At the French Throwdown, alongside the CrossFit® Games semifinal, the community event brought together athletes of all ages and levels. It was an opportunity to celebrate the European community of practitioners, and to see some well-known faces in action, as well as some lesser-known ones, including some of the brightest future talents of the European CrossFit® scene. This is particularly true of Portugal’s Rafael Candeias.
Between two training sessions in his father’s CrossFit® box, CrossFit® Montijo, Rafael took the time to talk about his performance at the French Throwdown and his career as a crossfitter.
Hustle Up : Was your victory at the French Throwdown a surprise?
Rafael Candeias : The French Throwdown is a very tough competition. I knew it was going to be a big challenge for me because a lot of top athletes in the Teens category were taking part, some of whom will be at the CrossFit® Games in August. But I believed in myself, I knew I could be competitive and fight for a place on the podium.
How did you feel during the competition?
The first day didn’t go as well as I’d hoped. The first workout made me feel a bit exhausted and, above all, unsettled because it was very unusual, with exercises that we’re not used to doing. In the evening, I talked a lot with my father to stay focused, I made sure I recovered well and I put in some great performances on the second day. When I saw my ranking in the evening, I was full of confidence and ready for the final day, which ended wonderfully.
So we’ll be seeing you at the CrossFit® Games in August?
No, unfortunately I won’t be there this year. Despite the fact that I was born in 2006 and took part in the French Throwdown in the Teens category, I’m too old for the Games. I turned 18 in May and I’m no longer considered young. In fact, this year I’ve entered the Elite category. I’m going to keep training hard with the aim of going to CrossFit® Games in a few years time as an Elite.
When and how did you discover CrossFit®?
I discovered CrossFit® in 2016 when my father, who is also my trainer, opened his box, CrossFit® Montijo. I used to do a lot of sports, including judo and swimming, but as soon as I tried CrossFit®, I fell in love with the discipline.
What do you think CrossFit® has that other sports don’t?
CrossFit® encompasses a lot of different aspects, which is not the case with other sports. We always do the same thing, there are no variations. Each CrossFit® session is different, and I can push my limits in different ways, with different exercises. That’s what I like about it.
It may seem strange that you’re doing CrossFit® and not a team sport, as many young people your age do…
Yes, CrossFit® may seem stranger than other sports like soccer or basketball, which have been around for a long time. These are mainstream sports that everyone knows about, and it’s normal that a lot of young people play them.
The reality is that few young people take up CrossFit® because they simply don’t have the opportunity to try it. Their parents enroll them in well-known sports, so they have no chance of discovering new sports like CrossFit®. And that’s a shame. CrossFit® can seem strange until you try it.
Not in your case, since CrossFit® is a family affair…
Yes, as I was saying, I started CrossFit® as soon as my father opened his box in 2016. I used to train with my mom, who is a coach and used to give classes to kids and teenagers in our box. Then I followed my father’s “Competition” programming to progress further. Today I train with my twin brother. Our parents are behind us, they do everything for us to succeed, and they accompany us to all our competitions. It’s thanks to this environment that I’m pushing my limits to progress and perform.
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