Every athlete aims to get to the top of their sport, whether it’s the World Cup for soccer, the NRL Grand Final or the CrossFit Games. For Tamworth’s Georgia Pryer, she is still speechless that she made it to the US to compete against the fittest in the world at the CrossFit Games.
The 24-year-old started CrossFit when she was 18, after spending years doing gymnastics.
“I started going to CrossFit classes here and there at Snake Athletic initially to stay fit. I was still coaching gymnastics classes doing split shifts and not much else during the day.
“That’s when Jake [Douglas, the owner of Snake Athletic and a CrossFit Games athlete] invited me to come and train with them. That’s when I started getting the feel for the competitive side of CrossFit.
“The movements themselves came to me quite quickly thanks to all the years of gymnastics. I had years of learning body awareness so that really helped. But I had never touched a barbell or a wallball!
“About a year later Jake asked me if I wanted to work there as well so I jumped on board to coach.”
Eventually Jake sat Georgia down and asked her if they were going to try and make the CrossFit Games or at least Semi Finals.
They knuckled down with programming, focused on their nutrition, worked out training blocks and what times they could train to get everything done.
“Jake and I both qualified for the first Torian Pro (Semi Finals) in Brisbane in 2022.
“I wasn’t nervous at that first Torian because nobody knew me, I had no expectations. I just went out there and got through the weekend and enjoyed it for what it was.
“In 2023 Jake made it to the Games. It was insane! That had been the goal all along and he had done it.
“Last year it felt like there was a little bit more pressure because people started to get to know us. This year my Quarters and Open scores weren’t as good as last year so in my mind I wasn’t on the upwards trajectory I had been on the last two years.
“I didn’t think I was in contention at all for the Games which was probably a good thing because I didn’t put that pressure on myself.
“Then, next minute, I’m off to the Games! It still blows my mind.
“Going to Texas was amazing. It’s so different seeing the athletes in the flesh, sharing a bar with people I had looked up to for so long – it was crazy!
“They were all so nice and supportive. I feel like there is a mutual respect at that level because at Torian you are all fighting for a limited number of places but once you get to the Games you’ve made it.”
There were nine events across four days that Georgia competed in including a sprint event that saw her outrun her fellow athletes and get to the end of the field first.
“I liked the freestanding handstand push up workout as well, it was a bit more fun and skillful which is what I like to do.
“Running up onto the platform at the finish line was iconic so to be able to actually do that was really cool.”
The 24-year-old finished 29th after competing against the fittest females in the world.
So, what’s next?
“I’d love to make it again. Being there once doesn’t earn you the right to say you can make it every time, you still have to put in the same amount of work to make it.
“I still can’t believe I made it.”
Georgia said she’s really proud of what they’ve been able to achieve in rural NSW.
“Not to take away from other places, but in a lot of the big cities they have big training camps and more opportunities, so for us to have Jake and I make it from here, born and bred in Tamworth, it is mind blowing. If you just stick it out you can do anything you want to.
“I am proud of us and what we’ve created here at Snake and in the wider region.
“Thank you to everyone who always supports me, I feel like I could have not made the CrossFit Games and everyone would be just as supportive as they always are.”
