Mike Kern — Not Just a CrossFit Athlete

“You look at some of these masters, older than me … you can't believe they're in their 50s and 60s, and let alone what they look like, but what they're doing, too. It's amazing.”
Six-time CrossFit Games athlete Mike Kern joins host Adrian Conway on the show to share about his vast journey in CrossFit.
Kern started CrossFit at 36 years old at the suggestion of his wife. He signed up for his first Open competition in 2013 and was hooked. Two years in, he decided to pursue his CrossFit Level 1 Certificate and soon after, he joined the staff at CrossFit Garden City.
Kern made his CrossFit Games debut in 2016 in the Men’s 40-44 division and finished second. He repeated this feat in 2021 and 2022 in the Men’s 45-49 division, and most recently, Kern placed fourth in that division at the 2023 CrossFit Games in Madison.
In today’s episode, Kern tells his story of rekindling his desire to compete. He digs into why he became motivated to coach and how he juggles his roles in his family, and as an athlete, coach, and affiliate owner.
As a 48-year-old masters athlete, Kern dives into how his training has changed over the years, explains the importance of recovery and nutrition to optimize performance, and shares how he prepares for competition.
He also explains how CrossFit holds a big place in his family’s life and offers his perspective on the evolution of the sport.
Kern is co-owner of CrossFit Garden City. In addition to being a perennial Games athlete, he is a CrossFit Level 2 Trainer, a husband, and a father of three girls.
Follow Kern as he competes at the Legends Championship, Dec. 7-10, in Tempe, Arizona.