A new year, a new Athlete of the Month! CrossFit Victoria’s Athlete of the Month for December is The Tall Laura- or, if you’re coach Chris Lilley, Normal Height Laura- Laura McDougall!
If you’ve never woken up in time for a 6 or 7 AM class, you may not know Laura. But she’s definitely someone worth getting to know! A special breed of person trains early in the morning, and according to coach Chris Lilley, Laura McDougall epitomizes the early morning CrossFit enthusiast who shows up, rain, hail, or shine, and tries her best every morning while encouraging others to do the same.
Laura always turns up to class with enthusiasm and a smile, which both coaches and other athletes genuinely appreciate. Her positivity and dedication have allowed her to make tremendous improvements to her lifting technique, as well as noticeable improvements in her speed and endurance during class WODs.
Laura is also the newest recipient of CrossFit Victoria’s Golden Sledgehammer, an award given to athletes who have been “smashing it” at the gym. She and coach Scott Waugh worked together to create a WOD in her honor, which everyone will tackle during one of the Friday classes this month.
Scott Waugh, ever the shorty, nicknamed Laura McDougall ‘The Tall Laura,’ but Chris Lilley, towering over the rest of the gym in long-legged glory, calls her ‘Normal Height Laura.’ Her WOD will be called “NHL” for Normal Height Laura. Here it is:

“NHL”
3 rounds for time of:
50 double unders
30 Russian KB Swings (24/16 kg)
10 burpee box jumps (24”/20”)
Half Gasser

Coach Chris Lilley’s comment: “Laura turns up to class with enthusiasm and a smile. She always has time for a laugh and a chat, and there is no doubt that she tries her best every morning and encourages others to do the same. Since taking on the AM classes, I have seen Laura training consistently, rain, hail or shine, and I have seen her getting fitter and stronger every week!
She is an attribute to the gym and the community – well done Laura!”