Video by Heber Cannon, Marston Sawyers and Mariah Moore.
This episode of “Road to the Games” follows the highs and lows of Games hopeful Tia Wright and two-time Games medalist Pat Vellner as they prepare for and compete in the 2018 Regionals.
Wright knows the feeling of finishing just short of a qualifying spot all too well after placing seventh at Regionals in 2016 and sixth in 2017.
“Since last year, I’ve worked so much on my mind,” Wright says. “I’ll be ready when Regionals come.”
Despite that confidence, Wright struggles through the West Regional, finishing the weekend in 22nd.
“I’m confused that you can put in such good work and not see the outcome that you’re looking for,” says a disappointed Wright.
In the East, Vellner busts down the door to the CrossFit Games like a wild Canadian moose. With back-to-back third-place finishes at the Games, Vellner is now a seasoned veteran who knows what it takes to compete at the highest level.
“If you’re under-prepared for Regionals, you don’t go to the Games,” he says.
It’s safe to say Vellner is prepared this year. After placing third or better in every single event, Vellner takes the East and finishes first overall on a combined Regionals leaderboard—25 points ahead of two-time defending Games champ Mat Fraser.
“Even when it comes to my school or work or whatever, I want to do better than everybody else. I want to be the best version of myself that I can be,” says Vellner, a chiropractic student who works as an intern at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC) clinic when he’s not busy training.
Vellner hopes his winning streak will continue in Madison: “I would love to win. We work too hard to ‘participate.‘”
Watch the full episode and discover which of these athletes likes to knit and which has a house that’s constantly filled with strangers’ dogs.
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22 Comments
That sports psychology got his license online
23:02 "uh my chesticles" hahahahah this is fuuny lol
That sports psychologist 👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽 all he did was say “ok?” and gets paid for it.
Tia is hawt!!!
I'm so confused with their choice of filming Tia.
I have the impression that TIA might lack of confidence more than any other thing!! Do you agree??
Is wright wearing HSTL made socks
Vellner is a shirt & tie LOL
Pat Vellner is Toby Maguir = SPIDERMAN
I wish this Episode was straight Patty Vellner;
Tia Sigmundsdottir
This paring of Patrick and Tia is very interesting. And the editing done on this video is done insanely well. Tia might not have deserved the highlight of her journey. But it helped demonstrate a winners mindset vs a participant mindset.
I love so much how Vellner keeps talking about being careful, and not going unbroken, and staying within your capabilities. You can tell he really thinks about the workouts and knows his abilities!
Does anybody know the song @38:15?
I can't rip someone having a bad day…but you can't stay there.
I am not so sure about Tia's mental approach. Sometimes you need to see failure, see negativity, to overcome it. Strictly seeing positive may seem like a great idea, but failure is something you can't avoid. No matter how many times you say something you want, you don't have it until you have it and overcoming failure is part of the process.
She just needed to work harder. One of the judges said she is too small, look at kara web, even shorter but kicks ass. Work hard gal, bare knuckle fight it
“This guy is different”. They weren’t even together by the time this aired. Lol. Also her sports psychologist sucks
The kind weapon laterally rain because cuticle phylogentically notice outside a overwrought lunch. steadfast, befitting ring
Tia Wright has a toxic mentality that having fun is winning an event. She wants to win for all the wrong reasons. She said herself she knows that people expect her to go to the games. She’s not focused on HER, she’s influenced by outside things, things out of her control. I think that’s why it’s such an inconsistent journey for her.
хороша девочка ❤
when it comes to winning stuff like this, I don’t think it boils down to “positive or negative” mindset. I think it would behoove those who do not win to also acknowledge the competition. Sometimes the people you are going up against are better, stronger, and faster. It’s okay to acknowledge this and will make you a better athlete. Putting all the onus on “mindset” borders a bit on delusion. I saw a stark difference between these two competitors. One acknowledges their competition and gives props while the other doesn’t.