Reno athlete places high in world CrossFit competition

Reno, Nev. (News 4 & Fox 11) — A Reno athlete just took sixth in the world for a CrossFit competition. But it wasn't just any competition.

32-year-old Jon Falkenburg works out at Update Nevada CrossFit in Reno. It's a non-profit gym dedicated to the CrossFit sport.

"It's high intensity interval training with speed and power," Falkenburg said.

Jon's workouts are modified a bit because of his size.

"I identify a short stature athlete. That means I have dwarfism on achondroplasia," he said.

Jon just competed in the 2024 CrossFit Adaptive World Championship in Texas last month. The event brings out the best of the best athletes with disabilities in 15 divisions. He went head-to-head against athletes from 76 countries. He placed sixth.

"After finishing, it's like, did I just get sixth place in the world? I'm still on that high," she said. "I'm proud with how I did overall. I feel like it was a great experience, especially my rookie year."

He may be shorter than many of his CrossFit athletes but his drive and determination are not compromised.

"I love to see him get after it. I love working out by his side. And the days that I get to work out with him in class, it's just it pushes me. It motivates me," said CrossFit coach Indy Gesselman.

Jon does CrossFit with people of all different kinds of abilities at Upstate Nevada. The gym offers adaptive classes three times a week for about 50-60 adaptive athletes.

"It's really inspirational," said Kayla Romero, Upstate Nevada manager. "We've got people in here with spinal cord injuries who can't use their legs. We've got people with autism, Down's syndrome, all the things, amputated arms, and they do things just like the rest of us."

Jon Falkenburg said he plans to compete at the CrossFit Adaptive World Championship again.