Barbell Wolves rule Toa Games 2017

17 August 2017, 12:00AM

Barbell Wolves are the undisputed champions of the Toa Games 2017 organised by CrossFit FatuToa last Saturday.

The team of Lora Saaga, Kit Dillon, Beatrice Martel and Douglas Ahhne overcame the strong challenge from seven other teams – including Funk Fit from American Samoa - to win the brutal one-day event. 

Top Guns came second while Black Mambas secured third place.

This is the second year of the Toa Games. And the events were considerably tougher.

The teams of four not only had to be fit and strong, their coordination skills were also tested since the events required teamwork and a lot of strategic thinking.

The first event consisted of double unders and cleans. This was followed by synchronized overhead squats and burbee box jumps. Both events required a man and a woman to do them.

The third event was a team strength event featuring an every minute on the minute three-lift complex, which included a clean, hand power clean and a shoulder to overhead. 

The fourth and last event again involved all four team members. It was divided into four stages where the first stage involved a woman clean and jerking 43kgs. The second team member was then required to perform 21, 15 and 9 thrusters and pull-ups. The third athlete was required to throw 150 wall balls. 

And the last involved 12, 16, 20 deadlifts at 104kgs and running.

The competition was carried out in very good spirits, under the guidance of FatuToa Judges. It was well supported by families, friends and members of the gym.

One of the best things about CrossFit competitions is that there is something for all levels of fitness and strength. The person who comes last is cheered just as loudly as the first person.

On Saturday, there were many great stories among the teams and competitors.

One of them was Team Transformers made up of Evailaufaumalu Sala of KVA Consult, Rie Marutani – Yazaki Samoa, Ailuai Opeta, Central Bank of Samoa and  Jordan Kwan, Jordan Kwan Photography.

Each and every one the “Team Transformers” had their own personal reasons to share about that critical point and time of life whereby they made the decision and dared to enter the competition.

All of them started out by taking the leap of faith to walk into Fatutoa Gym for some exercise and find out what’s the best approach to tackling that never ending challenge with food in Samoa. 

Although, they journeyed from different parts of life but they shared a common goal that many can relate too and that is “the journey to being healthy.”

All team members had lost weight in the past six months but that was only part of their motivation. Knowing the importance of functional fitness, weight loss is now only part of the focus. 

Rather, they want to compete with themselves, get stronger, better and achieve their goals by continuing to work away at them.

Their decision to compete last Saturday was a leap of faith.

They signed up to the Toa Games knowing they were not the fittest, fastest or the strongest but they wanted to accomplish a goal. 

Today they have. Along with many other competitors who can hardly wait for the next Toa Games next year.

17 August 2017, 12:00AM

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