Mat Fraser is a Canadian-American athlete who has become one of the most recognizable figures in the world of CrossFit. Growing up with a passion for fitness, he initially started out as an Olympic weightlifter, quickly establishing himself as a junior national champion before transitioning to CrossFit in 2014. Since then, he has gone on to cement his status as one of the sport’s most decorated athletes, winning five CrossFit Games titles in a row before retiring from professional competitions.
Inside Mat Fraser’s HWPO CrossFit Gym
Mat Fraser, like many successful athletes, understands the importance of specialized training equipment. In fact, he even built his own gym to help him prepare for competitions. Recently, social media fitness influencer Craig Richey of TeamRICHEY gave fans a sneak peek into Fraser’s incredible new and improved HWPO CrossFit Gym in Burlington, Vermont.
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Fraser’s gym is a testament to his dedication and commitment to fitness. Equipped with top-of-the-line Rogue Fitness equipment, the gym also features a custom-built rig designed by Fraser himself. Members can also take advantage of an indoor turf area for sled pushes and other functional training exercises.
Mat Fraser’s Training Regimen
Achieving success as a CrossFit athlete requires a grueling training regimen, and Mat Fraser is no stranger to hard work. In June 2021, Fraser shared the diet regimen he used to get in shape for the CrossFit contests throughout his career.
Fraser’s diet plan included light foods such as yogurt, granola, and a cup of coffee in the morning, followed by a high-carb intake to stay energized for training. However, despite his disciplined training, Fraser suffered a major back injury during his career that could have put his athletic ambitions at risk. Nevertheless, he persevered, and he overcame the hurdle to reach new heights in his career.
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Mat Fraser: Still Going Strong
Even though Mat Fraser retired from professional CrossFit competitions years ago, he continues to train hard at his home gym to this day. In July 2021, not long after retiring, he showcased his training facility while crushing a brutal cardio workout. He also achieved a new personal record by lifting a heavy 540-lb deadlift. Fraser then offered a tour of his 1,000 square feet home gym, which includes several cardio machines, a custom rig, and other equipment needed for CrossFit training.
Mat Fraser vs. Rich Froning Jr.
Throughout his career, Mat Fraser was frequently compared to other elite CrossFit athletes, particularly Rich Froning Jr., who won the CrossFit Games four times in a row before Fraser. Chris Hinshaw, a renowned endurance coach who coached both athletes, gave his take on how Fraser lined up as a competitor against Froning. According to Hinshaw, Fraser’s smart mindset and analytical approach set him apart from Froning. Fraser would analyze every competition and devise a game plan that fit his needs the best, which Hinshaw credits for Fraser’s success in the sport.
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Mat Fraser’s Book and Inspirational Speaking
Mat Fraser gained additional publicity after launching his book named after his signature phrase ‘Hard Work Pays Off,’ called HWPO: Train. Eat. Sleep. Repeat. Along with his life story, the book also provides a range of workout routines, meal plans, and his expertise in fitness. In May 2022, he motivated members of a CrossFit-partnered sober community with his life stories, revealing additional details about his life. Fraser talked about how he gave up his alcohol addiction and channeled his addictive personality in a positive manner.
Mat Fraser: From Athlete to Coach
As a retired athlete, Mat Fraser now offers his years of experience in the sport to budding contenders as a coach. His most notable success as a coach was guiding Mal O’Brien to silver at the 2022 NOBULL CrossFit Games. Fraser also revealed a list of six contenders he took under his wing at the 2023 HWPO Club for the season last September.
Mat Fraser: The Iconic CrossFit Athlete
Mat Fraser, a Canadian-American CrossFit icon, has achieved great success in the sport and is one of the most decorated athletes in its history. Fraser started his career as a weightlifter and soon transitioned to CrossFit in 2014. He quickly proved his potential by winning silver in his debut at the 2014 CrossFit Games.
Fraser’s dedication and hard work paid off when he secured his first CrossFit title in 2016. He went on to defend his title four times in a row before retiring as the most accomplished men’s athlete in the sport. Although he retired, Fraser continues to train hard at his home gym to this day.
The HWPO CrossFit Gym
Fraser’s new gym, HWPO CrossFit Gym, covers a total of 11,500 square feet in Burlington, Vermont, with 6,500 square feet reserved for the gym space. The facility features a solid training floor, studio space for content creation, a kitchen, an athlete lounge for relaxing with a recovery zone, two ice barrels for cold therapy, and a sauna.
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The gym area is equipped with several SkiERGs and BikeERGs, which are crucial machines in CrossFit. It also has a dedicated strength and conditioning zone with a 55-foot-long strip of gym turf for drills and sled pulls, along with a rig made up of two 15-foot-tall uprights. There is a balcony area installed for the coaches to observe the athletes from a bird’s eye view.
Fraser as a Coach
As a coach, Fraser offers his years of experience in the sport to budding contenders. His most notable success as a coach was guiding Mal O’Brien to silver at the 2022 NOBULL CrossFit Games. Mat then revealed a list of six contenders he took under his wing at the 2023 HWPO Club for the season last September.
Fraser’s Book and Personal Life
Fraser launched a book named after his signature phrase ‘Hard Work Pays Off,’ called HWPO: Train. Eat. Sleep. Repeat. The book not only includes his life story but also provides workout routines, meal plans, and his expertise in fitness.
In May 2022, Fraser motivated members of a CrossFit-partnered sober community on getting sober with his life stories, revealing additional details about his life. He talked about giving up his alcohol addiction and channeling his addictive personality in a positive manner.
“Basically just wanted to create the perfect space,” said Fraser.
“We are waiting on the new Rogue air runners. They’re just on back order. Bodybuilding is on the back corner there, cables, lat pull down, cable crossover, dumbbells, kettlebells.”
“We knew the space is a little bit bigger so if you’re snatching over on this side of the gym, we don’t want you lugging weight. So, every weight tree has one full complete competition set of weights. You grab your bars, grab your weights stack, and roll to wherever you want in the gym.”
“We haven’t hung or set up everything yet because we want to see where things are going to kind of live and where they will naturally flow best.”
Mat Fraser Collaborates with Catalyst Athletics for HWPO Team
Mat Fraser, in collaboration with Catalyst Athletics, joined forces for his HWPO team last September. The team comprised athletes such as Mal O’Brien, Jayson Hopper, and Katrin Davíðsdóttir. Catalyst Athletics, a group of Olympic weightlifting coaching members, will provide their expertise to help the athletes improve their performance for future CrossFit competitions.
The new HWPO gym provides ample facilities to conduct training programs for future CrossFit champions. The coaching staff can now train athletes with the necessary equipment and infrastructure, such as strength and conditioning zones, gym turf, and dedicated SkiERGs and BikeERGs. With the collaboration of Catalyst Athletics, the HWPO team is well equipped to train and prepare athletes for success in the CrossFit arena.
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Overview
Mat Fraser, the Canadian-American athlete who dominated the world of CrossFit for five consecutive years, has made a name for himself as one of the sport’s most recognizable figures. Fraser began his fitness journey as an Olympic weightlifter, quickly establishing himself as a junior national champion before transitioning to CrossFit in 2014. Since then, he has won five CrossFit Games titles, becoming the most accomplished men’s athlete in the sport’s history.
Fraser’s success in the sport is a result of his dedication and commitment to fitness, which is evident in the gym he built to help him prepare for competitions. His gym, called the HWPO CrossFit Gym, is a state-of-the-art facility equipped with top-of-the-line Rogue Fitness equipment and features a custom-built rig designed by Fraser himself. Members can also take advantage of an indoor turf area for sled pushes and other functional training exercises.
Fraser’s training regimen is grueling, but he understands the importance of hard work and discipline. He shared his diet regimen in June 2021, which included light foods such as yogurt, granola, and a cup of coffee in the morning, followed by a high-carb intake to stay energized for training. Despite suffering a major back injury during his career, Fraser persevered and reached new heights in his athletic ambitions.
Now retired from professional competitions, Fraser continues to train hard at his home gym and offers his years of experience in the sport to budding contenders as a coach. His dedication to fitness and inspirational life story have earned him a book deal, titled HWPO: Train. Eat. Sleep. Repeat., which provides a range of workout routines, meal plans, and his expertise in fitness.
Fraser’s new gym covers a total of 11,500 square feet in Burlington, Vermont, with 6,500 square feet reserved for the gym space. The facility features a solid training floor, studio space for content creation, a kitchen, an athlete lounge for relaxing with a recovery zone, two ice barrels for cold therapy, and a sauna. As a coach, Fraser offers his years of experience in the sport to budding contenders and has already seen success, guiding Mal O’Brien to a silver medal at the 2022 NOBULL CrossFit Games.
Featured Image @ Mat Fraser, TeamRICHEY (Instagram & YouTube)
