A 40-year-old Moss Vale crossfitter has surprised himself by beating thousands of competitors to score a second place at the world championships of the international Masters HQ fitness competition in Brisbane.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A member of Benton Gym's Crossfit program in Braemar and a sports coach at Frensham School, Shane Green's path to the prestigious finals started in April this year with three online qualifier events that saw Shane finish fourth in Australia in the more challenging RX category of the men's 40-44 age division.
Read Further: The race that stops the Highlands is back
Shane then progressed to the NSW semi-finals in July where he finished second, providing him with a ticket to the recent world championships in Brisbane. The Masters HW competition is for crossfitters aged over 30.
Thousands of crossfitters in Shane's age group began the journey to the international finals in Brisbane, but only the top performers from Australia and around the world made it to the starting line alongside Shane.
The workouts at the three-day Masters HQ final included running, hand stand pushups, pullups, weight bar work and gymnastic movements.
Shane admitted he doubted himself in the lead-up to the world titles.
"I hoped I might make the top 10 but I was elated and surprised with my second place," Shane said.
"Towards the end, I was exhausted and in pain but I knew I was close to a podium position so I gritted my teeth and hung on, using the support of my wife, family and friends to push me on."
Back in Mittagong now, Shane is not resting on his laurels, entering the national Masters League competition for crosfitters over 35 - an online event that continues until the finals in Melbourne next May.
"My big aim is to work on my weaknesses and develop my skills further so I can become more of a well-rounded athlete," Shane said.
"I love crossfit for the way it keeps you fit, healthy and motivated. Physical movement is so important in your 40s and beyond.
"My young son watches me exercise and compete and I hope this will lead him to incorporate exercise into his life. I've been at Benton Gym for over a year now and there are quite a lot of us there over 30 who all challenge themselves every day and have a lot of fun at the same time." For more information about Benton Crossfit, call 0439 585 949 or visit www.bentongym.com