Athlete of the Month

“I’ve improved in ways that I couldn’t have imagined a year ago.”

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

Hello! My name is Gabriel and I am a Procurement Specialist for the government of the City of Knoxville. I’ve lived in Knoxville my entire life and am proud to be a UTK alum where I double majored in History and Political Science.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH CROSSFIT FIRST CREEK?

I joined in January 2025 and try to attend 2-3 times per week.

WHAT MADE YOU START CROSSFIT? WHAT HAS KEPT YOU DOING IT? HAS YOUR MOTIVATION CHANGED SINCE YOU FIRST STARTED?

I started CrossFit because I wanted to do something that would encourage me to be more consistent with my exercise. Before joining, I had little experience with weight lifting and wanted to improve my strength in a meaningful way. The positivity and the people are what keep me motivated. Everyone is so encouraging, and the coaches are incredibly helpful at working with you on a new exercise.

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED SINCE JOINING CFFC?

Some movements can be intimidating, and you may not be able to do them right away. I had to be honest with myself and acknowledge my lack of strength in some areas. I still have a lot to work on, but I’ve improved in ways that I couldn’t have imagined a year ago.

WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST CROSSFIT MOMENT?

A major milestone for me was deadlifting a one rep max of 235 pounds. I don’t think I would have been able to lift that much without CrossFit.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LIFT, MOVEMENT, OR WOD? LEAST FAVORITE?

Deadlifts, back squats, or clean and jerks are fun. I love any WOD that has rowing. Strict press is probably my least favorite. I feel sore just thinking about it!

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT CFFC OR JUST CROSSFIT IN GENERAL?

I like how the workouts are planned out and that we have the option to scale down if needed. I also enjoy how the workouts can be a mix of things like Olympic lifting or gymnastics. It’s a good change of pace and keeps it interesting!

WHAT IMPACT HAS CROSSFIT HAD ON YOU IN AND OUT OF THE GYM?

The biggest impact is the sense of accomplishment that I get from it. I love learning new things, and there’s always something to learn and improve in CrossFit.

WHAT ARE YOUR CROSSFIT GOALS? HOW CLOSE ARE YOU TO REACHING THEM?

I’d love to do more pull ups. Currently, I can only do one and that took a lot of practice. Now I just have to practice to follow up that one rep! Cleans are another one that I hope to improve. I get a little bit better with my form every time I try it. Hopefully I will be able to add more weight soon!

WHEN YOU ARE NOT CROSSFITTING, WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO?

I love to read! I’m a huge history buff, so any kind of history book, documentary, or museum is enjoyable to me. I also like to cook and bake as well. It’s a skill that has helped a lot in my diet.

WHAT IS ONE FUN THING ABOUT YOU THAT WE MAY NOT KNOW YET?

I love all kinds of music. I can listen to just about anything and find something that I like about it. I played violin for a long time and still play guitar.

WHAT IS THE ONE TIP YOU’D GIVE SOMEONE CONSIDERING CROSSFIT OR WHO IS NEW TO CROSSFIT?

Don’t be afraid to scale down an exercise or break up reps into sets if needed. The workouts may be difficult at first, but there are ways to build up to every movement. Don’t be afraid to ask questions as well. I asked a lot of questions when I first started, and the coaches were incredibly helpful in showing me the proper technique for different exercises.

WHAT IS YOUR DIET LIKE? HAS IT CHANGED SINCE STARTING CROSSFIT? WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WORKOUT FUEL?

My diet is definitely all over the place, but I try to eat protein and some vegetables with every meal. Grilled chicken or salmon with a salad is one of my favorite meals to have during the week. Since starting CrossFit, I’ve learned to treat my diet as a source of energy; what I eat during the day makes all the difference when I actually start exercising. I typically go with brown rice, an apple or Medjool dates as my workout fuel.