The Cape CrossFit Wolfpack are the winningest team in Africa. The affiliate from Cape Town, South Africa have been a competitive presence since the gym was founded in 2009. Their first Games appearance was in 2011. They have competed in every Regional, Sanctional and Semifinal since then. They have also won the biggest local event, Fittest in Cape Town, almost too many times to count.
This year they are headed to Madison again to represent the continent. The last time the Wolfpack made the journey to the Games was in 2018, with a win at the Meridian Regional in Madrid. This time they did it with victory at the REBEL Renegade Games in Johannesburg. Albeit after a bit of a delay in receiving their honour.
The original winners were disqualified after a failed drug test. According to team captain Callum Deeble, “With regard to the circumstances, they are unfortunate; I don’t think there are any winners in a case like this.” However, the cards have been dealt and the team are working hard to take advantage of this opportunity.
The current iteration of the team features four young athletes. The youngest team to ever represent the famous Wolfpack. Brady Finkel (22 y/o), her sister Reegan (20 y/o), Games veteran Callum Deeble (24 y/o) and Mike Van Tonder (29 y/o). The foursome has been building together since 2022.
Deeble previously represented CrossFit Eikestad at the CrossFit Games in 2021 before moving to Cape Town and joining Cape CrossFit. Mike Van Tonder and Reegan Finkel have competed twice as individuals at the Semifinal level. The oldest of the three Finkel girls, Brady, competed as an individual in 2021 before an unfortunate injury kept her out of the 2022 season. A slip ended in torn ankle ligaments just before the Quarterfinals. A year of diligent rehab work and she’s back in action; stronger than ever. “Honestly, it is overwhelming how much love and support we have received already and we can not wait to make our entire African community proud,” wrote Brady.
But there are more wolves. Trent Strydom, Monique Schmidt, Ashton Finkel and Nik Affat are the Werewolves. The team on the horizon with grand aspirations. They don’t take themselves too seriously, but secretly The Weirdwolves (their self-given nickname) want to win. As the team sheet suggests, there is an even younger Finkel sister. Ashton. Just 19 years old and already a part of the 6th fittest team at this year’s Semifinal in Johannesburg. The Werewolves are in many ways the future stars of the Wolfpack team and in time will definitely compete for the title of Fittest in Africa as individuals.
The teams are coached by Chris Oman, a former Games athlete and the owner of Cape CrossFit. “The team are working HARD to honour the privilege of representing AFRICA,” he said.
The reality of CrossFit as a sport is that there is simply no way for the majority of athletes to support themselves financially without working other jobs. The eight members of the competitive outfit all coach and have corporate careers. 4 hours per day of training and 8 hours per day of office work. It’s a full life but commitment makes it a simple choice. Reps remove doubt. And Oman believes in high quality reps repeated incessantly.
The pipeline at Cape CrossFit is strong. It’s basically an academy. 300 regular members throwing down alongside some of the fittest in Africa. Elite athletes cheering for moms and dads. Lawyers and accountants and students wearing teeshirts celebrating the Wolves. Who just happen to be their coaches (and their friends too).
As Glassman once wrote, “Our understanding is that the needs of Olympic athletes and our grandparents differ by degree, not kind.” This is Cape CrossFit. Future stars who are set on dominating well into the future. They have the work ethic, age on their side and a strong community behind them. The Wolfpack are out to dominate CrossFit in Africa for as long as they want. As Reegan Finkel said, “The wolves aren’t done yet.”
