Firebreathers...what minimum performance qualifies?

[Jason David]

Originally Posted by Jeff Stanek

A 165-lbs guy with a 990+ CFT? What is he, 5'2"?

While certainly having immense strength is a factor, I'm sure you can find lots of gym rats with a 1000+ CFT, with absolutely no metcon ability whatsoever.

I'm a believer in using the term "Firebreather" as a mentality. Having strength, power, and speed are byproducts of being a firebreather. They come through hard work and pushing through the mental barriers that every one of us faces under heavy weights, high reps, and long WOD's.

However, if we stick to definable terms, such as "elite", then certainly a simple ladder system of top WOD times and weights, I think, would qualify. Once you have ten thousand people with sub-4 Fran times, I wouldn't say a sub-4 would be elite anymore. Maybe its now sub-3. Similar to how as world records are set, it becomes harder and harder to attain elite status in the sports world. Top 100 competitors in certain WOD's, perhaps.

However, let's get down to the bottom line. Being called a "firebreather" is about self-esteem and confidence, if you're really concerned about it. Who cares what you are? Are you happy with your current ability? Are you reaching for higher goals and lower times? Or are you just working out to compare yourself to others around you?

Push yourself as hard as YOU want to, to achieve YOUR goals.

Let the CrossFit Games sort 'em out.

Tony Bainbridge is about 5'7" roughly 170...and probably has a total around 1200...Also, i forget that other guys name Christopher Woods?? Maybe a bit shorter but He's probably got a total like that at around 165. Sean Dunston isn't far off either (5'7" 165)...he just needs to stop hurting is knees...

[Robert D Taylor Jr]

Originally Posted by Louis Andre Pardo

We actually agree and that was the point of my last paragraph. There are some workouts, such as King Kong, where even if you have a great strength to weight ratio, if you dont have a high ABSOLUTE strength you are going to struggle or fail. I would just also add that these types of workouts are more rare than those that favor the high power to rate ratio.

Yeah, but if I can't snatch 135 for reps than 30 135 snatches for time becomes a matter of limit strngth too. There are a lot fewer 165 lb guys that can't than (arbitrarily) 225 lb guys. "course, those guys probably suck at 30 MU for time, so again, the suck balances out.

[Ramon Gomez]

This is only tangentially related, but would it be interesting to see the CrossFit Games competed by weight class? You'd probably see some pretty lop-sided performances at either extreme, and we could probably guess which of the extremes would be good at which events, but I think it'd be entertaining to note the differences in body type...

[Al George]

Originally Posted by Ramon Gomez

This is only tangentially related, but would it be interesting to see the CrossFit Games competed by weight class? You'd probably see some pretty lop-sided performances at either extreme, and we could probably guess which of the extremes would be good at which events, but I think it'd be entertaining to note the differences in body type...

maybe have weight classes and winners in those catagories but still have an overall winner?

[Jeff Stanek]

But are the CrossFit games about giving out awards to more people, or truly sticking to the motto of functional fitness *across broad time and modal domains*?

The Games are about doing everything well. Look at Miko! Was there anything he really did poorly at?

[Ramon Gomez]

Originally Posted by Jeff Stanek

But are the CrossFit games about giving out awards to more people, or truly sticking to the motto of functional fitness *across broad time and modal domains*?

The Games are about doing everything well. Look at Miko! Was there anything he really did poorly at?

I agree, Jeff. I'm just saying it might be interesting to get an idea of what "elite fitness" looks like at 280 lbs in terms of performance versus 135 lbs.
I sometimes compete in 5Ks and triathlons locally. Well, perhaps "compete" is the wrong word...I'm a big boy, so it's not like I'm beating anyone, but you get the idea. I participate.
Anyways, they frequently break down the overall results into age groups, and that's useful so I can see how the other guys and gals my age are doing.
I'd love to see how the guys in my weight area are doing...it would do wonders for my motivation to do better. For instance, I have an over-1000 CFT, but I doubt that means much at my size. What are the "elite" guys at my size doing?
Ok, I already know the answer to that one...5x-6x body weight (120 lbs to go!). But what about the other workouts?
I would just love to have that data, as well as the names of the guys that *I* could look up to. I can look at Mikko and say, "yeah, he's a great athlete" but I don't really say to myself, "I might be able to do that some day" because his body shape is so different.
Does that make sense?

[David Meverden]

You guys have read CrossFit's fairness doctrine right? Let me summarize it for you: "aww, you think it's unfair because you are too ______? Tough. Life's not fair."

Originally Posted by Ramon Gomez

I agree, Jeff. I'm just saying it might be interesting to get an idea of what "elite fitness" looks like at 280 lbs in terms of performance versus 135 lbs.
I sometimes compete in 5Ks and triathlons locally. Well, perhaps "compete" is the wrong word...I'm a big boy, so it's not like I'm beating anyone, but you get the idea. I participate.
Anyways, they frequently break down the overall results into age groups, and that's useful so I can see how the other guys and gals my age are doing.
I'd love to see how the guys in my weight area are doing...it would do wonders for my motivation to do better. For instance, I have an over-1000 CFT, but I doubt that means much at my size. What are the "elite" guys at my size doing?
Ok, I already know the answer to that one...5x-6x body weight (120 lbs to go!). But what about the other workouts?
I would just love to have that data, as well as the names of the guys that *I* could look up to. I can look at Mikko and say, "yeah, he's a great athlete" but I don't really say to myself, "I might be able to do that some day" because his body shape is so different.
Does that make sense?

Did you download the program for the 2009 games? I forget now where that was posted, but they had a download of the entire thing, including athlete profiles. I know it's not exactly what you were talking about, but you can look through there for the 2009 games athletes closer to your body type and compare.

For the record the heaviest listed was Jeffrey Leonard, at 6' 3" and 235 lbs. Fran 2:51, back squat 455, clean and jerk 300, deadlift 475, press 225, snatch 225. THAT is a powerful athlete, though that is a smaller deadlift than many at the games.

[Ramon Gomez]

Originally Posted by David Meverden

For the record the heaviest listed was Jeffrey Leonard, at 6' 3" and 235 lbs. Fran 2:51, back squat 455, clean and jerk 300, deadlift 475, press 225, snatch 225. THAT is a powerful athlete, though that is a smaller deadlift than many at the games.

Thanks David!
This is PRECISELY the stuff I'm looking for! I DID see a link to the official program somewhere; I'll track it down again and see what other kinds of things are in there that might be interesting.
That's a great Fran time.

[David Meverden]

Originally Posted by Ramon Gomez

Thanks David!
This is PRECISELY the stuff I'm looking for! I DID see a link to the official program somewhere; I'll track it down again and see what other kinds of things are in there that might be interesting.
That's a great Fran time.

Glad to be of help. You could also dig for info on the 2008 CF Games athletes. It was an open registration so I believe we had some super heavy weights like Max Mormont and John Welborne competing.

[Troy Becker]

Body weight Overhead Squat x 15