SWAMPSCOTT — Mike Dudevoir had an experience of a lifetime at the NOBULL 2022 CrossFit Games, leaving him hungrier to return to the event in the future.
Dudevoir ran through a gauntlet of workouts throughout the year that included a combination of weight lifting, gymnastics, and cardio, competing against over 28,000 competitors to be among 10 athletes in the men’s 45-49 age group to compete in the games that took place in Madison, Wis.
For Dudevoir, the experience alone was something that was beyond what he ever expected going into the games.
“It was just unbelievable — it was better than what I thought it was going to be — it really was. Having spectated at the games before, I was completely blown away by being on the inside of it, and it is just tough to really put into words how special of an event and experience it was,” said Dudevoir.
The games were also special to him because he felt all his work, such as eating clean and following a strict training regimen for a year, was all worth it.
“The easy part now is that I look back on the last year, and everything that I did paid off. It is easy to say — because I made it — you know what, it was completely worth it, it all paid off, everything came to fruition, and my dream came true,” said Dudevoir.
He ended up finishing ninth in the world in the 45-49 men’s age group and expressed his insatiable desire to continue to improve on specific aspects of his sport and make it back to the games.
“At this stage of the game, it gets really specific. Everyone is generally physically prepared for what we went through; it is just that the separators were pieces of workouts I wish I was stronger on,” said Dudevoir.
Dudevoir mentioned aspects of the competition such as swimming and gymnastics and areas of the body he wants to focus on, such as his shoulders, to hone in on his strength.
He also explained the sense of urgency to get back to the games is high because of how the age group divisions work. As every year passes, newer and younger competitors enter the division, and at age 45, Dudevoir hopes to take advantage of his window of time to get back to the event.
“There has to be a sense of urgency; the window is that first 1-3 years, so I do not have time to mess around. The sense of urgency to capitalize on my age and where I am at physically right now,” said Dudevoir.
While a sense of urgency will help propel Dudevoir into committing another year of blood, sweat, and tears to get to the games, he realizes it is not guaranteed.
“The tough part is now having to reset mentally where I was last August, where I was about to go on this journey for a year not knowing that I would get to the games, and that is going to be the hardest challenge mentally is that full commitment knowing that I am going to have to actually be better than I was this year to do what I did this year next year and that is not a guarantee,” said Dudevoir.
Overall this year’s CrossFit Games left Dudevoir happy about his effort and performance, humbled by the performances of his competitors, as well as taking the challenges thrown at him in stride. However, most of all, it left him hungry.
“I am hungry. Walking away from it — getting a taste of what it feels like to compete in the games and be a part of that whole games experience — I am hungry to do it again,” said Dudevoir.
“There is no guarantee that I will ever make it back there, and whether I make it back there next year, or three years from now, or five years from now, or 10 years from now, I definitely want to get back there,” he added.
