A Peek Inside the Vietnam Summer Throwdown

With the competition calendar for the rest of 2020 looking threadbare. The three CrossFit boxes in Vietnam have come together to plan and execute a Summer Throwdown. The point of this throwdown is purely for fun and some friendly competition amongst CrossFitters in Vietnam. We are testing the limits of the Tay Ho, Thao Dien and Q7 communities! 

An exciting part of this competition (since it is purely for fun) is that there is no pressure. This means that lots of people who maybe wouldn’t sign up for a competition in another setting, are getting involved! 

We want to highlight some of the athletes that are jumping on board with this summer throwdown. These 7 athletes are from all over the world, but are all connected through the Vietnam CrossFit world. 

The biggest consensus across all athletes and all boxes, is that the best thing about CrossFit in Vietnam are our individual communities. The Thao Dien, Q7 and Tay Ho communities are strong, inclusive, supportive and fun, and reading through the experiences and stories of these athletes proves that!

Let's meet some of the athletes competing this summer!

Hes - CrossFit Thao Dien 

Hes is a member of CrossFit Thao Dien and originally hails from Hong Kong. He has been living in Vietnam for one year and eight months, and he has been doing CrossFit for 5 years.
 
Why are you participating in the Vietnam Summer Throwdown?
Peer pressure! Aside from that, it's a good way to push my limit. I was going to skip workout one because I injured my hand two days before, but one morning I woke up and thought: “Why don't I give it a try?!”  (PSA here do listen to what your body tells you, don't harm yourself!). 
 
I think competition is intimidating sometimes but it is also a great opportunity to go beyond what your mind says. And it's deeply satisfying when I do that.
 
If you could program one of the WODs for the throwdown what would it be?
It would probably be a variation of Cindy. It's my favourite WOD.
 
What do you love about CrossFit Thao Dien?
I love  the people! I go to work five days per week, but I go to the box often 6 days a week, so I see the CFTD members more often than anyone here. Besides working out, we often have different social events to hang out together so it's definitely more than just a place to work out for me.

Michael - CrossFit Tay Ho

Michael is originally from Vietnam and has been part of the CrossFit Tay Ho Community for about a year now. He started going to the gym in 2018 at Elite Fitness, and his definition of Fitness was all about old-school bodybuilding. He was inspired to try out CrossFit from Dee who was a member of CFTH. According to Michael, “Dee’s training was just different, I wondered what this weirdo was doing with all these jumping ropes, animal walks, rowing, etc”. Once he joined he just fell in love with the sport, the box and the community..

Why are you participating in the Vietnam Summer Throwdown? 
I have never competed in any CrossFit competitions before, so Vietnam Summer Throwdown is obviously a Big “Yes”! Hopefully, there will be more events and competitions here in Vietnam. I have a big hope for CrossFit growing to a new phenomenon in the country. I am just happy to be a part of Tay Ho!
 
If you could program one of the WODs for the Throwdown, what would it be?
 I love the surprise aspect of CrossFit, that makes it so interesting and challenging. However, I would love doing more barbells, I will pick “Grace” and “Isabel”.
 
What do you  love about CrossFit Tay Ho? 
Honestly, I love everything about Tay Ho. But above all, it is professional in coaching and training CrossFit, supported by an amazing community with members from so many different cultures, races and colors. CrossFit Tay Ho is the first place I want to be after a working day, I am truly myself at the box.

Anh - CrossFit Q7

Anh, a member of CrossFit Q7, is Vietnamese, but was born and raised in Bavaria, Germany. She has now been living in Vietnam for 14 years. She started her CrossFit journey back in 2015. 

Why are you participating in the Vietnam Summer Throwdown?
To test my abilities that I’ve learned during classes and push myself under pressure. To see how I stand against myself  and other competitors, and see where I need to improve. Participating in this competition also helps to motivate myself to train more with a target in mind. And what I’ve learned through Crossfit and with signing up for a competition “you don't need to be great to start, but start to be great!”.

If you could program one event for the Throwdown, what would it be?
An obstacle course style event.

What do you love about CrossFit Q7? 
It’s a great facility / playground filled with diverse members who are happy that Q7 is a place where people really come to train and improve themselves (especially all kind of body types and backgrounds) instead of coming to the gym for selfies and look around like other typical commercial gyms.

Bosco - CrossFit Thao Dien

Bosco came to Vietnam from Sydney, Australia. He moved to HCMC in February 2019 and started doing CrossFit in March 2019!
 
Why are you participating in the Vietnam Summer Throwdown? 
Just to have a go! I’ve never participated in any kind of CrossFit competition before so there’s always a first!
 
If you could program one event for the Throwdown, what would it be?
AMRAP 12min time cap
20 wall balls
10 burpees
200m run
 
What do you  love about CrossFit Thao Dien? 
The thing I love most about CF Thao Dien are the people. There’s a real supportive community and a genuineness in how everyone is welcome to rock up, have a go and try their best! 

Manjusha - CrossFit Tay Ho

Manjusha comes from Bhutan, but left for work back in 2003 – and has been moving every 3-4 years since. Her  husband is Australian – and they share their annual holiday time between their two countries. Manjusha and her family came to Vietnam almost a year ago now. In fact,they landed in Hanoi on July 28,2019 and she was at CrossFit Tay Ho on July 29,2019 for her first 9 am class - talk about dedication!

She didn’t start CrossFit in Vietnam, though. This is almost her third year of CrossFit. She was inducted through the box in Tashkent, Uzbekistan… she was curious about CrossFit since her time living in the U.S a few years back, and with her running knees getting older, decided to go for a trial at her local box in Tashkent, and never quite looked back! 
 
Why are you participating in the Vietnam Summer Throwdown?
 Don’t ask - I’m totally scaled down - but I did it for solidarity and to express my commitment :)  
 
I’ve had a few setbacks this year with injury and sickness. I was a little disappointed for not being able to progress as much as I wanted to over the last few months. The Summer Throwdown was a good chance to start with a clean slate and use this as a new benchmark. 

Plus I mentioned it to my boys, and they insisted that I give it a go and so I am trying.... I want them to be proud of me for being brave and challenging myself!

If you could program one event for the Throwdown, what would it be?
Maybe a combination of Deadlift - box jumps - kettlebell swings.
 
What is something(s) that you love about CrossFit Tay Ho? 
 Cross Tay Ho was a big part of my introduction to Vietnam and is now an integral part of my daily routine.  I love the camaraderie (thank you my 9am class!!); the sense of “belonging”; the new challenges it presents; the discipline; and the constant source of information which has helped me to navigate life in Vietnam. We are all from different walks of life, at different stages in our lives - but once inside the box, we share the same grit, pain and sweat presented by the WoD!  
 
The CrossFit WoD has even become a family dinner-table conversation and is now an inspiration for my boys who are as keen as I am!!
Did I mention how awesome all our coaches are…   They are so encouraging, positive and patient – I have sincere gratitude for their support during the COVID19 lockdown - their zoom classes brought some sanity to my life then! 

Emily - CrossFit Q7

Emily hails from from the UK and has been living in Saigon for six years! She started CrossFit for the first time at Saigon Sports Club about two years ago.
 
Why are you participating in the Vietnam Summer Throwdown?
I’m participating because I like the challenge. I’m not particularly strong but I like to push myself to try things. I also like that I can do the workouts with friends and we can show so much support for one another.
 
If you could program one event for the Throwdown, what would it be?
The workouts are covered so I’d add in a social event!
 
What is something(s) that you love about CrossFit Q7?
I love the variety of training but most of all I love the community.  I have made solid friends who are supportive and encouraging both in and out of the workouts. The coaches are fantastic and are also some of my closest friends now.

Belsy - CrossFit Thao Dien

Belsy, an athlete from CrossFit Thao Dien, is from Hong Kong originally and grew up in England. She has been in Vietnam for 4 months and started CrossFit a year ago in Chiang Mai!

Why are you participating in the Vietnam Summer Throwdown?
I love the atmosphere when everyone is doing the same workout with judges. Really motivating.

If you could program one event for the Throwdown, what would it be?
I saw a YouTube video where they had athletes from CF, Olympics lifting, power lifting and body building competing in those domains, I think it will be really fun to do that, for example have members learn body building poses lol!

What is something(s) that you love about CrossFit Thao Dien? 
The members here are great, very friendly and diverse. The coaches are very knowledgeable and helpful! I also really like the mobility classes!