Cody Mooney’s Path to the 2019 CrossFit Games
Cody Mooney has become one of the most popular athletes on the CrossFit circuit and a fan favorite. He first entered the CrossFit Open as a fresh-faced 19-year-old and placed 791st worldwide, which, considering his age and the thousands that compete across the globe, was a solid debut. The following year, Cody finished the grueling multi-workout series more than 400 spots higher, which was good enough to earn him a berth at the crazy-competitive NorthEast Regionals. Then in 2015, he not only cracked the top 10 at Regionals, but also, along with Alec Smith, Christen Wagner, and Caroline Dardini, finished 9th in the Team Series.
Cody narrowly missed the podium at Regionals in 2017, but his fourth place earned him his first trip to the CrossFit Games, where he finished 17th overall. It wasn’t until afterwards that Cody revealed how he’d bravely fought through a torn shoulder labrum, delaying surgery until after the competitive season was over. Last year, Cody bounced back strong to post a gutsy 6th place finish in the individual division at Regionals, before deciding to concentrate on team competition heading into the 2019 season. In addition to competing solo in the Rogue Invitational, Cody’s four-person team, CrossFit Krypton, won both the Granite Games and Wodapalooza. These victories are sending Cody back to the 2019 CrossFit Games for the first time in three years, along with Alec Smith, Jessica Griffith, 2014 CrossFit Games winner Camille LeBlanc-Bazinet, and alternate Adam Klink.
We managed to get a few minutes with Cody before he left with his teammates for the Games, which begin on August 1st in Madison, Wisconsin. In this exclusive interview, he discusses how he has progressed since his last appearance in CrossFit’s showcase event, why he loves coaching at Solace in New York, and why he chose to become the newest member of our Momentous athlete squad. Want to track Cody’s progress at the CrossFit Games? Then keep an eye on the official team leaderboard.
Why did you first get into CrossFit? And what motivated you to get into team competition?
I got into CrossFit to replace the competitive side of sports that I loved so much while I was in school. Team sports have always interested me. Being able to share all the experience, travels, hard times, and good times with my teammates is something that I really enjoy.
Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses in CrossFit. What's feeling really strong for you right now?
My strengths as a competitor have always been geared towards running, rowing, biking, and swimming.
Since the last time you were at the CrossFit Games, how have you changed your preparation?
I have not only become a better athlete in the sport physically, but also a smarter and mentally stronger one, too.
How are you feeling about all the change the sport has seen over the past couple of years?
As with most changes, things seemed a little crazy and I thought there was a lack of structure for a while. But now I believe that the way CrossFit is evolving will bring more growth and opportunities for athletes in the coming years.
When you’re at the Games, how do you recover in between events?
In between events, the biggest things for my recovery are nutrition, sleep, and taking good care of my body.
How have you grown as a coach this past year?
Coaching is a way for me to give back to the community that I'm so thankful for. I grow daily as a coach, from becoming more educated to learning how to talk and relay information to all different types of people in a way that works for them.
What appealed to you about joining the Momentous team?
I chose to work with Momentous because they strive to be the best. They work hard to not just create products that taste great, like most protein companies do, but also ones that deliver quality and performance.
What’s the single biggest thing you’ve learned about nutrition?
The single biggest thing I’ve learned is that there is no one formula that is effective for everyone. When it comes to nutrition, I think certain elements that work for you might not always work for other people. But I also believe that there’s a foundation that we should all try to start with and stick to: quality!
How do you avoid pushing your training too far?
Overtraining is something that most athletes struggle with. The longer I’ve been involved in CrossFit, the more I’ve understood how to listen to my body. If you need a day off, take it.
Describe a perfect rest day.
My rest days usually involve activities like swimming, biking, or anything else that isn’t high impact. I might also ride my Harley or play golf with my friends. Life is too short to stay in a gym constantly, so I really try to get outside on most days and do something active.