Most 14-year-olds are glued to their smartphones after school and on weekends but almost every day of the week, NSW Southern Highlander, April Whyte, is throwing herself - literally - into one of the world's toughest sports, Crossfit. April, from Mittagong, trains at the Crossfit Southern Highlands gym in Mittagong and is the youngest competitor in the world to be registered in the global Crossfit Open contest currently underway. The Crossfit Open is the world's largest ever participatory sporting event, an online competition which sees more than 400,000 people in 172 countries complete designated, weekly workouts at their own gyms and posting their results. The best athletes later progress to the Crossfit Games in America in July, 2021. When a Crossfit Open workout was announced recently, the global online broadcast, watched by tens of thousands of people worldwide, crossed briefly to April at Crossfit Southern Highlands for some words from her as the youngest competitor in the event. April only joined Crossfit Southern Highlands and the sport in January this year after time doing gymnastics, preferring the challenges, toughness and competitiveness of Crossfit. She is competing in the girls 14-15 year-old category in the Crossfit Open - and scrapes in as the youngest of anyone in that category. READ ALSO: What's On: From bee keeping to mushroom foraging, find out what's happening in the Southern HighlandsBundanoon Winterfest 2021 set to bring the community together After just three months in the sport, she is currently sitting in the top 20 per cent of the 150 Australian girls in that age group in the Crossfit Open and also in the top 20 per cent of the 1500 girls competing worldwide - an impressive maiden performance in the gruelling event. "I'm so impressed at how disciplined, dedicated, determined and strong April is," said Crossfit Southern Highlands co-owner Nigel Scannell. "She's showing so much potential in this sport. Her gymnastics background is an obvious asset but she also learns new skills very fast." April, who goes to Bowral High School, admits she is surprised at how quickly she has excelled in Crossfit and has big dreams for her future in the sport. "What I love about Crossfit is how dynamic it is," said April. "I like training hard and I'm a competitive person so it appeals to me. I also love training at the Crossfit Southern Highlands gym - everyone is so supportive and friendly and there are people of all ages there too. And yes, I'd love to be good enough to get to the Crossfit Games in America one day. That would be awesome!" April's mother, Tara, said she is thrilled to see her progress. "This has been April's dream - pushing herself in a sport she loves," she said. "I love seeing her do this for herself. It keeps her fit and healthy. I rarely see her these days - she loves the gym!" Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
April Whyte with Nigel Scannell from Crossfit Southern Highlands. Photo: supplied
Most 14-year-olds are glued to their smartphones after school and on weekends but almost every day of the week, NSW Southern Highlander, April Whyte, is throwing herself - literally - into one of the world's toughest sports, Crossfit.
April, from Mittagong, trains at the Crossfit Southern Highlands gym in Mittagong and is the youngest competitor in the world to be registered in the global Crossfit Open contest currently underway.
The Crossfit Open is the world's largest ever participatory sporting event, an online competition which sees more than 400,000 people in 172 countries complete designated, weekly workouts at their own gyms and posting their results.
The best athletes later progress to the Crossfit Games in America in July, 2021.
When a Crossfit Open workout was announced recently, the global online broadcast, watched by tens of thousands of people worldwide, crossed briefly to April at Crossfit Southern Highlands for some words from her as the youngest competitor in the event.
April only joined Crossfit Southern Highlands and the sport in January this year after time doing gymnastics, preferring the challenges, toughness and competitiveness of Crossfit. She is competing in the girls 14-15 year-old category in the Crossfit Open - and scrapes in as the youngest of anyone in that category.
After just three months in the sport, she is currently sitting in the top 20 per cent of the 150 Australian girls in that age group in the Crossfit Open and also in the top 20 per cent of the 1500 girls competing worldwide - an impressive maiden performance in the gruelling event.
"I'm so impressed at how disciplined, dedicated, determined and strong April is," said Crossfit Southern Highlands co-owner Nigel Scannell.
"She's showing so much potential in this sport. Her gymnastics background is an obvious asset but she also learns new skills very fast."
April, who goes to Bowral High School, admits she is surprised at how quickly she has excelled in Crossfit and has big dreams for her future in the sport.
"What I love about Crossfit is how dynamic it is," said April.
"I like training hard and I'm a competitive person so it appeals to me. I also love training at the Crossfit Southern Highlands gym - everyone is so supportive and friendly and there are people of all ages there too. And yes, I'd love to be good enough to get to the Crossfit Games in America one day. That would be awesome!"
April's mother, Tara, said she is thrilled to see her progress.
"This has been April's dream - pushing herself in a sport she loves," she said.
"I love seeing her do this for herself. It keeps her fit and healthy. I rarely see her these days - she loves the gym!"
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
