Talayna Fortunato is a Physical Therapist. She did ballet, gymnastics, pentathlon, heptathlon, hurdles and pole vault before she discovered CrossFit in 2009. She became Crossfit Southeast Sectionals Champion 2010 and went on to win 3rd position in 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games. She is Tennessee-born athlete and now living in sunny Naples, FL. She writes a blog www.talayna.com. She workout at Real Fitness Naples, a Crossfit gym. Shape Magazine rated her one of “The Hottest, Fittest Women of the 2014 CrossFit Games”.
Her mother put her in gymnastics when she was four. She did gymnastics all the way through college, with a one year break. She ran high school and college track. She did the heptathlon and pole vault as well.
Talayna Fortunato an exceptionally talented CrossFit Athlete. She won 3rd position in 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games. She is in conversation with Namita Nayyar President Women Fitness.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You did ballet at the age 6 to 13 years, gymnastics between age of 4 to 23 years and track and field (pentathlon, heptathlon, hurdles and pole vault) in high school and two years in college. You discovered CrossFit in 2009. Later you became Crossfit Southeast Sectionals Champion 2010 and went on to win 3rd position in 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games. What factors you consider were responsible that made you achieve that?
Ms. Talayna Fortunato:
One of the biggest contributions to making it possible to achieve the Games podium in 2012 was an incredible drive that kept me working hard day in and day out. In 2011 I got 4th at the Regionals, which was 1 place away from qualifying for the Games. I went to watch the Games as a spectator that year and it lit a fire within me that I wanted to be there competing more than anything because I knew I had it in me to do so. I worked harder in 2012 than I can remember working for anything and came back to win the Regionals in 2012. There really aren’t any secrets to success besides a logical plan of action and incredible tenacity to implement the plan and keep adjusting it until you reach your goals. I will say my extensive athletic background didn’t hurt though!
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Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You had a hard earned profession journey in CrossFit Games. Tell us about your journey of tenacity, discipline and hard work that makes you a phenomena in Crossfit Games?
Ms. Talayna Fortunato:
Honestly, no one makes it to the CrossFit Games without a great deal of dedication and work. That’s one of the things I love about our sport. It has so much variety that talent will only take you so far. We have to be good in so many areas that everyone inevitably has a weakness they have to overcome to be competitive. I think what sets me apart from other athletes at the Games is the ability to find a 5th performance gear and to keep a game plan under duress. There can be a lot of strategy and self talk going on during competition. If you’re mentally strong in competition it can give you an edge over those who may be better than you on paper, but not on game day.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you shall like to share?
Ms. Talayna Fortunato:
I work gymnastics skills (rings, pull-up bar, handstands), olympic lifting (snatch and clean & jerk), power lifting (deadlift, squats, bench press), strong man (stone lifting, sled pushing and pulling, carrying heavy objects), endurance (rowing, biking, running, swimming), and mobility (yoga and stretching)… The list is so vast it keeps me busy that’s for sure!
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Do you take some special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?
Ms. Talayna Fortunato:
I am not super strict with my diet, but I do try to eat clean and fuel my workouts well. I get carbohydrates from vegetables (lots of sweet potatoes), oats, and some rice, protein from eggs, fish and meat (I try to choose leaner version, but not only chicken), and include healthy fats in the meat I eat and also almond butter. I also have about 2 meals a week where I just eat whatever I want to that isn’t healthy, but I don’t gorge myself on it, I just enjoy it in moderation.
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Talayna Fortunato on WomenFitness: I’m glad there is a portal out there for women all around the world to be inspired by other women living healthy and fit lives. I encourage women to share anything they find here that motivates them with others.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Advice and motivational words to the inspiring and budding CrossFit training girls who all are your fans, they shall like to know from you, what they should do for their climb to ladder of success in field of CrossFit Games?
Ms. Talayna Fortunato:
I would tell young girls to stay true to themselves in their CrossFit journey and make sure it’s fun. Everyday may not be fun, but the overall process should be rewarding and enjoying. If they aspire to compete and that gives them fulfillment then work hard for it with relentless pursuit. However, if they are more satisfied in the community aspect and working out moderately then that’s ok too. Goals are different for every individual but CrossFit is a great way to increase self esteem and confidence at any level.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Elaborate about your experience of working with CJ Martin of CrossFit Invictus?
Ms. Talayna Fortunato:
CJ is a very knowledgeable coach with experience with many athletes at the highest level in CrossFit. He has a talent for making athletes very strong and improving their mental toughness with workouts that test their boundaries quite often. Perhaps the most special thing about him though is the community he’s built at CrossFit Invictus and the people surrounding him. They are positive, supportive, and uplifting people. He takes an approach to athletes as a whole encouraging them to examine the ‘why’ behind their training and make sure their motivation is coming from intrinsic and lasting sources rather than extrinsic ones based on other people.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
In 2009 you got your MSPT from Florida Gulf Coast University. Tell us about your endeavour as a Physical Therapist ?
Ms. Talayna Fortunato:
I work in an outpatient clinic for Physical Therapy seeing mostly orthopaedic cases. It gives me a nice break and sometimes contrast to training and also makes me excited to get back to training at the same time. I enjoy the manual therapy aspect of my craft and have recently become full body certified in Active Release Techniques. Once I’m no longer competing I would like to work with CrossFit athletes in some way to help them recover from an avoid injuries.
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Ms. Namita Nayyar:
With exceptional hard work you are credited with all your achievements. Do you believe that does the hand of Providence (Supreme Being) played a role in your success?
Ms. Talayna Fortunato:
I do not think there is a scroll somewhere with everyone’s destiny written on it, but I do think our thoughts and beliefs have a great influence on the opportunities we are given and what we achieve in life. Part of that lies in asking a higher power to bring things into your life and actually believing it will happen. This doesn’t mean you get to sit back and watch it happen, there is still hard work involved, but it’s a mindset of knowing the universe is working in your favor to bring you what you’re working for if that makes sense. I try to hold that attitude as best I can.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Who has been your greatest influencer and motivator in your success in the field of your career in competitive women CrossFit Games?
Ms. Talayna Fortunato:
It’s hard to name just one person. I have had experience with a few different coaches and friends motivating me along the way, each very influential.
Honestly, my biggest motivator has just been myself, but my biggest support system has been my mom. She made doing all of the sports I was able to do earlier in life possible with her dedication to driving me to practices and competitions.
I didn’t start CrossFit until I was 29, which is older than most Games athletes are now. I didn’t do CrossFit then to inspire people (I do write my blog for that though www.Talayna.com, which is a nice little bonus when people tell me it inspires them to read it), I didn’t do CrossFit for money (in fact I only spent money on it the first few years), and I didn’t do it for fame (most of my patients still ask me what CrossFit is so I don’t consider myself famous). I still don’t do it for these things. I do it because when I was a kid if I saw a tree I thought I could climb I had to honor my ability and try and I just loved climbing. That’s really about it, CrossFit is just my newest tree! Well that and it gives me an outlet for my inner athlete.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and message for its visitors?
Ms. Talayna Fortunato:
I’m glad there is a portal out there for women all around the world to be inspired by other women living healthy and fit lives. I encourage women to share anything they find here that motivates them with others.
To know more about Talayna Fortunato. Check her out at: http://talayna.com
Check her out at her social network at:
- https://twitter.com/talaynaf
- http://instagram.com/talaynaf
- https://www.facebook.com/TalaynaFortunato
- https://www.facebook.com/talayna
Women Fitness Team thanks Talayna Fortunato for giving her valuable time for this interview and quenching the thirst of her fans to know more about her and made this interview happen.
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All content on this site is copyright of Women Finess and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.