The Gentle Giant

Zack George took 26th worldwide and first in the U.K. in the 2020 CrossFit Games Open.

“The commitment I put in every day is definitely worth every result I get,” George says. “The hard work I’ve put in over the years has not only made me win the Open … it’s made me extremely strong mentally.”

His mental game wasn’t always a strength, though. As a kid, George was overweight and says he lacked self-esteem and confidence.

One day, George’s dad, Dudley George, incentivised Zack to lose weight by helping him set a goal and offering a PlayStation as a reward.

Zack embarked on a weight-loss journey with a new mindset that would stick with him throughout his life. Today, Zack thrives off setting and achieving his goals — and, of course, reaping the rewards.

“You can’t be afraid of taking a jump towards something you want to achieve just because it might fail,” Zack says.

In 2013, Dudley introduced Zack to CrossFit by showing him the CrossFit Games on YouTube. The footage inspired Zack to set a new goal.

“I was like, ‘Oh my god, I want to be (at the Games). This looks insane. Their bodies look insane,’” he says. “So I watched the whole of the Games, and I pretty much watched every single CrossFit video that was on YouTube.”

Although the 2020 season has been unpredictable and there have been some letdowns — like not competing at the 2020 Games — George says he doesn’t like to focus on what he can’t control.

“Focus on what you can control. Head down and get to work.”