Jamie Simmonds, 2019, the Third Fittest Girl on Earth, is a world CrossFit Video games champion and ambassador for plant-based diet firm Nuzest.
Previously a gymnast and rugby participant, Jamie made her identify within the CrossFit competitors scene in 2016 when she turned a podium finisher with crew CrossFit Yas.
Jamie Simmonds, 2019, the Third Fittest Girl on Earth, is a world CrossFit Video games champion and ambassador for plant-based diet firm Nuzest.
Previously a gymnast and rugby participant, Jamie made her identify within the CrossFit competitors scene in 2016 when she turned a podium finisher with crew CrossFit Yas.
Since then, she’s participated within the CrossFit Video games 5 instances, been a nationwide champion for six years, and positioned excessive on the rostrum a number of instances; nonetheless, this yr, Jamie ended the season early because of a shoulder damage obtained whereas coaching.
Whereas in her restoration interval, we requested her some questions relating to her journey.
Q: For these of us who don’t know you, who’s Jamie Simmonds Greene?
A: I’m Jamie Simmonds (was Greene). I’m from Dunedin, New Zealand, and I’ve competed in CrossFit on the CrossFit Video games for the final six years (two years on a crew and 4 years individually).
My finest performances have been third place in 2016 on Crew CrossFit Yas and third place (particular person) in 2019. I now reside and prepare as a full-time athlete in Cardiff.
Q: What initially received you curious about CrossFit?
A: Initially, my mum purchased me a six-week cross for Christmas to get me again into health. On the time, I used to be taking part in quite a lot of rugby but additionally ingesting quite a lot of beer (haha).
I didn’t find it irresistible at first, principally simply the gymnastics. However as I received a bit extra dedicated, I liked it. I completed taking part in rugby after 12 or so years and began to compete in CrossFit.
Q: What challenges did you come throughout in attending to the place you might be in the present day?
A: I confronted so many challenges, however that’s all of the enjoyable of it. With out challenges, I wouldn’t be who I’m in the present day, and I wouldn’t have the talent set I’ve now.
I’ve had loads of accidents: snapped Achilles, subluxed shoulder, and a dislocated shoulder… however a number of surgical procedures later, I’ve discovered classes from all of them.
I additionally moved away from house to the Center East, the place I labored quite a bit. This had challenges of its personal, however I’ve met so many individuals which have helped me get to the place I’m now.
Q: What’s the better part about competing?
A: The nerves, the PRs, the errors, the assist, the folks you compete towards, and the prospect to indicate the work you’ve been doing all make the nerves value it. Competing is such a enjoyable a part of CrossFit.
Q: What’s the one factor you at all times do after a contest?
A: Ahhhh, I don’t actually have any rituals or issues I’ve to do. Possibly simply take a while out of the fitness center, meet up with folks and simply let my physique loosen up. This usually entails a beer or two.
Q: Do you continue to get nervous while you compete? What do you do to calm your nerves down earlier than a contest?
A: Sure, I do. However I’m a weirdo and love the sensation of being nervous, so I attempt to simply journey the wave and use the nerves to up my efficiency.
Q: Do you’ve got any psychological methods/instruments you apply if you end up beneath stress or feeling down about your self?
A: Yeah, I attempt to simply carry all of it again to the fundamentals.
I take into consideration why I do what I do, what I really love concerning the sport and the life I reside, and that usually types me out fairly rapidly. I’m so fortunate that I can compete as I do with the assistance of mates, household, and sponsors round me.
Q: What do you consider are the best challenges most CrossFitters are dealing with in the present day? Are you influenced by any of these?
A: At present, I believe the largest problem is comparability (social media is a killer for this!). You’ll be able to assume you’re not coaching arduous sufficient, not doing the appropriate form of coaching, or simply lower than the usual you wish to be.
When in actuality, you’re by yourself journey, so it’s best to get pleasure from it. This will have affected me considerably throughout COVID, as we by no means actually received to compete in individual. That means, it was arduous to check your coaching, which ends up in second-guessing what you’re doing.
The opposite problem is overcomplicating coaching. When it comes right down to it, it’s the easy stuff that will get you fitter. When you work arduous at it, generally slowing down might pace up your progress with abilities and power.
Q: Do you’ve got a favourite exercise/coaching routine to do if you end up in restoration?
A: Ummmm, I like all exercises with body weight or gymnastics, so I usually decide these actions out first. I additionally actually like operating, particularly now that the summer season days are right here within the UK (get the solar whilst you can).
Q: How do you handle to maintain your self motivated to coach whilst you’re in restoration?
A: When in post-injury, generally you even have extra to do.
You already know you’ve got a gap in your recreation, so your whole vitality goes into fixing this.
This retains me fairly occupied, which helps with motivation. It’s additionally quite a bit simpler when your husband is within the fitness center for hours on finish. The place else would I quite be? Ha!
Q: What are your private objectives throughout your restoration interval?
A: My purpose is to get again stronger and fitter than I used to be earlier than. I do know I had an imbalance, so my purpose is to come back again with out that.
Q: Do you’ve got a purpose you’re working in the direction of throughout your restoration interval? If that’s the case, what’s it? How will you go about attaining it?
A: I wish to be again for the second half of the season, so the entire competitions outdoors of the CrossFit video games qualification. I’m working with my physio and coach to be again to all actions earlier than the second half of the yr.
Q: What are a number of the objectives you hope to perform over the following 5-10 years?
A: Within the subsequent 5-10 years, I hope to be again in New Zealand (inside 10 for certain).
However in CrossFit, I wish to see what my physique and thoughts are able to at this elite stage.
For instance, how a lot I can hone in on in day-to-day life whereas my physique can nonetheless deal with it and revel in myself alongside the best way.
Q: Do you’ve got any recommendation/ideas to provide to wannabe CrossFitters?
A: Get pleasure from it. By no means take your self too significantly, and persist with the fundamentals—they’re at all times wanted.
Take care of your physique, discover ways to gasoline it proper, and hear while you want a break. These are all issues I’m nonetheless studying, which makes this all such a enjoyable journey.
