The organizers of the Pit Teen Throwdown, host of the 2024 Teenage CrossFit Games, and the Professional Fitness Athletes’ Association (PFAA) are creating a mentorship program for the top teenage athletes this summer. The program is being created to provide advice, movement and workout evaluations and more to the 120 athletes who will qualify for the 2024 Teenage CrossFit Games from June 16 to August 18 as they prepare for their championship.
“Launching a mentor program for Teenage CrossFit Games athletes is huge!” said Brock Yost, head coach and executive director of Pit Teen Throwdown, the event organizer hosting the 2024 Teenage CrossFit Games. “The program will provide athletes with plenty of learning and leadership opportunities as well as the chance to lean on some pros with high level experience in the CrossFit Games.”
Heather Lawrence-Benedict, senior director of sport operations at CrossFit HQ added, “The mentor program is an incredible opportunity for Games athletes to support the next generation of talent while passing along the lessons learned through competing at the highest level. This is a great example of bringing top athletes in our community together to make the sport better.”
During those ten weeks over the summer, the mentors will work with the athletes virtually for a total of approximately 13 hours. Additionally, mentors who are able to attend the Teenage CrossFit Games in-person will receive access to the athlete recovery and warm-up areas to provide continued support to those they are mentoring.
CrossFit Games veterans Paige Powers and Arielle Loewen have both committed to participate in the program this year. “I’m excited to be a part of the mentor program
because I would have loved to have that available to me as a teenager,” said Powers. She added, “I want to be able to guide and help the teenagers to the best of my ability to allow them the best chance of success, no matter what their goals look like. It is inspiring to see their drive and work ethic, and I’m blessed to play a small part in their journey.”
As for Loewen, she said that she wants to be able to support young girls who are entering the sport as teenagers and help them mentally and to find balance between their sport and themselves.
There are still mentor spots available. Games athletes interested in joining the mentorship program can email Adam Paulson, 2024 Teenage CrossFit Games Athlete Development Coordinator, at ajpaulson@gmail.com, or they can fill out this application.
The top 30 teenage boys and 30 teenage girls from each division, 14-15 and 16-17 year old, will compete in-person at the 2024 Teenage CrossFit Games. The competition will be in Kalamazoo, Michigan, from August 29 to September 1, 2024.
