“I think because of how much of a grind it’s been to get to this point and the hurdles that I’ve had to overcome … when it comes to qualifying and everything that happened in 2020 and then also following Emma to the Games those two years and getting to see it from her perspective … getting to see that experience and combining that with what it's taken to get here, my only focus for the next period running up to the Games and including the Games is just to enjoy it. … Enjoy it as much as I can.”

Two-time CrossFit Games athlete David Shorunke joins host Adrian Conway on the show to chat about his Semifinal performance, qualifying for the Games after a long journey, and balancing life as a full-time athlete.

Shorunke grew up playing basketball and also rowed while studying exercise science in university. He was interested in joining the Royal Marines in the United Kingdom and began CrossFit as a way to test himself and prepare for the demands of the military.

After qualifying for the 2014 Europe Regional and finishing 10th, Shorunke decided to pursue CrossFit competitively.

Despite competing at the Games twice — once on a team in 2016 and once virtually in 2020 — Shorunke will make his first individual, in-person appearance at the 2023 NOBULL CrossFit Games this August.

In today’s episode, Shorunke reflects on his Europe Semifinal experience and his seventh-place overall finish. He describes the highs and lows, adapting to challenges during the competition, and bouncing back from less-desirable performances as he reviews the tests.

Looking ahead to the finale in Madison as a recent full-time athlete, Shorunke shares how he’s using his Semifinal experience to focus his training, opening up about the benefits of having dedicated time to work toward achieving his goals. He also gives insight on the differences between training as a competitive athlete and an everyday athlete as well as the importance of recovery.

Tune in to learn more about the ups and downs of Shorunke’s CrossFit journey, finding the “ultimate” companion in Games athlete Emma Tall, and what he’s looking forward to after his professional CrossFit career.

Chapters
0:00-1:55 - Episode introduction
1:55-2:55 - David Shorunke qualifies for the CrossFit Games
2:55-5:55 - Reflecting on Semifinals
5:55-10:09 - Talking through Test 2
10:09-17:20 - Talking through Test 3, Semifinals Linda
17:20-18:10 - Talking through Tests 4 and 5
18:10-22:52 - Preparing for the CrossFit Games
22:52-26:51 - Basketball, the Royal Marines, and starting CrossFit
26:51-29:48 - Shorunke’s background in exercise science
29:48-37:10 - Coaching CrossFit
37:10-42:21 - Advantages of being a full-time athlete
42:21-45:53 - Emma Tall, the “ultimate teammate”
45:53-48:21 - Finding balance in his personal life
48:21-52:20 - Working with a coach
52:20-55:27 - Looking forward to Madison

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Everyone has a story.

Get to know your favorite CrossFit athletes and staff as they share their life experiences on and off the competition floor in “More Than Fitness,” hosted by five-time Games athlete, analyst, coach, and affiliate owner Adrian Conway. See the full playlist here:    • More Than Fitness  

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