Proud Dad - Neils Blog - Part 9

Hello again,

This is going to be a little different from the normal blog as I would like to take this opportunity to share the achievements of my daughter Madison.

Those of you that have read my blog before know how sporty Madi is but as a quick recap she participates in a lot of the school activities but also competes in trampolining and CrossFit.

I’ll start with CrossFit.

The highlight of most CrossFitters year is the ‘Open’. This is an online competition where you compete in a number of workouts at your own gym and submit your scores online. This is worldwide so you can see how you shape up against people of your own age from across the globe. The top athletes from the various divisions then go onto a regional competition and then the finalists of that go on to the CrossFit Games in California where the fittest male and female athletes are crowned. Last year the Open introduced a couple of teen categories but Madi was too young . This year was the first time she could sign up and compete.

And she exceeded all expectations! She finished 1^st in England , 1^st in the UK , 7^th in Europe and 86^th in the world!!! Unfortunately for the teens there are no regionals and only the top 10 in the world go through to the actual games.

This last weekend Connect hosted the British Teen Championships , which saw teens from all over the country come down and take part in 3 workouts and then the top 5 went on to a final elimination style workout to crown the champion. Over 50 competitors took part in total and after the first 3 wods Madi was sitting in 4^th place and so made it through to the final. As it was an eliminator anything could happen and it was back to a level playing field. She was unbelievable and won (which included climbing the rope twice as she forgot to collect the tag the first time round!!)

She also has competed this year in trampolining and qualified to represent the South East in the region finals where she finished 7^th and qualified for the National Finals in Telford. It was quite a tough build up to Telford with Madi having to change her routine a week before but she still came away with a 4^th place.

We don’t have enough words to say how proud we are Madi and her achievements this year have been staggering. I want to say a MASSIVE thank you to all the coaches at Connect who are always there to lend a hand and to keep pushing her forward.

 I have said it before , and it will probably embarrass her,  but she is a real inspiration to me.

 Love you Moo xxx