Last season the majority of the conversations around the Affiliate Cup revolved around two teams. All of the media focus from almost every outlet, all of the conversations and hype surrounded a team from Cookeville and another from Iceland. Two teams led into the season by legends of the sport. One team with a legacy to protect and immortalize and another with a legacy to build on.
“It was actually really motivating. I like being an underdog and I feel like I have been underestimated and overlooked throughout my life so it doesn’t phase me. We love a good fight to prove ourselves. We work harder, smarter and faster. This team has grit,” commented Brittany Weiss, a member of CrossFit Invictus’ team. Invictus San Diego is the only affiliate to send a team to the CrossFit Games since the team competition began in 2009.
That sentiment was shared by Devyn Kim who said, “I would be lying if I said I didn’t like it. I love being the underdog. It can be frustrating, sometimes you want to be acknowledged, but, in reality it motivates me like crazy, the podium finish was that much sweeter”.
When asked if being left out of conversations last year was frustrating or inspiring or maybe annoying or even motivating, Joshua Al-Chamaa replied, “All of the above. However, we know how good we are. Clout is fine but you can’t own those bragging rights unless you prove yourself.”
That’s when Jorge Fernandez jumped in, “Of course when your name isn’t mentioned it is a bit frustrating. Especially with how much history Invictus has in the sport. We used it as fuel each day. We knew what we were capable of and loved competing as underdogs.”
The foursome added to the long legacy of Invictus by finishing 3rd last year, a feat most athletes would have been proud of. “We were left with a sour taste in our mouth getting third. We talked that night that we could win it and run it back as a team,” explained Jorge.
Al-Chamaa echoed Jorge saying, “We knew once standing on the podium there was another spot waiting for us, we also knew to do that we would have to stick together, the team dynamic was too good.”
After the Games, Jorge qualified for The Rogue Invitational, this along with his performance in Texas and podcast appearances where he stated his intentions to be competitive in the individual field led to speculation in some corners about Invictus and their plans for 2023.
“Jorge is a leader. He makes this team better and I think I speak for everyone that it wouldn’t be the same without him. He also belongs on the individual field,” explained Weiss.
“Our team has two of the best rising names in Britt and Jorge along with myself as one of the fittest athletes in the UK and a young star in Dev that has proven herself as a teen and is only growing stronger and more impressive. Who knows if this will be the last one, but, one thing is certain, our names will continue. If it is the last, what better way to end than with a gold neck accessory,” added Al-Chamaa.
But Jorge was briefly on the fence after Rogue. “I had the itch to make this my year. Seeing my teammates in the gym and remembering my goal when I started, to win the CrossFit Games with Invictus, we’ll make one more year of team happen,” said Jorge.
Devyn also longs to return to the individual field too, ”My four years as a teen at the Games introduced my love of individual competitions, I will be stepping out as an individual one day but for now these three are stuck with me for another year.”
The beauty of the team competition is that it puts 4 individual athletes together, the team being only as good as the sum of its parts. Each member has to bring their best, work on their weaknesses and slot into the unit when the time comes. “Personally I want to push myself and this group each and every day,” said Brittany.
“We want to go out and win but also push each other to make each other better. We want to continue to pull for one another regardless of getting recognition or being talked about,” added Fernandez, a sentiment built upon by Joshua, “We hold each other to a high standard and the goal is to keep those standards high, to stay focused and to show up to every event, the goal each year is to be better, nothing will stand in our way.”
Devyn agrees that there are personal goals that each athlete holds during the off season, things they each aim to improve on along with the shared goal of “making ourselves better, working on the weaknesses. We still have that fire lit in us and we will carry that same energy going into this season.”
“We learned a lot as a group last year, certain things we can tweak to attack the season. Our mindset has also changed, last year we had the mindset of hitting the podium, this year we want to win it!” Fernandez said.
Joshua explained that while there is always change because “without change you don’t grow, our mindset is certainly stronger, but, saying that is one thing and we have to prove it”, some things have remained the same “our commitment to show up for each other, it’s a selfless endeavor, you have your team mates relying on you but you have four different families showing up for the success.”
When asked about the team’s aspirations for the season, Jorge laid it out clear by saying, “After this year I will be going individual. For now, I’m focused on winning the Games on Team Invictus.”
Al-Chamaa said, “To be taking home the gold medal and doing it with my fitness family.”
Devyn added that the goal is always improvement, to be better, “doing what we need to do day in and day out to accomplish what we are longing for in Madison.”
And then Weiss summed it up with just one word, “Gold.”
