experience is a great teacher.
Do you look at the scoreboard between events during the CrossFit Games? Does this help you?
I look, and it does not really make a huge difference. But I am working on being a little more aware of the people I need to stay close to in workouts.
How does Strivee help you as an athlete? How Does it Help Your Coach?
I love being able to see workouts, plan out my day, and keep track of my progress. It is very helpful.
Justin is able to give me specific notes and expectations for workouts, so my training is intentional. It helps keep the training organized and easy to track.
How does your training peak for the CrossFit Games?
We have a lot of hard, intense sessions until about eight to 10 days out. Then it shifts to high intensity and low volume.
How do you reset mentally after a disappointing event when another one is only a few hours away?
I give myself a couple of minutes to process and let the emotions be. Then I objectively know that I will work on whatever I did poorly in the offseason, and it becomes an opportunity to improve.
For the next event, I focus on the task at hand.
Do you think the CrossFit Games are the best method for finding the fittest athletes on the planet?
Yes and no. It requires you to show up on one specific weekend, so if you are unlucky with sickness or just have one of those weird weeks, it can be unfortunate that your whole year of work is not showcased.
However, it is usually a complete test of fitness and resilience. I emphasize resilience because a big part of the test is your ability to recover over the course of the week, not just your ability to do well in one event. The Games are such an iconic and exciting test to be part of.
I also like the WFP model of smaller tests more frequently throughout the year. This gives athletes chances to show consistency across different time periods and different workouts.
