After nine CrossFit Games appearances, three podium finishes, and six top-five finishes, Brent Fikowski, one of the sport’s most decorated athletes, will compete next weekend in Aberdeen, Scotland. He will be on the competition floor for the final time at the 2024 Rogue Invitational.
In an exclusive interview with Morning Chalk Up, Fikowski, 33, said after 10 years at the top of the sport, “I feel like it’s the right time to retire.”
This became clear to Fikowski when he had the opportunity to meet one of his idols, Joshua Medcalf, after the recent TYR Cup exhibition at TYR WZA SoCal in Huntington Beach, California . Splitting wood and carrying water: How to fall in love with the process of becoming great.
- Mr. Medcalf told Mr. Fikowski. “Pursue relentlessly what sets your soul on fire.”
Fikowski took Medcalf’s words to heart and recently realized that what really excites him is his work with the Professional Fitness Athletes Association (PFAA).
[Read: Best Weightlifting Belts]
Eventually, he explained, Fikowski’s efforts to professionalize the sport reached a point where “the level of excitement was too overwhelming to continue to focus solely on the competition.”
- “For many months, I have been dividing my time between my work as an athlete and my work as a PFAA. And I was determined to make PFAA a success. I am sure it will also help the group of athletes that come after me. This is how I need to spend all my efforts, ”Fikowski added.
Fikowski will no longer be able to serve on the PFAA Board of Directors, which is made up solely of competitive athletes, but will continue to serve as the PFAA President, as elected by the PFAA Board of Directors.
The ultimate goal for Fikowski is to help CrossFit athletes become true professional athletes.
- “It requires full-time focus for me.” he said.
What retirement means to Brent Fikowski
Unlike other sports, this word retirement In CrossFit, it’s ambiguous.
- When an athlete retires from soccer or rugby, They usually quit soccer or rugby (unless their last name is “Favre” or “Brady”).
However, CrossFit Games athletes often remain competitive even after they retire from CrossFit and despite their best efforts to scale back.
Remember Scott Panczyk, who was expected to retire in 2022?
- 9-time CrossFit Games veteran He announced his retirement after the 2021 CrossFit Games. Yet, despite significantly reducing his training, he still had enough fitness to compete against the world’s best players, which is why he qualified for the 2022 semi-finals.
But Fikowski is adamant that qualifying for the 2025 CrossFit Games will not happen by chance.
- “I have no plans to play in the British Open.” he said. “When I do something, I try to give it my all…[so] I plan to significantly reduce the amount of training I do in the future. My vision for that is to go into the gym, set an alarm for 60-90 minutes, then get out, and that will be my workout for the day. ”
That said, Fikovsky acknowledges the words. retired has a different nuance, as it suggests that he is going to sit back and relax.
- “Obviously, the words retireI think it’s probably hinting that he won’t be working anymore. Of course not. But as far as being a competitive athlete, that aspect of my career is over. “Career changing is the best way to describe it,” he said. “I want to spend the same level of concentration.” [I did as an athlete] About new things. ”
Looking back on Fikovsky’s career
Fikowski first came to prominence in 2013, at the age of 22, when he finished sixth at the Australian Regionals behind then-big name Australians Rob Forte, Chad McKay and Brandon Swann.
he was excited.
- “I think I probably overachieved.… I was very proud and excited,” he said of his first regional tournament experience.
But then his expectations grew.
Fikowski temporarily relocated to Canada the following year, missing out on qualifying for the Olympics by one spot at the Canada West Regionals.
A year later, something similar happened. Fikowski placed seventh at the West Regional, two spots off the cut line. He began to wonder if, at 6 feet 2 inches, he was too tall for the sport.
- “After the 2015 regionals, I was thinking maybe I should just do rowing. Maybe this isn’t for me. Am I made for this? Is this trend moving in a direction that I can’t keep up with? ”, he said of his thoughts at the time.
Mr. Fikowski was heartbroken that he had come so close once again. But looking back 10 years later, he considers the early disappointment to be a blessing in disguise.
- “If I had made it in 2014, or if I had made it in 2015, I don’t think I would have had as much success or longevity in my athletic career. [as I did]” he said.
In 2016, Fikowski won the West Regional and finished fourth in his rookie season, finally earning him a ticket to the Olympics.
Fikowski has since become a mainstay in the sport, qualifying for the next eight CrossFit Games and finishing on the podium three times along the way, including a third-place finish at the most recent Games in Fort Worth, Texas. Recorded the finish.
Fikowski earned the nickname “The Professor” during his athletic days due to his methodical, tactical approach, attention to detail, and constant fine-tuning of his game.
Worth noting: Fikowski has finished in the top four in the eight major tournaments he has competed in.
- 2024 CrossFit Games — 3rd
- 2024 North American Western Semifinals — 2nd
- 2024 TYR Wodapalooza — 2nd
- 2023 Rogue Invitational — 4th
- 2023 CrossFit Games — 4th
- 2023 North American Western Semifinals — 2nd
- 2023 TYR Wodapalooza — 4th
- 2022 Dubai Fitness Championship — 3rd
[Read: Best Cold Plunges]
Ultimately, Fikowski said he felt “the healthiest I’ve ever been.”
- “I’m still improving. And my coach and I have definitely been able to crack the code on what it takes to be competitive and successful over the last two years. It feels really good. ” he added.
Considering this, I had to ask: Why retire when you’re clearly still at the top?
Fikowski admits the decision wasn’t easy, but he can’t ignore what’s burning in his soul.
- “It’s a little bittersweet to leave some of that progress behind.” [I have been making]but I’m really excited about the new challenge. I think that’s the big thing. Yes, you can always do one more. Whenever you choose to move on from something, one more event occurs. I’m not being pushed or forced. I’m drawn to another mission,” Fikowski said.
Furthermore, he added: “I’m proud of what I’ve done, but I think I can do more for this sport and for my non-competing athletes, friends and colleagues than I could while competing.” Masu.”
What Fikovsky will be remembered for most
When Fikovsi looks back on his entire career and thinks about what he is most proud of, he says there is no single performance or result that stands out.
- “What I’m most proud of isn’t a special moment. It’s like a specific workout or a specific trophy,” he said.
Rather, it’s the lessons he learned along the way, the progress he made, and the hurdles he overcame at certain points in his career that he’s most proud of.
Notable examples include the 2019 and 2020 seasons, when Fikovsky had two consecutive lowest finishes in competition (23rd and 15th), and his rebound to No. 3 in the world in 2021. listed.
- “The comeback in 2021 was very, very good.” he said.
Performances aside, many of the moments he says he remembers most have nothing to do with performing.
- “The little moments with other athletes are really important.”…It’s like having a laugh with Jason Hopper between heavy sandbags at the 2022 Olympics,” he said.
Or when Ben Smith rallied a bunch of athletes to catch up to the group in front of him during the Olympic cycling competition in 2018.
- “So we were like, ‘Yeah, Ben,’ and we all ran as fast as we could to get them.” he said.
Fikowski said what he will cherish most as he steps away from the sport are these little moments that “maybe not captured by the camera…maybe not highlight reel or slow motion moments.” Ta.
- “Sure, memories of events are nice, but what really lasts are relationships.” he added.
One last time
Fans will have their last chance to see Fikowski on the floor next weekend at the 2024 Rogue Invitational in Aberdeen, Scotland, where he plans to take a “Bob Barker-like approach.” he said.
- “He retired price is fair, And he treated his last show like any other. He ended it the same way,” Fikowski said.
In that vein, Fikowski will be out there as usual and will give his all.
- “I’m not going to blow kisses during training. “You’re going to see the pain on Brent’s face,” he said. “We’re going to continue to treat it the same way.” [I always do]. I will continue to take notes. I’m going to continue to learn from each event…and I’m going to compete really hard. ”
And after that, he’s going to move on to the next chapter and give it his all, as he always does as an athlete.
- “I have never defined myself as an athlete. “I’m a person and competing in this sport has been my high performance outlet…but I’ve never really defined myself as an athlete,” he said.
“I’m just Brent.”
As for how he wants the CrossFit community to remember him, Fikowski shrugs and says that’s not up to him to decide.
- “For me, sports are unscripted stories. “There, the audience can decide for themselves the meaning of what they see,” Fikowski said.
The professor concluded: “I’ve always tried to do my best and I’m happy for people to make their own decisions about how they view what I’ve done. But I think I’ve put on a little bit of a show if I can.” .”
Yes, that’s right, Brent. thank you.
More CrossFit Stories
Featured Image: Scott Freymond
