So close, no matter how far… Mat Fraser and Rich Froning have dominated the sport of fitness during their time but they couldn’t have done it in a more different fashion. The point of this post – which is obviously based on my own opinion – is to establish the differences I perceive between them from a psychological stance.
Pacing strategies
This is the most obvious difference between these two athletes. Rich Froning is well-known for being a pace master in the sense that he always comes from behind. As would a predator, he slowly creeps up behind whoever is in front of him and snatches the lead all the way into the finish line. The only time he went ballistic through an event was the 21-15-9 complex at the 2014 CrossFit Games and still won (but those were other circumstances).
Mat Fraser, on the other hand, is a go-go from the start kinda guy. There is something Graham Holmberg once called “the suicide pace“, which is pretty self-explanatory. This strategy is pretty common among crossfitters since people often get caught up racing. However they forget that their fitness isn’t capable of sustaining those levels of intensity for the duration of the event. Not Fraser, though, and this is why he’s special. He’s somehow able to hold on for dear life from start to finish, at a ridiculous pace that no one is able to keep up with.
Personality in competition
Another blaring distinction between Froning and Fraser is the way they carry themselves in competition. What I enjoy most about this comparison is that they’re on opposing ends of a continuum: Froning is the more discrete athlete while Fraser is one with the crowd. Froning has made it abundantly clear on several occasions that he is not entirely comfortable in the middle of large crowds. However he is able to bring is A-game to every event because that’s just how competitive the man is.
Fraser is a whole different story. He breathes in the energy that resonates through every fan. He interacts with them during events, firing them up with his non-verbal language or straight up talks to them (“I’m back motherf*@kers!”). Fraser puts on a great show and fans love him for it.
Humility vs. defiance
Something I’ve also noticed is that Fraser gives a lot more headlines than Froning. I must say that Fraser’s comments – paired with the magnificent editing skills that Heber Cannon, Mariah Moore and Marston Sawyers have – do a great job at keeping us fans on the edge. I’ll give you an example: “[about his competition at the games] I hope you play your cards right. I hope you are in the best shape of your life. I want a good race. I wanna feel good about this win.” Basically Fraser knows his worth and is not afraid to let it out. He knows how much better he is now and this allows him to just let it rip when the time comes.
I’m gonna have to say I’m a sucker for Froning when it comes to this because I just love me some humility. This man has won 4 Games’ titles in a row, 3 Affiliate Cups and I have a theory that in 5 or 6 years he will get into Masters solely to become the only athlete in CrossFit history to have won a gold medal in every modality (Individual, Team and Masters), but you will never hear him speak highly of himself or directly defy his competition. The only positive adjective he’ll use to describe his strengths is “pretty decent”. I believe this behavior is due to a mix of two factors: one, he doesn’t seem too happy speaking of himself; and two, a particular versicle in the Bible, Galatians 6:14, which reads: “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world“.
So…which is better?
I will certainly not be the judge of that, mainly because both personalities have proven to work wonders for them. It’s ok for us mortals to look up to these guys and try to mimic their attitudes and behaviors in competition but, honestly, they’re striving in this sport because they’re staying true to theirselves. Well, alright it’s probably because they’re gifted AF.
All jokes aside, the point I’m trying to get across with this is that there is no magic program, ideal personality or special life circumstances. More important than following Rich’s or Mat’s training program, nutrition plan or buying their training gear is finding your competitive fire. Who are you when you sit alone in your dungeon resting between lifting sets? Who are you when the buzzer goes off and it’s time to show your fitness? Humble or boastful? Timid or out-going? Steady or explosive? Stay true to that person – whoever that may be – and results will come in due time.
[Disclaimer: my view of their personalities, strategies or mental game has been constructed by watching their performances, interviews and so forth. In no case am I an expert or have a close relationship as to where I can confirm my theories at all. This is just a fan doing fan things.]