Health · Fitness & Nutrition · 9 hrs ago
Mat Fraser Says His Drive Came From Finishing Second at the 2015 Games
Mat Fraser says finishing second at the 2015 CrossFit Games drove him to train harder and return for another chance.
He is a five-time CrossFit Games champion who says he kept the disappointment in mind during training.
Fraser believes big moments in competition come from thousands of solo workouts without applause.
He says he knows he is pushing hard when his head tingles, his heart rate tops 200 beats per minute and he tastes something like pennies.
Even with years of preparation, competition still made him so nervous he sometimes dry-heaved before events.
In a Strong Talk episode, Fraser also discusses hard training, the difference between recreational and competitive exercise, and how to work out and fuel up with just 15 minutes.
Mat Fraser says finishing second at the 2015 CrossFit Games drove him to train harder.
The five-time CrossFit Games champion says he kept the disappointment fresh after deciding to return to the gym.
He described his approach in an episode of the Strong Talk podcast.
Fraser says he knows he is pushing his limits when his head tingles, he “tastes pennies,” and his heart rate exceeds 200 beats per minute.
He also said he experienced pre-event jitters and sometimes dry heaved before competitions.
- Who
- Mat Fraser, a five-time CrossFit Games champion.
- What
- He said finishing second at the 2015 Games motivated him to train harder.
- When
- At the 2015 CrossFit Games; he discussed the experience in a Strong Talk episode published on November 4, 2026.
- Where
- The CrossFit Games; the article does not state where the 2015 event took place.
- Why
- Fraser said being a runner-up felt like an offense to his purpose and identity, and motivated him to try again.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Fraser finished second at the CrossFit Games.
Fraser committed to returning to the gym and kept the disappointment fresh as motivation.
Men's Health published an article about Fraser's comments on Strong Talk.
- 2015 CrossFit Games
- Fraser finished second
- CrossFit Games titles
- Five
- Podcast
- Strong Talk
- Heart rate when pushing limits
- Over 200 beats per minute
- Article publication date
- November 4, 2026
1 source
What people are saying
Once I made that commitment to get back in the gym and give it another shot, I kept that moment fresh
Knowing that you don't get that beautiful moment in front of thousands of people without the thousands of moments by yourself in your gym when no one's patting you on the back and no one's cheering for you.
Leave no doubt on the table, and be proud of myself. Then no matter what results I get, I know that's what I earned