Akhiel Willis

MY LOVE FOR MOVEMENT BEGAN EARLY AND NEVER STOPPED.

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I WAS A MULTI-SPORT ATHLETE THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, COMPETING IN BASKETBALL, FOOTBALL, AND TRACK. I ALWAYS THRIVED IN PERFORMANCE-DRIVEN ENVIRONMENTS.

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THESE DAYS, I AM CHANNELING THAT SAME DRIVE INTO RUNNING, TO IMPROVE AS A CROSSFIT ATHLETE. I ALSO RECENTLY COMPLETED MY FIRST HALF MARATHON AND I CAN'T WAIT TO RUN THE NEXT ONE.

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I WAS FIRST INTRODUCED TO CROSSFIT DURING COLLEGE WHILE LOOKING FOR A WAY TO STAY IN SHAPE OVER THE SUMMER. ONE VISIT TO A LOCAL GYM AND WATCHING THESE ATHLETES LIFT HEAVY, JUMP AROUND, AND CLIMB ROPE GOT ME EXCITED. IT WAS WILD BUT EXCITING — EVERYONE CELEBRATED EACH OTHER, NO MATTER WHAT PLACE YOU FINISHED. I KNEW IT WAS THE RIGHT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT TO TRAIN IN.

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AFTER BEING ON AND OFF AFTER COLLEGE, I OFFICIALLY JOINED CROSSFIT EXP IN 2022 AND I HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT EVER SINCE.

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I THRIVE ON BUILDING MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS WITH MY ATHLETES. MY FAVORITE MOMENTS? WATCHING SOMEONE HIT A PR FOR THE FIRST TIME, OR HELPING SOMEONE MOVE BETTER SO THEY CAN LIVE PAIN-FREE AND CONFIDENTLY OUTSIDE THE GYM.

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MY TRAINING GOALS FOR ATHLETES:

MOVE WELL AND WITH INTENTION

PUSH BEYOND LIMITING BELIEFS

HAVE FUN, EVEN WHEN IT'S HARD

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FOR ME, COACHING ISN'T JUST ABOUT NUMBERS ON A BOARD, IT'S ABOUT MINDSET AND QUALITY MOVEMENT. I BELIEVE SUCCESS COMES FROM CONSISTENT EFFORT, LAUGHTER DURING TOUGH WORKOUTS, AND PUSHING PAST SELF-IMPOSED LIMITS.

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MY PERSONAL MOTTO:

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"BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE FOR YOURSELF IN A POSITIVE LIGHT — AND KEEP IT MOVING, NO MATTER HOW HARD LIFE GETS."

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PRS:

510 LB SUMO DEADLIFT

435 LB BACK SQUAT

270 LB BENCH PRESS

245 LB CLEAN & JERK

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RECENT WINS:

COMPLETED HIS FIRST HALF MARATHON