Ricky Garard Chases Gold

With a bronze and silver medal already in his collection, Ricky Garard is determined to take the final step at the upcoming CrossFit Games: gold. Speaking recently from his training camp in Nashville, the Australian sounds confident and hungry, an athlete who feels everything is falling into place.

Peak Timing

Garard appears to be hitting top form at exactly the right moment. While many athletes are still searching for balance heading into the Games, the Australian exudes calm and confidence.

"This is definitely the best shape I've been in all year," he says. "That's exactly what you want this close to the Games."

His preparation has been deliberately structured. One more hard training week remains on the schedule, after which he'll taper the volume to arrive at the start line fresh. A classic taper, but one where the intensity stays sharp.

From Bronze and Silver to Gold

The ambition is clear. After multiple podium finishes, just one thing is still missing from his résumé.

"I've got my bronze and my silver, so there's still one missing," Garard says matter-of-factly.

That progression makes his pursuit of gold all the more compelling. He has the experience of multiple Games behind him, knows what it takes to compete for the podium, and appears stronger than ever, both physically and mentally.

Competition? "I Want to Break Them"

What sets Garard apart is his aggressive competitive style. While some athletes stay locked into their own race plan, he constantly tracks his rivals on the floor.

"I'm always looking around and trying to do whatever it takes to beat people," he explains. "You have to really want it. You have to want to hunt them down."

It's an approach reminiscent of former champions, one where instinct and reacting directly to opponents matter at least as much as any pre-planned strategy.

His Weapon: Running

One of Garard's greatest assets remains his running ability. With victories in both sprint and mile events, he has already proven himself one of the best runners in the field.

His rugby background, as a fullback and halfback, laid the foundation. Covering plenty of ground, repeating movement patterns, without ever doing specific run training.

"It always came fairly naturally," he says. "But now I've really developed it."

In any event with a running component, he consistently counts himself among the favorites.

Ready for the Unknown

With a schedule of potentially twenty events and new, unfamiliar elements, flexibility will be crucial. But that seems to suit Garard just fine.

His strategy? Don't over-plan.

"I have a basic plan, but ultimately I'm going to go a lot on feel and instinct," he says.

That makes him dangerous, especially in a competition where fine margins and adaptability make all the difference.

Everything Aligned

The pieces are coming together: form, experience, mindset and motivation. For Ricky Garard, this looks like the moment to make his move.

Whether it's enough for gold will be decided on the competition floor. But one thing is certain: he's not showing up just to compete.

He's showing up to win.