All Over the Map: Morrison, Burke and Chan

Ian Wittenber is now cruising through Colorado, picking up interviews with top athletes who qualified for the ultimate test of fitness, the 2010 CrossFit Games.

Europe champion Blair Morrison’s path to the 2010 CrossFit Games has been well documented in his series of articles for the CrossFit Journal. His efforts in 2009 netted him a seventh-place finish overall, and he’s looking to improve on that number after a year of hardcore training in various European locales. Back stateside on a break from his studies in Europe, Morrison is putting in work at altitude, adding the finishing touches on his efforts from the year.

Matt Chan (first, North Central) has been training hard, too. His 18th-place finish in 2009 Games was impressive but left him wanting more. After resolving some hamstring issues this season, he’s confident heading into the 2010 event: “I’m not going out there to have fun. I’m going out there to win.”

Patrick Burke (third, North Central) shares the same motivation as Chan. Finishing the 2009 Games in eighth might be satisfying for some but has left this competitor wanting to improve. The Oly lifts are two of the many skills he’s focused on in his training.

These three highly motivated athletes with Games experience are sure to give the rest of the competition a run for their money, but will their improved resolve best the bumper crop of new competitors and place Morrison, Chan or Burke atop the podium?

14min 36sec

Additional reading: Event Recap: European Regional and North Central Weekend Wrap-Up.