Kyle Smailey

I grew up moving a lot throughout Oklahoma and Houston making meeting new people and making new friends easy and something I’ve always loved to do, especially when I came to OU. I was never very competitive or that much into sports growing up. I was an O and D lineman playing football (surprisingly) and a swimmer in high school. I was not very athletic or confident in my abilities until I found CrossFit. Despite this, I have always had a passion for working out.

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My dad got me into CrossFit as he had just started discovering The Games. I tried it a couple of times in his garage and threw up each time. Realizing even though I wasn’t in as good shape as I thought, I joined Koda Norman as it was opening within the next couple of weeks. I was a part of the inaugural class of KXN and have loved it ever since. Constantly overcoming adversity and gaining industry as you prevail over obstacles and uncomfortableness has tremendously helped me both professionally and personally.

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As an ICU RN, it’s paramount to deal with the intensity of any kind of situation. Not to mention meeting my wife at a gym party (ask her about it) and becoming a father of two. My time at KXN has made me who I am now, has provided amazing memories and friends, and has helped me to improve in every aspect I can think of.

For me, I believe it would have to come from my first podium at TFX. I had been doing CrossFit for a couple of years now and felt like I had been getting somewhat competitive. I had worked very hard barely qualified with 70 others out of hundreds. I pushed myself harder than I ever had before and did things I didn’t even know I could. I end up in 2nd place. I was much smaller and less impressive looking than all the other top athletes but won and was so ecstatic.

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It helped me believe in myself and a potential that I thought may have been there all along. And more importantly, made me want to push myself and find what else I could be capable of.

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I’m here for the everyday person who wants to improve themselves and find their highest potential. Simple as that.