wod press
News and Views
WODPRESS is a section of SWEAT RX dedicated to representing the community of Canadian CrossFitters. We had a blast distributing our first print edition at the Canada East and West Regionals and hope you enjoyed reading about the quirks and hobbies of your favourite competitors. If you missed it, check out our website for a digital copy. We went to this year’s regional looking for an even bigger and better show and we were not disappointed. The competition in CrossFit is thicker than ever world-wide, and the Canadian Regions are no exception. As the competition grows, so does the crowd; venues were packed to the brim with spectators, and even Friday’s crowd was larger than the weekend crowd just two years ago. The highlight reel can hardly be contained in just two pages, but here are some of the best moments from the Canada East and Canada West Regionals. Congratulations to all of Canada’s competing athletes and especially to those who will be representing us at the Games. I’m pumped to find out what diabolical tasks are in store for you, and to see how it all plays out. And if you’re lucky enough to be a spectator at the big show, be sure to drop me a line and tell me all about your experience! Jen
Our WODpress correspondent Jennifer Young wants to hear from you. Email [email protected] with your WOD photos, news, and views.
Box to box
The strong and silent type
By Jen Young
lbert-Dominic Larouche took his first trip to the CrossFit Games in 2011. Then 21, he was a surprise qualifier and no one, even within his own region, really knew who he was. At both 2012 and 2013 Regionals he was the clear favourite, and won by such a large margin (27 and 16 points, respectively) that spectators were more focused on the tight battles for second place than on his dominating performance. And at the 2012 Games, while cameras, announcers, and the rest of the world were watching Jason Khalipa struggle with handstand push-ups, Albert-Dominic was winning the event. “Oh wait,” said one announcer, “I think someone is finished!” Cameras hastily panned over to see him crossing the finish line. When Albert-Dominic dominates, he does so quietly: no fuss, no fanfare, just hard work, and the results speak for themselves. He did, however, get a small taste of celebrity from the spectators after his event win: “It was one of my best moments in life,” he describes. “It was
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hard to realize. I was walking in the crowd to see my coach and father after, and people were cheering at me and stopping to congratulate me!” His father has been there for all of AlbertDominic’s CrossFit competitions. “[My father] is my idol and my biggest fan in one person,” he says. The feeling is mutual: “I tried to teach him values in his life,” the Senior Larouche said in an interview at Regionals, “but to see him competing like this shows me values. I’m learning from him...to believe in your goal, in your dreams.” Albert-Dominic has not changed his training much in pursuit of his podium dreams. He has added more specialized skills (like handstand push-ups without a wall), and extra training sessions with fellow Games qualifiers Michele Letendre, Simon Paquette, and team L’Usine. Letendre describes Albert-Dominic as “humble, quiet, and honest,” and says his focus and drive are evident; he is ready to improve upon his 25th place finish last year. With an event win under his belt, we’ve no doubt he will.?
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PHOTOs: Marie-Lyssa Dormeus
Albert-Dominic Larouche