From October 20 to 22, the Palermo venue was the stage for thousands of athletes who
competed to consecrate themselves as the LATAM Crossfit champion. Visitors to the exhibition were able to access the latest products and services from 45 brands in the fitness industry at the exhibition.
CrossFit Champions
In this frame Southfit Challenge, the most important Crossfit competition in LATAM -and which is part of the official calendar worldwide- turned 10 years old and brought together 1,200 athletes from across the region who competed in 19 categories from Beginner to Elite; and this was the first year of the Adapted category, in which people with some type of disability (high and low amputations, wheelchairs, neurological disabilities) were part.
About, Nicolás Ini, one of the directors of the exhibition highlighted: “We are really surprised by the number of people, the convocation that we have achieved. For us it is a pride and an enormous emotion to celebrate 10 years and that they are in La Rural”. In addition, he referred to the inclusive side of the event: “It was very exciting to see them on the track, we wanted to give a place to people with disabilities and although it did not have a competitive purpose, they left everything as if they were playing the world final. That shows us that there are no excuses, if you want, you can”.
The winners of the competition were announced at the close of the event and were:
Categories:
-Elite teams: Underdogs (Argentina)
-Elite men: Agustín Richelme (Argentina)
-Elite women: Alexia Williams (Argentina)
-RX men’s teams: Mayhem Marvel (Uruguay)
-RX women teams: Vis a Vis (Argentina)
-Intermediate men’s teams: Los chiches (Argentina)
-Intermediate women’s teams: 3andinas (Argentina)
-Scaled men’s teams: Atomo rechargedo (Argentina)
-Scaled women’s teams: Las Chimuelas (Argentina)
-Male Teens: Juan David Salgado Hernández (Colombia)
-Female Teens: Ana Carolina Do Vale (Brazil)
-Master +35 men’s teams: Los Crapulosos (Chile)
-Master +40 men’s teams: Soul Team (Argentina)
-Master +45 men: Tiago Humberto Lopes (Brazil)
-Master +35 women: Naty Moreno (Argentina)
-RX Men: Samuel Diego Zaleme (Argentina)
-RX Women: Carla Ximena (Argentina)
Talks, conferences and workshops.
In addition, there was an extensive agenda of talks and conferences with industry leaders and prominent athletes. Friday was the turn of Paula Pareto, Olympic judo champion, who shared in an in-depth talk, her experience and discipline to achieve her goals. “For me there were always people who were better than me, it was very difficult for me to really stand out. With work and perseverance I managed to match,” she said. And she reaffirmed that “you learn more from defeats than from victories, because they hurt. One must give 100%, making the most of it. Frustration appears when one leaves the competition without giving everything.”
For its part, Federico Molinari, Olympic athlete of artistic gymnastics provided a clinic and gym classes for the little ones and left a reflection: “Sport teaches you many issues, but above all it leaves you with lifelong friendships that what is most valued and pondered in the long run ” .
In the last day Noel Barrionuevo (ex Leona), led the talk “Role of women in sports. Leadership”, in which she emphasized: “I think that as a result of the creation of Las Leonas there was a strong impact on society with women in sports. Thanks to that litter, the woman became stronger in the sport and began to be given more importance. Today I see much more visibility in the media for women’s sports. Before it was all male and today there is more diffusion”.
And the day ended Carlos Retegui (former coach of Las Leonas) who addressed “How to Manage and achieve successful teams”. In relation to his experience as a team leader, he maintained: “I have always tried to do my best in my life, being open and transparent with my players. The coach has to make the player understand that we are human and we make mistakes. You have to lose the fear of making mistakes.”
And he also spoke about the importance of supporting national sport “I believe that investment in sport is not an expense. The developed countries of the world do. You have to invest in sports and get the kids off the street. You have to put bricks in the sport. I am sure that I live in the best country in the world. In team sports, there is no country that equals Argentina”, he closed.