In typical CrossFit competitive fashion, Tomohiro “Tony” Itaya achieved the biggest goal he set out for himself in the sport, and then turned around and set another one.
“My ultimate goal in the sport of CrossFit was to compete in the Games,” said the 36-year-old. “So being able to achieve that goal was a huge accomplishment. Although my ranking in this year’s Games was not what I had hoped for, I was able to find some things to work on for next year, and it gave me motivation to do better next year.”
Itaya finished 16th in the men’s 35-39 age category, however put in a few solid performances in a number of events. He finished ninth in the one rep max snatch with a lift of 108kg and said part of the accomplishment he felt in qualifying for the CrossFit Games and making it to Madison, Wisconsin was regional pride.
“There were only two Asian participants this year,” he said, referring to South Korea’s Choi Seung-yeon, who came 34th in the elite category. “And I was approached by many Asian-Americans. Being able to give courage to them was a valuable experience that will motivate me.”
Itaya first got into the sport in 2013 while playing American football in a league in Yokohama, Japan, when he was also working a corporate gig. He started taking his fitness seriously, noticing some of his colleagues were worried about compounding health issues in middle age.
About a year ago, he opened his own “box” (as CrossFit gyms are referred to) called Uninterrupted Fitness, taking the plunge into coaching, and owning a business.
“I want to help people,” he said. “My goal is to spread CrossFit in Japan as well as in Asia as a box owner, a coach and athlete … In the past few years, Japanese people have become more health conscious, and the awareness of CrossFit in Japan has increased considerably.”
Japan is facing the same issue as a number of Western nations, which is a rapidly ageing population along with a uptake in chronic diseases related to sedentary lifestyles. However a 2018 study found Japanese people have one of the longest life expectancies in the world, given they have relatively healthy diets and active lifestyles. Itaya said he wants to bring CrossFit into this conversation even though he knows the sport has a bit of a stigma around it.
“On the other hand, due to its hard impression, not many people have yet taken up CrossFit. So it’s my mission to change this impression and get more people to enjoy CrossFit. My impression is that the sport of CrossFit is still in its infancy. A lot of CrossFit athletes are going to CrossFit competitions while holding down other jobs.”
Itaya works out anywhere from five to seven days a week, following the Invictus Athlete programme, which is widely popular within US CrossFit circles. He doesn’t pay specific attention to his diet, just makes sure he eats “quality” food and stays away from processed foods, along with the usual when it comes to supplements – amino acids, protein and creatine.
Making it to the Games was one thing for Itaya, but he took special pride in being the only athlete from Japan – and hopes to make it back again.
“I believe representing the Japanese people had a positive impact on the future of CrossFit in Japan, and I would like to continue to challenge at the Games as a representative of Japan,” he said.
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