After 19.1, the first place on the leaderboard in Russia belongs not to Ganina or Vladimirova but to Anastasiya Marino. We contacted Anastasiya and asked her some questions.
How old are you? When and why did you leave Russia? How long are you crossfitting? What sport background do you have?
I’m 32. I’m a Russian and US citizen. We moved from Russia when I was 5. I’ve been back to visit a few times since I have friends and family who still live there. Now I live in New Jersey.
I have been an athlete my whole life. I did ballet when I was younger, then track and cheerleading when I got to high school. I fell in love with running and started doing long distance. I ran the NYC marathon in 2013. At the end of 2013, I started CrossFit.
I’ve had an eating disorder for 15 years of my life. I weighed 115 at my lowest. Now I weigh 150, and am the happiest and healthiest I’ve ever been. CrossFit literally saved my life.
I walked into one of my first CrossFit gyms after tons of research online.. I wanted to be just like the female athletes I was seeing. My favorite athletes are Katrin Davidsdottir and Sam Dancer.
I told the Owner of one of my first CrossFit gyms that gym that my goal was to qualify for Regionals. I told him I would pay him for programming or private sessions to help me get there. He literally laughed in my face and said that’s unrealistic and it takes a freak athlete to get there. He said: “If I put 100 pounds on the bar and you can snatch it from your first try, you’re a freak athlete, and then I’ll work with you”…. Well, I couldn’t snatch 45 pounds!! I went home and cried my eyes out and later joined a different gym with more positive coaches.
I set a goal for myself: to qualify for Regionals. It was such a vague goal, because I literally needed to work on everything!
I started taking classes and doing a ton of things on my own. I got my CrossFit Level 1 right away! I would do strength sessions in the morning (Wendler and later Smolov) at the gym where I coached. Then I would work on my gymnastics. Later in the day I would go to my CrossFit gym and take the class there and work on more skills after. I would also run 3-4 times a week because I just love running.
I definitely would not recommend this because I was definitely overtraining and under eating. I was seeing a ton of progress at first, because I was new to the sport. After the first year, my progress slowed a lot, and started to decline even. I knew I had to get my nutrition on point. I was eating 1200 calories a day and training for 3+ hours. I started counting my macros, gaining weight, and finally gaining strength. Today I eat 2,500- 3,000 calories a day!
My husband Michael has been through this crazy journey with me all along. We’ve been together for almost 14 years. He supports everything I do. If I’m happy, he’s happy. I’m such a lucky girl.
Great story! What regionals did you take part in?
I did the 2018 East regional, that was the first time I qualified. I finished 29th out of 40!!
I went into the weekend sick. It was so much pressure I wasn’t used to and I physically couldn’t do my best. But I learned a lot from that weekend.
And you went to Wodapalooza?
Yes - 2 years. One on a scaled team. And once as Intermediate women’s division - I got 3rd place for intermediate. I also qualified for RX and Elite over the next few years, but couldn’t compete because of back injury.
So next step is Reykjavik, right?
Yes!! I placed top 10 in the qualifiers. I’m so excited because the competition is on my Birthday!!!! May 3rd. And there’s no better way to celebrate than competing in Iceland. I love Iceland!
Back doesn't bother you anymore?
I have sciatica. It hurts from time to time but I’m working with Active Life RX to fix it. I was born with spondylolisthesis, so that’s the reason. I also injured it when I was really young skiing.
Ok, and who is your coach? Or are you programming for yourself?
I program for myself a lot of the time. Right now I’m working with. Chris Clyde - but I just started a few weeks ago.
One of my friends was using him and I needed help so I reached out. I just got the Whoop and it keeps telling me I’m overtraining, so I needed to find a better balance so I recover well and stop overtraining. I’ll do everything I’m told. No matter what. Some nights I can’t sleep because of stresses of owning a business, but I still go in and do 4 hours of training whether I feel like it or not.
What is your favorite and least movement?
I love anything with legs, squatting, running, wall balls!
I don’t have movements I don’t like. I love all of them. If I’m bad at it it just makes me want to work harder to improve! It’s a constant work in progress, and that’s why I love the sport.
How do you evaluate your chances to be a national champ? How much do you know about Russian CrossFit?
I don’t think there’s any difference of CrossFit around the world. Everyone is doing the same thing at the end.. constantly varied movements at high intensity. The training approach may be different from Coach to Coach, but it’s all the same in the end.
I will give every workout my 100%. I have my eyes on 1st place. And I am fired up to do my best. But this is what I do every day of my life. I give everything my 100% and train with a purpose!
Do you know any Russian athletes or follow them on Instagram? For example Roman Khrennikov who went to Strength in Depth.
Yes, I know about Roman and Ganin family. I don’t really follow too many people though. I follow my gym members and a few Games athletes. Otherwise it’s too many distractions for me and I have to stay focused on my training and my business.
Ok, I see. Thanks for answers, good luck in Open and Reykjavik!