Cooee CrossFit Bracing for Challenge

by Liam Pack, 6 April 2011

The Cooee CrossFit Box (gym) in Shenton Park is currently competing in its first Reebok CrossFit Games Open.

 The Box has only been operating since January 26, 2011, which has disadvantaged Cooee athletes who have only had six weeks preparation for the games.

CrossFit is a high intensity sport that physically pushes the human body to exhaustion involving weights, cardio and gymnastic exercises.

Cooee CrossFit has encouraged all of their athletes to participate in the games workouts.

However, only seven officially registered.

Owner of Cooee CrossFit, Match Murphy, believes his athletes will have a disadvantage against other Boxes because his athlete haven’t had enough time to prepare adequately.

“Exercises which are going to come up are more complex and we haven’t had the time to develop the strength and coordination to do a few let alone multiples,” he said.

 Mr Murphy hoped he could prepare his athletes both physically and mentally for the games but he does not expect immediate results.

“Winning the games for a Cooee CrossFit athlete is an unrealistic goal and if they push too hard in an attempt to win the games they could risk injury.”

Mr. Murphy endeavours to communicate with his athletes to help them understand that they should want participation not results.

An athlete at Cooee CrossFit, Tim Marshall, shares Mr. Murphy’s views.

“I just want to learn and do my best,” he said.

Mr. Marshall has been a Cooee athlete since their establishment and hopes that his first games will provide him with new levels of physical ability and intensity.

Mr. Marshall also acknowledged the lack of preparation time for the games.

“I struggle with the strength aspect of CrossFit, I need better conditioning.

“It helps when Match and I get to chat and he reminds me it is all fun and not to get attached to my place,” he said.

This however, is not Mr Murphy or Mr Marshall’s views about the games next ye.

Both have higher expectations.

“Our team will be a lot more competitive next year and can be more highly placed in Australia,” said Mr Murphy.

“I’m hoping to be on top of the pack, right now I am not even half way which is disappointing, but it is the start of something greater,” said Mr Marshall.