Port Chester’s Fittest in the World Demonstrates Her Favorite Moves (VIDEO)

One of the fittest women in the world earned that title with the hard work she put in at her own gym here in Port Chester over the last year. Kaleena Ladeairous, owner of CrossFit Port Chester, has only been CrossFitting for the last three years but she placed number 19 in the CrossFit Games competition for fittest in the world this summer. CrossFit is a strength and conditioning workout program that combines Olympic moves and gymnastics in intense sessions.

Ladeairous, 27, has been an athlete and sports star her whole life and became a personal trainer at the age of 17 as a side job during college. But she was originally hesitant to try the popular fitness trend, thinking it was just another aerobics class. Ladeairous went to just one and was hooked.

“I realized it was much more than that, “she said.

Within a year Ladeairous had become certified and opened up CrossFit Port Chester with partner Maria Vulcano.

“The concept of CrossFit is to get good at everything without sacrificing anything,” Ladeairous said, explaining that training for other sports focuses on being the best in only one area rather than all areas.

At the Games

At the CrossFit Games Ladeairous came in first in three sports and 19th overall: four rounds of 600-meter sprints and 25 overhead squats of 95 lbs in 16:46; 2,000 meters in 7:17 and a 2.1-mile run that involved flipping, carrying and dragging weights from 70 to 310 pounds.

“It is crazy because you compete against people you have been idolizing for years. It is the highest level you can get to in CrossFit,” she said.

Contestants do not know what sports they are going to be tested in at the Games, so she trained in everything she and her coach could think of, from throwing a baseball to mountain biking to rowing. The hardest part of the competition for her was the 21,097-meter row. CrossFitters usually do 5,000-meter rows at most (still not an easy task), so the hour and a half of work it took in that competition was physically the hardest, she said. The first 2,000 meters was a race in itself, which Ladeairous won in a tie with another woman. She ended up coming in fourth overall.

Ladeiarous hurt her shoulder on the second to last day, which affected her performance during the last four sports over the last two days, but she was still happy with her placement.

“I had no idea I was going to win any of it so I was so happy to win the first three,” she said. “I am sad I got hurt but I was very happy with the outcome.”

Why CrossFit

The fact that everyone trains together doing the same workouts every class is one aspect that appeals to Ladeairous.  Kids as young as three years old participate in CrossFit kids, and adults in their 60s workout alongside 22-year-old athletes in the adult classes, she said.

Her dad, Port Chester Police Lt. James Ladeairous is one of the oldest class members and while he might not be as strong as his daughter, he still does all the moves, and enjoys it.  

“You always feel better after doing it, that is what I tell myself,” he said.

Both Ladeairous’ said they appreciate the community and positive attitude CrossFit athletes share.

“When people finish the workout they go back and cheer on their competition,” Lt. Ladeairous said. “Have you ever heard of people being that supportive of their own competition?”

Both father and daughter appreciate CrossFit for its flexibility to be adapted to any fitness level.

“Everyone does the same workout. One person might use lighter weights but it is still just as hard for them,” Ladeairous explained.

Plus, all students keep an exercise log to track their progress and aim for certain benchmarks.

 Training

For ambitious CrossFit stars like Ladeairous, training for the Games is an every day job.

“Training is just as much my job as is running the gym,” she said.

 Ladeairous trained three to five hours a day in the weeks leading op to the Open Games, and normally about 90 minutes twice a day leading up to the regional competitions. During normal months she puts in about 90 minutes a day five times a week.

The typical CrossFit athlete attends 45-minute classes three to five times a week. Some people get hooked and train every day, but Ladeairous warns them not to overdo it.  

Ladeairous eats whatever she wants, she said, but most CrossFit athletes follow a Zone or Paleo diet, low on carbs and high on protein. CrossFit does not include a diet plan, though. “We talk about nutrition but we are not nutritionists,” she said.

The Fittest Woman in the World’s Favorite Moves

Ladeairous’ favorite move is overhead squats and chest to bar pull-ups. She used to hate muscle-ups but now that she has mastered them, they are another one of her favorite moves, she said. Watch Ladeairous do overhead squats and muscle ups in the video above.