On Oct. 10, 2022, CrossFit athlete Noah Ohlsen posted a video to his YouTube channel where he explained that next 12 months’s 2023 CrossFit Games would likely be his last as an Individual. Amongst other essential notes, the 32-year-old competitor discusses his current rationale, disappointment with recent performances, and what may be next for him in CrossFit. The 2023 CrossFit Games will happen on Aug. 1-6, 2023, in Madison, WI.
Ohlsen’s overall discussion is an illuminating look contained in the mind of a staple on the Men’s Individual CrossFit circuit for a very long time.
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For the past 10 years, Ohlsen has been a consistent sight on the CrossFit Games. After making his Games debut in 2014, the athlete has maintained a sparkling record of consistency, never missing an appearance since. While he broke down his future, Ohlsen clarified that he didn’t appreciate his performance on the 2022 CrossFit Games. After ending in at the very least the highest 10 in each of the last five iterations of the Games, Ohlsen’s 2022 result (twelfth place) was his worst on the flagship competition since a Fifteenth-place finish on the 2016 edition.
Per Ohlsen, it didn’t appear to fulfill his high personal standards.
“The 2022 CrossFit Games were nearly two months ago out in Madison, Wisconsin,” Ohlsen began. “It was not my worst performance ever, but it surely was definitely not my best. I finished twelfth place, which is pretty disappointing for the … I don’t know if I’d call it expectations however the desires that I actually have for myself when it comes to performance.”
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As a mainstay in Individual CrossFit for years, Ohlsen understandably thinks more of his competitive acumen. That’s partly why he desires to step away from this portion of the game.
“I not only wish to be a top 10 CrossFit Games athlete, but I need to be on the rostrum, I need to win,” Ohlsen explained. “That’s been my goal for the last decade. “There may be an excellent likelihood that it’s my final season competing on the CrossFit Games as an Individual athlete, That’s tough to say, obviously. It’s been all that I’ve known for the last decade plus.”
As for what’s next, Ohlsen hinted at being involved more with family and private endeavors but noted that he only has a lot energy to utilize as an Individual competitor. It appears he thinks that his motivation is best used elsewhere moving forward.
“The way in which things have gone, the way in which my life is ready up now, I don’t want to simply proceed on that hamster wheel of attempting to win the Games and just falling wanting that.”
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Though he’s stepping away from the Individual portion, Ohlsen isn’t done in CrossFit. He said he intends to transition to the Team division come 2024, within the vein of notable legends like Wealthy Froning Jr. The athlete won the 2022 Wodapalooza in January on a Team with Chandler Smith and Travis Mayer. He maintained that he plans to keep in touch with Smith and push for a CrossFit Games Team title after 2023.
Before that transition happens, Ohlsen has a pending Individual competition on his docket. He’ll partake within the 2022 Rogue Invitational, which can happen on Oct. 28-30, 2022, in Austin, TX. Relatively soon after, Ohlsen’s potential last ride as an Individual competitor will start when the 2023 CrossFit season begins on Feb. 16, 2023.
Featured image: @nohlsen on Instagram