#214 - The Stimulus Matters: Engine Limited vs Power Limited Athletes

Chest to Bar Pull-ups, Handstand Walks, Wall Walks & Pegboard

🏆 Brent Ficowski transitioned from competitor to athlete advocate, focusing on building sustainable structures for the sport’s future. 🤝 PFAA’s three pillars: advocacy & representation, education & support, and exposure & earning opportunities. 🏋️‍♂️ Collaboration with AFJ aims to standardize movement rules for fairness and consistency across competitions. 🛡️ Safety working group established to improve medical and safety protocols at events with athlete input. 🌍 PFAA strives to be competition-agnostic, representing athletes across all functional fitness events. 📉 Challenges remain with inconsistent rule enforcement, athlete protections, and athlete engagement. ❤️ Brent’s emotional dedication reflects his passion to ensure future athletes have better conditions and voices.

Highlights 🏋️‍♂️ Travis Mayer sustained a serious back injury during the 2025 WFP competition, leading to withdrawal. ⏳ Coach has worked with Travis since 2012, witnessing his growth from local competitions to multiple Games appearances. 🔥 Travis maintains elite physical fitness despite age, balancing training with family and business responsibilities. 💪 Injury rehab focuses on isometric strength training and low-impact cardiovascular work to preserve gains and promote healing. 🎯 Clear goal-setting and pacing strategies are vital for managing performance and injury risk during competition. 🧠 Mental resilience and competitive drive enable Travis to recover from setbacks and sustain career longevity. 🤝 The coach-athlete relationship emphasizes support, realistic goals, and balancing ambition with health preservation.