Junior Isabelle Ianni Crossfit

PUSHING UP AND THROUGH

During an after school gym session junior Isabelle Ianni does tricep pushups as part of her workout regimen. (Photo by Ava Rawson)

BUILDING MUSCLE

Junior Isabelle Ianni’s life spent at the gym. She looked into different in the gym earned her a 51st ranking for the 2017 Crossfit Games in her division. CrossFit athletes’ stories and was drawn to a fitness regimen made up of the different styles of training based on aspects of weightlifting, running, gymnastics, rowing BY AVA RAWSON and more. One of the first athletes that she REPORTER looked into was Lauren Fisher, a CrossFit athlete who also started at a young age and

Vibrant, bouncing music made it to the CrossFit games. Ianni was mix with the sound of weights able to meet Fisher when she attended the hitting the floor, engulfing her CrossFit games in Madison, Wisconsin as she pushes herself six days a this past summer. week. “The female CrossFit games athletes

Since eighth grade, junior Isabelle are really inspiring to me because I think Ianni has been taking the road less it’s really cool to see strong women just traveled, leading her being themselves and embracing what

“I think it’s straight to the 20/20 their bodies can do,” Ianni said. really cool to see strong women CrossFit gym in Prairie Village, Kansas. Her work in and outside of the gym Apart from being a one of the top 100 CrossFit Athletes in the world for the 1617 bracket, Ianni has had the opportunity just being led her to a 2017 overall to watch the athletes she has trained with themselves and embracing what their bodies can world ranking in her age division. Currently, Ianni placed 51st in the world. She has also been compete in the CrossFit games. Ianni traveled to the games with her mom, Maria Ianni, who loved to see how happy Ianni was while at the games. do.” the top competitor in the “To actually see them in person -Junior Isabelle Ianni state of Kansas for three years, according to the official CrossFit Open and how strong and fit they are was just amazing, and it was super inspirational and motivating to her,” Maria said. “It was leaderboards. just fun to see how excited she was about “I work a lot on building strength, all of it.” Just as a mom, it gave me so much so a lot of lifting and accessory work and joy just seeing how happy it made her, and then ramping up for the CrossFit open, how excited [she was] about it all.” that once a year competition,” Ianni said. She has had the opportunity to work “My coach will start giving me a lot more with acclaimed athletes she’s seen compete conditioning and we will make sure that through athlete camps. At training camps, the CrossFit gymnastics movements that athletes have the opportunity to train with I have to do I am able to cycle. Everything different coaches, learn about nutrition picks up and you are in your most fit and work on their technique. Ianni has state at that point in the year so you can trained with Sam Dancer, who is currently compete.” ranked 14th in the world and has met Ianni’s interest for CrossFit first many CrossFit athletes at the CrossFit peaked upon seeing everyone doing games. When in the stadium at the Crossfit different high intensity workouts together games every spectator can feel the energy

AND CONFIDENCE

radiating down from both the athletes do but I know that I am going to be getting competing and everyone in the audience up really really early to go to the gym willing them forward, according to Ianni. sometimes I will just go to bed and then do

“It was so awesome to be there my homework in the morning,” Ianni said. because when you see it on TV nothing “I just kind of like prioritizing, sometimes can compare to what it looks like in real on the weekends I will work ahead for the life,” Ianni said. “Just being so close to all week.” the athletes that I look up to and am really Ianni visited a nutritionist and inspired by is really motivating. I want switched from a paleo diet to a diet more to be there, and want to be one of those catered for her training needs. She now athletes” focuses on eating food with enough carbs

Ianni jumped from a kids CrossFit to sustain her energy output. But now class to join the adults when she was 15. Ianni avoids foods that would lead to a Going from a class of her peers to one sugar crash. filled with incredibly inshape CrossFitters “For the amount I was training and who are twice her age was more than the intensity I wasn’t getting enough a little frightening at first. Now, the carbs,” Ianni said. “I have a nutrition coach atmosphere in the gym is nothing but and she gives me numbers for protein, fat, one big, welcoming family, cracking jokes carbs, so I still eat really clean.” and pushing each other to be their best, The family started incorporating according to Ianni. different aspects of nutrition after Ianni’s

“When I went to a new gym, it was mom participated in nutrition challenges just me in this class with all these super through CrossFit. Eating a diet focused on fit adults, so it was kind of intimidating non-processed foods has made the whole at first,” Ianni said. “But everyone there family have an appreciation for what they is super nice and I feel really comfortable put in their bodies according to Maria. around everyone now and they don’t really Ianni spreads her zeal for fitness treat me like I am a kid anymore.” with her entire family who all participate

Between going to the gym and in active lifestyles in and outside of attending school, finding time for school the gym. With family activities such as responsibilities proves difficult. Prioritizing training sessions with acclaimed CrossFit and time management are how she athletes such as Jenna Dancer and Dancer juggles homework and fitness. Her main on family road trips, they show their solution is getting ahead on homework commitment to fitness and support of and by doing the majority of her assigned Ianni. The family fitness trend doesn’t stop homework during school. Sleep is also a there, though. Ianni and her dad Bruce big factor in her wellness routine, with all Ianni get to work out together, according the early morning training sessions made to Ianni. Everyone in the family is active possible by avoiding late nights, according whether it be though CrossFit or other to her sister, Matia Ianni. activities. But for Ianni it is clear that

“Honestly it can be kind of hard, CrossFit is her passion. sometimes it is just making sure you know “They encourage us to try to find new what your priorities are. So for me if it is things,” Matia said. “I can tell that it’s her starting to get late and I still have work to passion.”

DO YOU EVEN LIFT?

While in the gym, Ianni practices her form in preparation for the Crossfit Open. “I work a lot on building strength, so it’s a lot of lifting and accessory work and then ramping up for the CrossFit Open,” Ianni said. (Photo by Ava Rawson)