Sunday, May 22, 2011 – Athlete Profile: Eddie Stelling

Athlete Profile:  Eddie Stelling
- Gymnastics video
- Free Standing HSPU video

1.  In general, what is your background?

I was born and raised right here in Charleston, SC. I grew up playing soccer and cutting grass with my old man!! I was always extremely active, with the exception of a 2 year period where I was a chubby fat kid that ate 2 bags of salt and vinegar Lays potato chips a day while I watched re-runs of Jerry Springer. This all ended when my Dad looked at me one night and said, “Son, you are fat as hell.” He was not being funny either. My mom was pissed because I was only 10 or 11 years old, but I told him thank you. The next night I started doing sit-ups in my room every night until I was doing 200-300 a day unbroken and had a 6 pack. Little did my Dad know he created a monster. Fitness became my life. I began weight lifting in 9th grade of high school, and raced Motocross throughout high school. I was obsessed with becoming stronger and more ripped! I started lifting with some of the wrestlers and football players and got pretty strong for a scrawny white boy!! Fitness level sky rocketed when I went to college at The Citadel – The Military College of South Carolina, where I discovered my love for physical and mental pain! I loved every minute of it. This is where I learned that you can do anything you want if you put your mind to it. I had a strong desire to become a Navy Seal, but for some reason never signed up. After graduation I became obsessed with gymnastics. It started when I watched the 2008 Summer Olympics combined with wanting to learn some cool dance moves to bust out at the club! I started messing around with it, bought my own rings, and finally committed to gymnastics strength training when I joined Integrity. I also train jui jitsu which is another passion of mine, but has been on hold lately as I have began to focus more on gymnastics and CrossFit.

2.  Age, Occupation?

24, Civil Engineer

3.  How did you get to know about CrossFit and why did you start?

I first heard about CrossFit my senior year at the Citadel, 07-08.  This was right around the time when the movie “300″ hit theaters and everyone was raving about the physical condition of the actors. Everyone started doing the “300″ workout those guys did at Gym Jones, and that led to some of my classmates stumbling across the CrossFit Main Site. At that time I had pretty much stopped lifting any weight and was using a Navy Seal training program to get ready for Summerall Guard training (had to kick some junior ass), therefore weight training had been put on hold and I paid them no attention. After training was over I went back to body builder weight training and kept up with my running and calisthenics. After I graduated I was miserable at my desk job and bored with lifting weights. I thought for sure I was going to quit and try to become a SEAL. Then a friend of mine who graduated in 2007 just started to follow SEALFIT in hopes of joining the Navy and going to BUDS and asked me to join. I decided to give it a shot and loved it!! This gave me the rush and the pain I was looking for. Once, he left for the Navy I was doing the WODs by myself and that got old as hell real fast. I went back to body building and lost my very lean physique. Started doing jui jitsu to lean up again, and  then heard about CrossFit Integrity from my college buddy Patty Cakes Mulhern. Did my first workout on a Saturday still drunk from the night before and was back on the band wagon!! Hooked!

4.  How has CrossFit changed your life, lifestyle, level of fitness?

CrossFit has changed my life substantially. I was very un-happy after graduation and was going insane. CrossFit allows me to blow out my frustration and pinned up energy and keeps me sane. Right now it’s the main reason I have not joined the military. Even though I have been fit my whole life, I never cared about what I ate or how much I drank. Now I eat very clean and drink much less. I am stronger than I have ever been in my whole life and am as lean or leaner then when I training hard at the Citadel running 30 miles a week. Most importantly, it got me going in the right direction with gymnastics training!!

5.  Name one goal and/or personal record you would like to accomplish through CrossFit?

Make it to Regionals has an individual in 2012.
Gymnastics goal = PLANCHE! (Youtube it!)
315 Back Squat
405 deadlift

6.  Favorite CrossFit moment so far?

Doing 500 burpees unbroken in 31:30 with my BFF Amy Woods pounding out 1000 air squats unbroken right next to me! I will never forget the incredible feeling of accomplishing that. Oh, and any time I beat Brian in a WOD. Love you Brian!

7.  What do you like most about CrossFit Integrity?

The people, the programming, competitive environment, the facility. What’s not to like!?! I will have to say that the programming brought me to Integrity initially. I followed the website for a solid month before I joined and compared it to other gyms. I was sold.

8.  Favorite WOD?

Murph w/ 20 lb vest is awesome, 30 muscle ups, and Tommy V.

9.  Least favorite WOD?

11.5 of 2011 CrossFit Open. Pure hell, but I still loved it so I guess I don’t have a least favorite WOD. I always have to try and smile after a really hard WOD and act like it was easy. It makes the boss mad which makes the WODs harder!! Love them all!

10. Favorite movement?

Muscle ups, Handstands, Handstand Push-ups, rope climbs, burpees. Anything gymnastics related.

11. Least favorite movement?

Front Squats and Thrusters

12. Favorite place to eat in Charleston?

Wild Wing/Kickin Chicken when I wanna be a fat kid and eat chicken wings!! Basil, Taco Boy, Coleman Public House (amazing Burgers), and best of all, my Dad’s grilled food! His food is amazing.

CrossFit Integrity, Charleston, SC