The 2010 CrossFit Games

2010 CrossFit Games Finals

United States Qualifiers

International Qualifiers

With impressively well rounded numbers like these, it's hard to believe they belong to a grandfather who began his CrossFit career alone in the garage! His coach, Manda Wood, submitted the following about Art.

 

I'm proud to say that we have been training Art Folsom at CrossFit Bako (Bakersfield, CA) for the past couple of months and he is competing in the Masters Division, Southwest Regional. When Art came to us, he was already a proficient CrossFitter, having followed main site for about 10 months. He had a great foundation of the basics - but needed some work on range of motion (often overlooked when working out alone in the garage).  Art has been polishing up his Oly lifts and gymnastics skills and posting incredible PRs. At 51, he may be one of our oldest clients, but he routinely lights a fire under everyone else - outlifting, outrunning, outperforming everyone on most days - and none of us mind because it just makes us work that much harder. I originally considered not competing in the Southwest Regional, although I qualified (barely).  Art's decision to compete in the Masters Regional inspired me to continue on and has raised the bar for training at CrossFit Bako.

 

Vitals

Age: 51

Height: 5'11

Weight: 190

Regional: Southwest Masters Division

Affiliate: CrossFit Bako

Clean & Jerk: 205

Deadlift: 335

Back Squat: 315

Fran time:  6:11, although it's been a while

15 rep OHS: 105

Front Squat: 215

Max Pull-ups: 25

 

What is your athletic background?

I played football and ran track in high school and played rugby in college. I played rugby for U.C. Santa Barbara, University of Wyoming and Kern County Rugby Club. After college, I began running and ran consistently for about ten years. I competed in the L.A. Marathon (twice), the San Francisco Marathon (twice), and the Big Sur Marathon in addition to many half-marathons and 10k races. Most recently my favorite sports have been fly fishing, hiking the Sierras, and CrossFitting.

 

How long have you been CrossFitting?

About 10 months on my own and about one and a half months at Crossfit Bako

 

What is unique about you as an athlete or individual?

I have 6 children (3 boy and 3 girls) and one grandson. Melissa is my amazing wife of six years who has been very supportive of CrossFit. I teach Computer Applications, Math and Yearbook. I’ve been in education for 18 years.