Nowadays, functional fitness sports are becoming increasingly popular, in which all movement patterns, energy systems and exercises of the human body are tested, even in combined form. A typical competition tests six categories of fitness components: endurance, strength, body weight, skill, mixed, and power.
The National Age Group Championship organized annually by the National Association for Functional Fitness Competition (Neffisz) is the highest level Hungarian event in the sport of functional fitness. In 2023, the juniors, masters, and age groups will compete separately for the national championship titles. The previous tournament was a qualification for the age-group World Championships organized by the International Federation of Functional Fitness, iF3. However, before the athlete talks about his experiences there, let’s go back in time a bit, to 2012, when Zabolcs got to know the sport closely.
The athlete recalls the beginnings: “I was serving as a soldier in Afghanistan at that time, and there I saw a guy doing CrossFit, which I liked.” – After returning home, I continued to do sports in the Ludovica battalion of the National Defense University, and then officially started doing crossfit in the weightlifting section of BKV Elörre. A few years later, I participated in my first competition, where I didn’t get anywhere, but it was a very good experience, and I saw what I needed to improve. Then the results started to show, in my age group I achieved great success both nationally and internationally, both individually and in pairs.
A few years ago, Szabolcs built his gym in his yard, holding several training sessions a day for those interested throughout the week.
– After I moved from Budapest to Papa, I looked for a coaching opportunity, but there was no such federation or coach in the city. This is how I ended up in Gyor, but the many moves plus work and family were too hard to do, so I decided to change my little roof at the end of the garden. So it happened, and as the news spread, friends asked if they might join. I said yes, and then there were more and more of us, so the place had to be expanded to accommodate us, and I also bought more and more appliances, which also needed space. In the meantime, of course, I got the appropriate qualifications, now there are about 35-40 of us. I am proud that my students have achieved very good results in various competitions, among other things, we succeeded in Lupa Palooza, and even five of them qualified for the European Masters Throwdown Championship, which is a very impressive achievement. Our small team is a very good knit community and the sessions are always in a good mood.
Photo: Gábor Haraszti/Diary
At the national championships held at the Alsóerdei Sports Center in Zalaegerszeg, Szabolcs had to prove his ability with several numbers.
– There were also strength, endurance, body weight and mixed tasks, such as rowing, throwing a medicine ball, lifting leg to bar, crossing the box, sit-ups, ring pull, push, double jump with lead rope, and walk on hands. Not satisfied with myself at all, the result wasn’t the most important thing – by the way, I was two points behind first place – but in terms of form, I couldn’t come close to my performance in the previous European Masters throw. There are more than two months left until the World Cup, I am trying to train as much as possible. One thing is certain: I will not give up and I will do my best to be able to meet my expectations.
The top three in the competition can travel to the World Championships starting September 30th, and Zabolcs is confident he will be able to get supporters until then, so he can represent Papa City in Vancouver.
