I had the opportunity to meet two of those athletes, Sisi Forsstedt and Simon Nybacka. Sisi is a female master athlete from Sweden who placed 4th at the Athlete Games 2015. Simon is a 24-year-old who just finished 3rd at the Athens Throwdown qualifications.
Do you wonder why Nordic Crossfitters do so well? Here are your answers from Simon.
Simon is from Finland but currently lives in Sweden. He works and studies, but still manages to do two training sessions a day.
He joined Team Nordic in 2014 and did his first international competition the same year: The Regionals. Not bad for someone who started training Crossfit a bit more than one year before that.
We met at 6:30 am (now you know why the secret) at exclusive Gym/Spa Sturebadet in Stockholm.
The training session meant that we had to follow their Nordic Competition program. We started with skills, snatch and clean and jerk. After that we went straight to part C – the WOD. The age difference was obvious: me being 50, Sisi 43 and Simon only 24 years old. Of course he finished first and watched us gasping for air while battling with the workout. Actually it’s wasn’t bad. It was fun.
After 90 minutes of training we headed for a healthy breakfast, and an interview.
Chat with Simon:
Name, age, country, box?
Simon Nybacka, 24, originally from Finland, but moved to Sweden in spring 2011.
How long have you been training Crossfit? And also how long have you been competing?
I have been doing Crossfit for about two years now and have been competing a bit over a year.
Can you tell us briefly about your background in fitness before Crossfit?
I have been competing in Judo before. Also I’ve done a lot of swimming, running and regular gym training.
Your best results so far in competitions?
My team CrossFit Nordic placed 4th at the Regionals 2014, 13th at the Athlete Games 2015, and 4th in a National competition in Sweden called Roslagen Open in November 2014.
Do you make a living out of Crossfit (get sponsored to compete)? Or do you teach at your local box, or somewhere else?
Not yet, but I hope to do so in the future. My journey has only just begun.
What is your profession?
I’m studying mathematics and economics at Stockholm university and I’m also working beside the studies at a company called Svea Exchange.
PRs:
Deadlift: 225 kg
Snatch: 115 kg
Power clean: 132,5 kg
Pull ups max: 56
Favourite WOD, and time?
Grace, 1:30
WOD that you hate the most, and why?
Elizabeth, it’s just #@&&@& up. Nothing more to say.
Favourite female and male athlete in our community?
Björk Odinsdottir, because she is a friend and an inspiration. Kenneth Leverich, because he’s hot! (without the beard)
Why do you think Nordic athletes do so well in CrossFit?
I really think we are built that way. We are strong. I still can’t believe how good Icelandic girls are. But it’s a mix of genes and dedication, for sure.
What is your training schedule?
I train twice a day when I can; once on my own, and then later again with my team. We are now getting ready for the Open, and Númi is back, so it should be fun.
Do you follow a nutrition plan?
I don’t, but I try to eat good food as much as I can.
What’s your opinion on negative comments Crossfit gets?
Any sports that grow as fast as Crossfit did, get some bad reputation. But I dont’t really pay too much attention to it.
My opinion is that, you don’t become a good coach just by taking a level 1 course. It takes years of dedication to be a great one. Some of the bad comments also depend on the fact that anyone can open a box after they attend the L1.
Is your goal to go to the States one day?
I hope this year with my Team Nordic, but of course my aim is also to compete as an individual one day.
Any advice you would like to give to those thinking of competing
Be smart with your training, and don’t stress your body too much. Everyone develops strength in different ways and speed up in the end. The smart ones stand on the podium.
My thoughts
It is clear that determination, hard work, mixed with DNA and a bit of luck pays well.
Good luck to Simon with the future. Special thanks to Filip Wahlback, Fitness Manager at Sturebadet in Stockholm, who gave us “Carte Blanche” to use their Spa/Gym for this interview.
Untill my next post,
keep crossfitting
Antonio Alves
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