CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – (CLARKSVILLENOW) Once again local CrossFit competitor, Dr. Dave Hippensteel, has come away from the Reebok CrossFit games a champion. Hippensteel took first place in his age group at the 2017 competition which was held in Madison, Wisconsin in August.
There are 2,000 competitors from around the world in the age group of 60-65, which through qualifying competition held in February, is narrowed down to 20 who compete in the World CrossFit Games. Going into this year’s games, Hippensteel was ranked number one in the world.
Hippensteel said normally there are six or seven events but in this year’s competition there were eight. Points are given for placing in each event. He took first place in two events, two second place spots, a third place, a fifth place, and two sixth places.
Speaking from around the world, Hippensteel said he was the only American on the winner’s podium. The second-place winner was from Iceland and third-place went to the competitor from Chile for the age group. He took first place by a decisive margin of close to 40 points.
His first-place finish carries a $10,000 prize and Hippensteel says he plans to donate a portion of those winnings to Manna Cafe Ministries and Hope Pregnancy Center. He also said he wanted to thank the Clarksville Area YMCA for allowing him to swim in their pool to train for the water event in this year’s competition.
“I actually took a few weeks here to recover and I’m already strategizing on my training for next year,” Hippensteel said.
