Posted on 01/20/2025 3:15:42 PM PST by daniel1212
Fittest Man in the World Owes His Success to a Fall
CBN.com -Rich Froning has earned the title of “Fittest Man in the World” for four consecutive years. And, he’s the only competitor to ever accomplish that feat in the CrossFit Championships. But, Rich will tell you that his road to first, started with a fall.
Rich was raised in a large Catholic family and had 24 male cousins. In his family, competition was the name of the game.
“There's a lot of boys in that group there, so there’s a lot of testosterone at family get-togethers and it was always a competition,” Rich said.
Religion was also part of his family’s tradition. While Rich believed in God, he says it never felt personal.
“I knew religion from an early age,” Rich said. “I prayed every night but it was more of a ‘What can you give me God?’ instead of ‘What can I do for you?’”
In college, Rich’s love of sports and fitness led him to a degree in exercise science. In 2009, he discovered CrossFit.
“It changed completely how I was working out,” Rich said. “I kind of went from the, you know, muscle groups, to actually doing functional movement--lifting things off the ground to full range of motion pull-ups, that type of stuff.
Before long, Rich was hooked and decided to enter the CrossFit Open- a five week, five workout competition. In 2010, on his first attempt, Rich qualified for the national championships.
“We showed up that first day at sectionals and I was like looking at some of these giant guys, I was like, ‘There's no chance that I’m going to, you know, even qualify,’” Rich said. “I end up winning my region and then went to the CrossFit games. (The) goal there was to not get last place.”
But Rich continued to dominate at the national level. By the end of the weekend, with one event left, Rich was in first place. His last event was a rope climb.
“I jumped up on the rope in the final event and uh went to try and pull and I was like, ‘Oh, this isn't good,’” Rich said. “My arms are shot, there's no –don't know what I'm doing with the legs." Guys are just flying up and down the rope. The guy that's in second at the time, Graham Holmberg, was just – climbed the rope like it's nothing. I climbed the rope one time, hit the cross bar, started coming down and then fell from the top.”
His fall came as a crushing blow—to his first place standing and his identity. Although he finished second overall, Rich left the games feeling defeated.
“I'd made CrossFit uh an idol, you know, it was – I'd let it define who I was as a person and put my self-worth into CrossFit,” Rich said. “I didn't enjoy what I used to love to do is work out. I hated it.”
Looking for hope, Rich joined a Bible study called “CrossFit Faith.” After meeting one night, one of the members challenged his beliefs.
“We were riding home in the car and he asked me a question, he said, ‘If you were to die today, would you go to heaven?’” Rich said. “And I was like, ‘of course, I would.’ You know? I'd, you know, I'd believed in God my whole life.
And then started thinking about it. I was like, ‘Am I living like - this stuff I’m reading – am living like we are called to live; to put Christ first, and to live for Christ? Maybe I’m not living like I'm supposed to.’"
Rich started studying the Bible and in May 2010, he re-dedicated his life to Jesus Christ and was baptized.
“Everything that I was reading the New Testament - everything was applicable to daily life - trials and stuff I was going through, everything matched up,” Rich said. “It was like, you know, the Living Word. We talk about the Bible's living and it was cool to see that for the first time instead of just reading words on a page.”
Rich says immediately all of his priorities changed.
“My priorities went from, ‘what can God do for me?’ to ‘What can I do for Him?’” Rich said, “’How can I change people's lives? How can I lead people to Him?’”
In 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 Rich entered the Games again, and walked away a champion of the CrossFit Games and a champion of the faith. He has written about his journey in an autobiography called “First.”
“ is ‘May I never boast at anything except for the Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ, ..
Fit for what?
Born July 21, 1987 (age 37) Mount Clemens, Michigan, U.S
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight 195 lb (88 kg)
Another Catholic that didn’t learn the faith from his parents but from a protestant. God the full black and white, but not full color. Sad. Self-inflicted by the Church.
The Church is do much, the Eucharist.
But at least he found Christ from new friends, since the parents and priest and bishop let him down.
So common. Were it not for new friends, he’d still be stuck in parental ignorance, not knowing Jesus. I pray someday he will receive him body, blood, soul and divinity.
Happy for him of course! Sad for full the Truth.
You have to read more than a title.
In this account Rich shows how he has begun the journey of fellowship with our Heavenly Father, with progressively growing in holiness, and enjoying a widening circle of fellow servant-Friends of The Master. Rich illustrates his complete confidence that it is Jesus Alone that saves and leads him into an abundant never-ceasing rich existence, just as it is for anyone who fully trusts in Christ for a future that has eternal meaning.
It is so good to hear the witness of yet another human who has begun to perceive that which he sees, to understand what he hears, and has learned to exercise the craft of applying the Spirit's counsel of how to live, flourish, and bear His divinely inspired fruit in personal relationships, and in the local assembly.
Again, thank you!
Actually, it says he rededicated his life to Christ, and I find no info on what manner of Christian he describes himself as, but while most of the testimonies are of people who hit rock bottom to be saved, this one is a contrast, but of a soul who still came to God out of a poor and contrite spirit, which is the only way one can come to Christ and salvation.
With that kind of background in mind, and evaluating what I read in this article, it seems that Rich describes a Bible-based change of mind, of which the author writes:
“It was like, you know, the Living Word. We talk about the Bible's living and it was cool to see that for the first time instead of just reading words on a page.”This speaks to me of a change of mind, μετάνοια, a reversal of what he had previously thought about the nature of his standing with God, and why "all of his priorities" needed to change. That would be the response of a Spirit-convicted human, first in one's mind, then in behavior concerning sin, righteousness, and judgement.
Rich says immediately all of his priorities changed.
In writing to you, my texting will also be read by others, so I must presume from what I read that the man has experienced a genuine conversion and regeneration through learning from Scripture study and discussion all the aspects that must be met first in one's mind, then in behavior, for spiritual rebirth, have been.
So overall, where the author lacked depth in fully describing the details of the man's background, beliefs, and behavior, I had to supplement the true doctrines that the article implies, for the benefit of the reader. I may have presumed too much, but the nature of what my assumption means is not wrong at all.
A firmly convinced permanent change of mind on the basis of Jesus' gracious substitutionary sacrifice is the core essence for the reader to accept and identify with.
Thanks for your reply!
Which is why I choose to post the article, presuming he has persevered and will. i just could not find much else on him in my brief search.
As far as your judgment on articles like this, my estimate of your maturity would be in the nature of the highest stage mentioned by Beloved John in his letter to the breadth of his own discipled students comprising different stages of maturity in The Faith. Referring to 1 John 2:12-14 (AV):
12I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.Ecclesiastes 7:16-18 might have something to say about evaluating another's spiritual status, as well. Eh?
13I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
14I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
Whatever “maturity” at 72 I may have is due to God’s work, and He has a tough piece of clay to work with. Thanks be to God for His mercy.
Yeah, I know. It is humbling for me to be in communication with fellows who have dedicated, consecrated their whole lives to labor in the Word, and heard the insights (= “secrets” Daniel 2:47) as they know the truth of by the work of the Holy Ghost in them when their lives have become holy, and they are His instruments.
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