Jonathan Varela | The Athletes of the 2024 Legends Masters CrossFit Games

We meet Jonathan Varela as he heads to the Masters CrossFit Games.  We talk about what brought him to this point and what are his goals at this years CrossFit Games.

What is Clydesdale Media Podcast?

We cover the sport of CrossFit from all angles. We talk with athletes, coaches and celebrities that compete and surround in the sport of CrossFit at all levels. We also bring you Breaking News, Human Interest Stories and report on the Methodology of CrossFit. We also use the methodology to make ourselves the fittest we can be.

Hey, hey, chill.

Let's go.

I was born a killer.

I was meant to win.

I am down and willing,

so I will find a way.

It took a minute,

now it didn't happen right away.

When they get hot in the kitchen,

you decide to stay.

That's how it winners me.

Stick a fork in the hater on my dick.

What is going on, everybody?

Welcome to the Clydesdale Media Podcast,

where we are featuring the

athletes of the 2024

Legends Masters CrossFit Games.

And we have experienced so

many of the technical

difficulties you can in one night,

but we are live on the air now,

and we're so happy to be here.

My name is Scott Switzer.

I'm the Clydesdale.

I have with me Jonathan Varea,

who is a two-time CrossFit Games athlete.

Welcome, Jonathan.

Thank you, Scott.

Thank you for having me.

So this is your second time

to the CrossFit Games.

You went in 2022.

What was that experience like?

It was an overwhelming experience.

Like I was,

I wasn't probably mentally

prepared for what was going

on and also share the

warmup area with elite athletes too.

You know, those athletes you get to see on,

on the TV all the time,

they are like your

inspiration and you admire so much.

And just being, just being there with them,

it was like really

overwhelming because it,

know as a master athlete I

train by myself 95 of the

time and going from my

alone gym wearing my

headphones all the time and

just being by myself and

then being there with all

these guys and be part of the

10 top guys who qualified to the games.

It was just an honor.

But at the same time,

it was really overwhelming for me.

It was a great experience.

I learned a lot.

I did a lot of mistakes.

And that was part of it.

You know, it was a great,

great experience.

So before we went on air,

you were telling me about

you went to Carson,

California and got to see

the elite athletes do MRF.

Yes.

And then my wife was there next to me.

We were there watching the

games as an expectators.

And I remember turning to her and saying,

like, I want to be there someday.

I want to compete there.

So that's when that little fire starts.

And I start training myself.

And then I just put the time, the effort,

the consistency and everything.

When I realized that I made

it to the games,

it was like accomplished

something so big.

And it was just incredible.

It took me a few weeks to realize.

And I made it real until I

got the mail from CrossFit,

you are invited to go to

the CrossFit Games.

That's when I feel really real.

So typically,

when you go to the CrossFit Games,

then it's kind of an

expectation the next year

to do the same thing.

But last year,

you actually got a penalty

in the qualification process.

Yes.

And it was a major one.

How did that affect your mood?

Like, were you discouraged?

Did you get depressed?

Or did it light another fire

for you to get back this year?

I think...

What happens is I am a

really realistic person.

So that means that I take

one step at a time.

So I do the open,

but I also have in the back

of my head that in some

point as a master athlete

and training at this level,

I can get injured.

I can get penalized.

Like there is some outcomes.

I don't have control of it,

but they're always in the

back of my mind.

And I think that helps me a

lot to get through all of this.

Because when I was doing

really good at semifinals

and then I got penalized

and that took me out.

So that year they took the

top 30 athletes to move on

into semifinals and I finished 31st.

So I was, even with the penalty,

I was one spot out of the

qualification spot.

And yes, I was sad.

But I move on really quick, honestly.

Like I focus on what I have control.

And what I have control is my training,

my nutrition, my recover.

And I said, like, well,

this is going to be an experience.

I learned from that.

And this is not going to happen again.

So, for example, that year I was...

penalizing box jumps so we

have the same movement this

year on box jumps at 30

inch box and every single

rep I was opening hyper

extending my hips you know

I learned a lesson even I

was doing more that I need

to but I was like I'm not

gonna get disqualified

again I learned my lesson

and the thing is that

Again,

it was not like really consistent

because the year previous

when I qualified to the 2022,

we did box jumps too and

all my box jumps were the same.

You know what I mean?

They haven't changed in

years and they were good.

So last year,

I guess they implement a new

judgment approach.

But this year,

I tried to make it even better.

So I just learned my lesson.

Last year, I just moved on really quick,

and I have the support of my family,

friends here in my gym,

and I focus on the next year right away.

That's kind of the drawback

of the Masters always

having to do everything

online until you get to the games.

Mm-hmm.

Because you don't get that

immediate feedback from a judge to know,

is it good?

Is it not good?

So how excited are you now

that you've made it to the

spot where you do get that

immediate feedback?

It's really exciting because

you get to show what you train every day.

And also,

we get to share the training

floor with other amazing people,

American athletes.

So it's really exciting to

finally put all the effort

that we do for years,

because this is not just a

year of training.

It's been years of training,

years of repetitions,

of repetition after repetition.

And finally,

you get to show that in four days.

So it's years of effort, of training,

of repetitions,

and all resume in a weekend.

So you just try to go and

try to do your best and enjoy it.

And that's the only thing

I'm going to do this year.

Like I said,

it was really overwhelming in 2022.

This year,

I'm going to try to enjoy it way more.

And that's really cool.

But before we get into more

parts of this year,

I want to go back to how you grew up.

You grew up in Costa Rica.

Yes.

And from what I read,

you were sick a lot as a kid,

had a hard time gaining weight,

suffered from asthma,

anxiety and depression,

and fitness was your medicine.

Yes.

so how did you find fitness

and where did you find it

uh at first um I listened

to the another couple

podcasts from from you and

the other guys burn burning

in the us you guys have a

different experience than

like we do coming from central america

For example,

you guys have the background

of playing sports like baseball, football,

basketball.

We don't get to do that.

At least it wasn't like that

in the 90s when I grew up.

And we don't have the facilities,

for example,

that you guys have here in a high school.

So, yeah, I was a really sick kid.

I was really asthmatic.

Um,

so I have trouble with that and I

couldn't, I couldn't run because it just,

I was hyperventilating and

just get asthma really,

really quick for everything.

I, I, I was trying to play and then, um,

When I was like around 20s,

one of my friends,

I used to work for a bank in Costa Rica.

So one of my friends showed me a gym,

like a regular gym where

you are in front of the

mirror and doing three sets

of eight bicep curls, old school gym.

So he showed me that and I

click immediately with that.

Like I was like, I like this.

Like this is like on a long

time where I enjoy this.

And I feel better,

like I don't feel that

asthma coming back.

I start swimming a little bit.

I start running.

I start using my bike.

So slowly, and also when I start growing,

when I was like over 13 years old,

my asthma starts slowing

down a little bit.

So, and then it just became my,

in a good sense, it became my drug.

It was my release just to do exercise.

And that means just to go outside and run,

use my bike,

go to the gym, any physical activity,

it was like my release.

And also for, I'm a really anxious person.

So that was,

that's my way actually right now,

what I deal with that,

like just training.

I really enjoy training.

Sometimes I enjoy training

more than competing.

And that's because it's just

part of my daily basis and just my,

that way I release with my

stress and all this stuff

of my daily life.

You know,

a lot of us CrossFitters like to

make fun of, you know,

the mirror and the bicep

curls and all that.

But for someone who's trying

to gain weight to put

muscle on had to be like a

really good feeling for you.

And it was kind of like the

gateway to get you into

higher levels of fitness.

Exactly.

Yeah.

We, we didn't have, or at least personally,

I didn't have the

background of playing sports.

The only sport I played in

Costa Rica was soccer.

Um,

I did that a lot until I

blow my knee and then I

have to stop because I have

a LCL replacement.

So then I have to stop

playing and then I was

really scared to go back and play.

But at the same time,

I was using the gym all the

time as my routine.

So what brought you to the States to live?

My wife.

Always a woman, right?

Right.

Yeah.

She's the anchor there.

We met in Costa Rica in a festival.

And we started dating there.

And we lived in Costa Rica for, what,

almost four or five years.

And then my green card got processed.

We got married down there in Costa Rica.

I got my green card.

And then her dad is not really healthy.

He's not doing really well.

So we decided to move here to the U.S.

in 2011.

And I think you're the first

athlete I've ever

interviewed that's living in Wyoming.

Okay.

Yeah, there is not a lot of athletes here.

No, no.

So is that where she's from?

Is that why you landed there?

Yes.

Her family is from Casper, Wyoming.

So it's got to be quiet, right?

I can only imagine.

It's beautiful, quiet, serene.

Yes, it's really quiet, really outdoor.

We have the four seasons here.

It was a shock for me, too,

coming from Costa Rica and

the tropical weather.

We have summer and rainy season.

So coming here and having the four seasons,

it was a little shocking.

But...

i like it I kind of enjoy it

here and I like that part

that is really really quiet

you know coming from costa

rica also uh two million

people city coming here

where there is no traffic

and it's pretty nice and

pretty quiet here it's way

different and then you

ended up becoming a

business owner yes uh-huh

three years your own gym

three years ago this was

one of my dreams too to have my own gym

And three years ago, I opened Cura Fit,

what is a boutique gym I

have here in Casper.

So Cura, what does that mean?

So that's in honor of the

indigenous from Costa Rica.

Cura, they named Cura.

It's kind of a mountain lion.

And it means strength for

them and some other values.

And I want to honor my country.

I want to honor where I'm coming from.

So for me, the Indians from there,

they were the first ones to

be there in our land.

So I decided to use one of

their God's names in honor

to them and my country.

I think I'm trying to pull

up your Instagram.

Yeah.

I think I saw a

Like a graphic.

Of the Puma.

Yeah.

Where was it?

Come on.

Now I can't find it.

Shoot.

It looks so cool.

It was like this for the audience.

It was like an outline drawing.

Like lines of like a Puma head.

The Puma head.

Exactly.

That's what it is.

Maybe I saw it.

It's on your gym's website or Instagram.

It's there too.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Okay.

There it is.

Got it.

Okay.

So I'm going to share my screen.

Okay.

And bam, there we go.

That is such a cool graphic.

And so that Puma head is

what represents Cora, right?

Kura, yes.

That's the name of that puma.

And it's in honor of the Borucas,

what is the name of the

Indians in Costa Rica.

It's so cool.

So cool.

So it's a boutique gym.

Yes.

And you're a functional fitness gym?

Yeah.

So is it smaller?

I want to keep it small on purpose.

Because I want to offer

something like more personalized.

I don't want to have a

global gym where you have

20 people in the same class,

and then you have five in

the back that they don't

know what they're doing,

or they are completely shy

because they don't want to

ask in front of everyone.

Or, you know,

people just feel uncomfortable.

It's uncomfortable for some

people just to come to the gym.

So I want to have a small class,

a small gym where

My classes are, when I have a full class,

it's going to be a 12-people class.

And that's it.

That's the maximum.

But usually during the week,

it's like around six, eight,

it depends on the day.

And that was one of my

purpose when I opened the gym,

to keep something small and

something more personalized

where you're going to feel

more comfortable too.

It's funny because when I, like...

During COVID, I changed gyms.

And I went to,

do you know who Christy

Aramo O'Connell is?

Aramo, yeah.

Yeah.

So I go to her gym.

Okay.

And during COVID,

they had lanes made and

they capped the class at 18.

And it was so nice because

you weren't on top of anybody.

You had your space.

And then they liked it so

much that they kept that

business model after COVID.

Yes.

And so it's set up in a way that they can,

as a coach,

go between the rig and see all nine lanes,

one on each side.

So that gives you 18 really

quickly and able to give

all of the clients a great experience.

Exactly.

So when they are doing their strength,

for example, and they're back squatting,

I set up the rig in a way

that I can see everyone.

so if I need to correct

someone I have access to

everyone at the same time

so I'm not missing the

person in the back and that

person is not going to get

any coaching so yeah that

was my concept and I want

to keep it that way is is

coaching a passion of yours

yes I love it what's what's

more athlete or coach they

go hand to hand like I said

sometimes I feel like I love

more training than

competing compete competing

get me gets me really

anxious but when I'm

training I am I feel good

like it's just my lifestyle

but coaching I also feel

like you know I'm doing

something for someone like

it's impossible

let's say I have 10 of those

guys here training,

it's going to be for me

impossible to change their

lifestyle for 10 people.

But if I make a change to one,

I accomplish something

because that person is

going to change their

lifestyle and is going to

become a better mom, a better dad,

is going to be healthier,

is going to play with their kids.

It's such a broad...

change that you're doing in your life.

And people need to realize

that this is the only life we have.

And we just have to take

care of ourselves.

No one is going to take care

of you if you don't take

care of yourself.

So for me, that's really,

really important to change

people's lifestyle.

Not just making you lose five pounds.

Everyone can do that.

It's just looking at yourself in 10,

20 years.

Yeah, that's really cool.

So if training is your happy

place and gives you that serenity,

why do you compete?

So making it to the CrossFit

Games was my biggest goal.

Let's put it that way.

I did some small

competitions here in Casper, in Wyoming,

sorry.

But, you know,

I knew that any of those competitions,

it was not going to take me

to the CrossFit Games.

So it's like the Super Bowl, you know,

for you guys.

So I want to be there.

So the only way I can get

there was going through all

the process of the open semifinals,

quarterfinals.

But it was just kind of a goal for me.

And then when I reached it

the first time in 22, I was like, OK,

I think I can do this again.

Like, I know the process now.

I know how to train

specifically for each stage.

And, you know,

I'm going to try to make it.

But also at the same time, if I don't,

I did my best.

But it's just the competing

feel like it just it's a

weird relationship.

It's so anxious, so stressful.

But at the same time,

when they're three to one go,

I start enjoying it again.

I guess it's just a weird relationship.

So you're a mayhem athlete.

Yes, sir.

Mayhem is probably the exact

opposite of what I would

call a boutique gym.

Have you been to Cookville?

Oh, yeah.

I go there for every semifinal.

They invite me to go and compete there.

It is the biggest gym I've

ever been to in my life.

It's a big gym.

It is.

Yeah, it's different.

Again,

coming from this boutique gym where

you are surrounded of eight people,

ten people,

and then going there is just insane.

It's huge.

So a lot of the guys I've

interviewed this week are

mayhem athletes.

They all went for semis.

Are you, do you know all those guys?

Oh yeah.

Bread.

I love bread.

Brandon, Jordan Webb.

I have a, another guy,

a friend in Costa Rica, Arturo.

He's my really good friend too.

And also helped me with coaching.

And yeah, every time I go there,

it's like I create a new relationship,

a new bond with some of those guys.

Like,

Does it feel like a team?

It does.

You're on a team?

Personally, it does.

Like, you know, you're going to have,

and I think that's a normal

behavior of a human being.

You're going to have a

better relationship with

some people than others.

But every time I go,

my experience is just the best.

Like those people,

we are kind of in the same page.

You know what I mean?

Like we all go compete against each other.

But then when we're done, we shake hands.

We are all sweaty.

We hug each other and that's it.

So, and that's what I love.

Like it's such a family there.

Why did you choose Mayhem?

I did another program.

I did a couple programs before Mahan.

And I felt that it wasn't

taking me where I need to

be to be at the games level.

And then I did some research.

And then basically the decision was like,

if Rich Froning is doing

this and he is at the top of the game,

he's doing something right.

so I'm gonna give it a try

and I don't like to judge a

program in a month you know

what I mean like I want to

do it for a year and then I

can see like okay this this

this is working this is not

working so I start doing it

and then also they surround

with the best coaches and

gymnastics and endurance

strength so they just have

the top coaches

On, on the game.

And again, like I said,

like if rich running is at

the top of the game,

that means that he's doing

something right.

Yeah.

Um, so who,

who are you taking with you to

Birmingham?

So my family is going with me, my two kids,

my wife,

and there is like five gym members.

They're my friends,

close friends here that

they're going to be there with me too.

That's awesome.

Yeah.

Who's your coach with Mayhem?

So I don't do like a

personalized one-on-one coach.

I follow their program.

But Jordan Webb and Arturo from Costa Rica,

those are my two coaches that we discuss,

you know, like the workouts,

like let's do this this way.

They do recommendations for me.

So we are in constantly

communication with each

other and we just support

each other really good.

That's great.

It's just awesome having a

great support network.

Oh, yeah.

What are the expectations this year?

To enjoy it.

I like to keep it basic.

I'm going to go enjoy it and try my best.

That's it.

You said you were overwhelmed in 22.

Do you want to soak it in more this time?

Yes.

What's going on around you?

I want to enjoy it and

more this year like I

learned from the previous

experience and also from

legends because I competed

in legends at mayhem and

that was a really good

group of people it was a

big competition so having

the experience to be at the

games in 22 and then also

legends that really helped

me because you know when I

made it for the first time

I was from training alone

going to the games to the games

So that was a little bit shocking.

But now having the

experience of going to the

games for the first time and also Legends,

I feel like I feel more

confident now going into a

bigger competition like that.

Well, Jonathan,

I want to thank you so much

for hanging out with me for 30 minutes.

It's been so much fun

getting to know all the athletes.

We are going to be in

Birmingham doing a behind

the scenes at the Masters CrossFit Games.

Can't wait to chat with you

there and get some more

footage of you at the competition.

Perfect.

I appreciate your help and I

appreciate your support to

all the Masters athletes.

It's a great community that

I love being a part of.

I'm a master's athlete myself.

Just as good as all of you.

Perfect.

Thank you so much.

I appreciate it.

With that, thank you, everybody,

for joining us.

We'll see everybody next

time on the Clydesdale Media Podcast.

Bye, guys.

Bye.