Each month we highlight a different CFR member using our “Athlete Spotlight,” where we will ask a series of “get to know you” questions. This will help introduce you to the members of our community that you have yet to meet, OR If you have met them, teach you a little more about them! You might just find out something new or something you have in common!
May’s “Athlete Spotlight” is a star on the rise. At just 14 years old this athlete finished 157th in the WORLD for the 2020 CrossFit Open. She then went on to compete in CrossFit Game’s Online Qualifier, among the top 200, where she finished 80th in the world and 41st in the USA. We would like to introduce you to….
Ella Paule
Tell us a little about yourself (family, job, etc):
"My name is Ella Paule, and I am fourteen years old. I am a freshman at the Butler Area High School (soon to be a sophomore). I have four siblings who are some of my favorite people to be around. Spending time with my friends and being outside are my favorite ways to enjoy the summer. I absolutely love to laugh and to do anything adventurous and spontaneous."
What made you decide to try CrossFit and why CrossFit Recreate?
"My family started CrossFit at CrossFit Bonniebrook, and since I was too young to attend classes at that time, they brought me along to watch. I immediately wanted to participate. I started CrossFit at the teen class at CrossFit TPA. When my brother, Garrett, started at CrossFit Recreate, he said that he really loved it, so I thought I would give it a try since it is near my house."
This past March you competed in the CrossFit Games Online Qualifier (Congrats!), what was that experience like for you?
"I was honestly extremely nervous when the weekend began because I didn’t know what to expect, but as I did more of the workouts, the qualifiers became a great learning experience."
What was your favorite part about competing in the Online Qualifier?
"My favorite part of the Online Qualifier was knowing that all of the hard work that I had put in since the Open was paying off."
What have been your biggest takeaways from being a competitive CrossFit athlete/making it to the Online Qualifiers?
"My biggest takeaway from being a competitive athlete is that there is ALWAYS room for improvement. I gave the Online Qualifiers my 100% effort and finished in 80th place in my age group worldwide, which shows that even when I am on my A-game there is still room for advancement."
What is your favorite Wod/movement and your least favorite Wod/movement?
"My favorite movement of CrossFit would have to be all types of Cleans, and my least favorite movement would unquestionably be squat snatches."
Any advice for those wanting to advance to a competitive level?
"A big help to get to a competitive level is to directly pinpoint your weaknesses, and then work on them extensively until they get better. Also, overall work such as strengthening and getting faster will go very far if there is not one thing that needs to be worked on."
Proudest CrossFit accomplishment(s)?
"My proudest CrossFit accomplishments are the goals that I set for myself after the Open, and how I achieved them. After I found out that I was participating in the Online Qualifier, I sat down one night and made a list of everything that I considered a weakness. Over time, I slowly chipped away and achieved most of what I wanted to get done (With the exception of ring muscle ups:)) Looking at the list and physically seeing all of my improvements was a major accomplishment."
What are your fitness goals for this year - both as a competition athlete and in general?
"My two main goals are to get Ring Muscle Ups and Butterfly Pull-ups. As a competition athlete, my main point of focus would have to be overall speed, and to qualify for online qualifiers again."
We’d like to thank Ella for taking the time to answer our questions and being a committed member of the CrossFit Recreate community! We are excited to see where her future takes her! We expect big things to come.
Eager to learn more about our awesome members? Be on the lookout for next month’s Athlete Spotlight!
