Laura Horvath, Chris Hinshaw & James Sprague: What Separates Champions From Everyone Else
6/18/202613 min
What does it actually mean to win at the highest level? In this powerful compilation, I’m with 2024 CrossFit Games champion James Sprague, 2023 CrossFit Games champion Laura Horvath, and legendary endurance coach Chris Hinshaw to unpack the mental game behind elite performance, the vulnerability that follows victory, and why champions are often more fragile in the moments just after they win. What does winning mean to you right now?
Connect with James Sprague
Website: https://games.crossfit.com/athlete/900251
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@spraguerrrr?si=zTrH9d5valcjlq-t
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spraguerrrr/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spraguerrrr/
Connect with Laura Horvath
Website: https://games.crossfit.com/athlete/591912
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@kaduzs23?si=3j8mXAnf38H7uGvi
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurahorvaht/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurhorvath/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@laurahorvaht
Connect with Chris Hinshaw
Website: https://www.aerobiccapacity.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hinshaw363/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hinshaw363/
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Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro of Show
00:52 - The Rogue Invitational and qualifying
01:41 - Applying friction in elite training
02:27 - Why winners are vulnerable
02:47 - CrossFit and HYROX recovery demands
03:23 - Active versus passive rest
04:14 - Why records keep breaking
05:18 - Training by feel without wearables
06:16 - Mastering movement before intensity
07:21 - Reframing pain as growth
08:25 - How CrossFit events are structured
09:47 - Building structural integrity
10:38 - The three bases of the sport
11:34 - Getting comfortable being uncomfortable
‼️Disclaimer: The Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Podcast and YouTube are for general information purposes only and do not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast, YouTube, or materials linked from this podcast or YouTube is at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professional for any such conditions.
This episode includes paid sponsorships.
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsGabrielle Lyon· Host0:00
[upbeat music] You won the CrossFit Games in 2024. You're 23 years old. Winning has not always come easy.
James Sprague· Guest0:15
Mm-mm. No. Um, to me, winning has had two definitions in my life. Winning used to be, um, standing on top, and being the best version of myself, and all the sacrifices I made. And to me now, winning is still all those things, but yet having the community around it, and doing it with my people, and being happy in that pursuit. So, um, definitely winning now to me has a different meaning, and it's, it's something really special to be able to win. Any time I go out on the floor now, like, anything less than winning to me is like, you didn't give your best or you made a mistake. Like, I know I can do it innately because I proved it to myself once.
Gabrielle Lyon· Host0:53
You won the Rogue Invitational. There was another event that you just... The WFT. Talk to me about what the Rogue is and WFT.
Laura Horvath· Guest1:03
So the Rogue Invitational is a invitational. They invite you if you are in the top 20 of the world, and they can also invite whoever they want.
Gabrielle Lyon· Host1:12
Top 20 of CrossFit.
Laura Horvath· Guest1:13
Yes.
Gabrielle Lyon· Host1:14
And in order to be in the top 20, you have to... It's a point system.
Laura Horvath· Guest1:20
Yes. It's like they take m- Rogue takes a lot of events, and they just, like, you get points for those events. I'm not very sure about how they do it, but