Victory Gym, we are happy to announce that Anna is our July Athlete of the Month.
Anna was chosen because she is extremely willing to learn and patient. She takes the time to listen and correct the small things. She is constantly seeking improvement and embraces, enjoys, and seeks out her weaknesses. Anna challenges herself on learning new skills while having fun with the workouts. As a testament, she recently overcame one of her fears with box jumps. WOOHOO! Anna also adds an aspect of humor and is super down to earth. You can find Anna conversing with nearly anyone and everyone; making sure that everyone is included. We love that Anna is coachable, inclusive, and humble all while carrying joy with her. Congratulations Anna! We are proud of you!
Q: How long have you been going to Victory Gym? What changes have you seen in yourself (physically or mentally) since joining?
I’ve been a member of Victory since March 2024 and I’ve noticed a lot of really positive changes in these few months: I’m lifting heavier, I’m cycling weights/barbells easier (shout out to Nick for showing me how to actually breathe during a wod haha), and I’ve noticed body-weight/gymnastic movements are coming easier. My stamina has increased with burpees, wall balls, and running and I’m surprising myself with how quickly and efficiently I’m moving through wods.
I’ve also noticed a positive mental change since joining the gym. When I first moved down I was dealing with a bit of homesickness but coming to Victory and working out with everyone/forming friendships really helped put me in a positive mindset :)
Q: How has your journey at Victory Gym helped you outside the gym?
My journey at Victory Gym has positively impacted my life outside the gym in several ways. It has provided me with a routine and a welcoming community, which has been invaluable in acclimating to my new city. The consistent schedule and friendly environment have helped me feel more at home and connected with others. Additionally, my time at Victory Gym has helped me manage my anxiety more effectively by giving me a physical outlet to work through stress, challenges, and difficult moments.
Q: Who inspires you at the gym, and how do they inspire you?
So many of my fellow athletes inspire me! Ali is certainly an inspiration – she is an incredible athlete and makes any wod or movement look so easy! I hope my push ups and pull-ups are as efficient as hers one day! On days when I’m not feeling up to lifting heavy I get inspired by Jose and his determination to RX the weight and go all out no matter what!
The coaches definitely inspire and encourage me to push myself and do things I didn’t think I could: lifting heavier, running faster, opting for the more challenging scale option in a wod
Q: How would you describe what it’s like to be a part of Victory Gym?
Victory is a community of awesome people who truly demonstrate the best qualities of CrossFit – kind, supportive, funny, and always ready to celebrate another athlete’s achievements. I am so happy I joined Victory and am proud to be part of this community. I know whenever I walk in to the gym I’m in for a good workout and good time. Victory is more than a gym; it is a place I enjoy coming to, filled with people I love hanging out with.
Q: Tell us about your first day of class at Victory Gym.
I knew Victory Gym was the right fit for me before I even walked in! I was greeted warmly by people in the parking lot and on the way in, which immediately put me at ease and made me feel welcome. Emily coached my first class, and she made me feel like part of the group right away. During the warm-up, I was really impressed with how the class interacted and how Emily led with knowledge and humor. People genuinely seemed to enjoy each other’s company, and there was a strong sense of camaraderie that I instantly felt part of. I remember the workout of the day was DT – one of my personal favorites – and it was such a nice, welcoming, and supportive community that I am happy to be a part of.
Q: What is something that we may not know about you?
Before moving to Savannah earlier this year I lived in London for a few years where I got my Masters in Theatre Producing. I could bore you with details about working on professional theatre shows and socializing with celebs, but the most fun experience I had in London was learning how to sword fight on stage… So if we ever have a workout that involves swords I’m all set to jump in and coach lol!
Q: What are your top 3 memories or proudest moments in CrossFit?
Oh man, this is a tough one because there’s been so many good memories over the years…
#1. I was top of the leaderboard at my gym up in MA during the 2019 Open for a few glorious days before all scores were submitted. It was the wall ball and rowing wod and my height turned out to be a natural advantage lol!
#2. I need to retest, but my most recent PR was deadlifting my own body weight
#3. Being named Athlete of the Month is definitely on the list of proudest moments!
Q: Moving forward, do you have any short term or long term goals in the gym?
So many goals! For short-term goals, I really want to get a full push-up – I’m getting there, slowly but surely! – and I’m working towards getting a pull-up. I’ve been making more progress on these movements at Victory than I have in the past few years. My goal for the end of the year is to kick up into a handstand hold!
For longer-term goals, I’d like to improve my running speed and cut down my mile time. I’ve also started working on muscle-ups (right now I’m doing jumping variations on a matador bar), and I’m excited to see my progress in the coming months.