CrossFit Games Rookie Spotlight: Former Gymnast Georgia Pryer Is “Enjoying The Ride”
Australia’s Georgia Pryer is gearing up for her first-ever CrossFit Games appearance after securing fourth place at the Oceania Semifinal last month.
- The up-and-comer is bringing a “whatever happens is what I deserve” attitude to Fort Worth in the summer heat, she told the Morning Chalk Up in an interview.
Pryer attributes her success this season to preparation and focus.
Besides a 19th-place finish in Event 1 (a couplet of running and clean and jerks), she finished no lower than sixth in the remaining five Semifinal events.
- “I tested all the workouts at home; I knew my rough splits and times,” Pryer shared. “The snatch workout (Event 5) was one of my favorites because usually it would be a huge weakness for me,”
She took sixth in that event.
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Finding CrossFit
Before starting CrossFit, the Tamworth native spent most of her childhood as a high-level gymnast, beginning at age six and competing through high school.
- “I made it to the highest level I could in the sport without going elite and training for the Olympics,” Pryer said.
At 18 years old and at a crossroads in her young life — a story that is beginning to sound quite familiar if you’ve been following the Morning Chalk Up’s Games Rookie Spotlight series — she discovered CrossFit.
Without really understanding CrossFit, Pryer began attending classes at Snake Athletic with her best friend, who was also a former gymnast.
Shortly after starting classes, Pryer was invited to train with Games athlete and affiliate owner of Snake Athletic, Jake Douglas.
- “I got a little better, and Jake needed some coaches and offered me a (coaching) position, and then everything sort of fell in from there,” Pryer said.
Pryer has always been competitive, and that soon bled over to CrossFit.
Whenever Douglas, her coach and training partner, registered for an online competition, Pryer would sign up, too.
- “[At first] I didn’t do very well,” she laughed, “but then over the years [I started] doing better. It kind of just fell into place as the years went along and the more competitions I did.”
“It’s wild [that I’m going to the Games],” she added.
The 2024 CrossFit Games Season
Pryer follows HWPO programming, and with the help of her coach Douglas, she individualizes the programming as needed.
- “I need to get stronger and keep my gymnastics [skill level] where it is, and not let that slip while I’m getting stronger,” Pryer said.
Games training is now in full swing, and she is trying to be as prepared as possible. At the same time, though, she’s taking time to appreciate the process and where she is on her competitive journey.
- “I don’t know if this will ever happen again, and it’s a totally different type of training style and a totally different two months [of training] than I’ve ever had before. So I’m really excited to do that and to enjoy the ride leading into the Games,” she said, bubbling over with excitement.
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Pryer intends to make the journey to Texas two and a half weeks before the Games to acclimatize to the heat, get used to the time zone, and make the most of her time in the U.S.
- “It’s quite expensive [to fly to the United States from Australia], so I want to make the most of it,” she said.
Pryer says her goals for the Games are to “really enjoy it” and “soak it up and learn something new,” but we’ll be surprised if her competitive spirit doesn’t take over the second she hears “3-2-1-GO!”
“I’m just so proud and impressed to actually be there,” she concludes with a smile.
Featured image: @torianpro and @thewodlife / Instagram