It’s difficult for a Russian athlete to live in America. Following a turbulent period, Roman Khrennikov decided to live in Madison, Wisconsin in order to prepare for the 2022 CrossFit® Games, and he was granted a visa early this year.
Khrennikov went back to Russia in July, just before the Games, to be with his wife Anastasiya and their newborn son. The Khrennikov family declared a few weeks ago that they were moving to Tennessee. They made the decision to relocate to Rich Froning’s home in Cookeville, Tennessee.
However, Tennessee? According to Anastasiya, it was just “lower taxes.”
Early life
In the Russian province of Irkutsk, the city of Svirsk is the birthplace of Roman Khrennikov. He used to be a rowdy kid who loved to break dance and yawl. He studied for the track and field profile at the Olympic Reserve School. A year later, he transitioned to gymnastics while continuing his swimming studies.
Career
He began doing CrossFit in 2015. He and his spouse relocated to St. Petersburg, Russia in 2016 after driving 3520 kilometers.
The 2018 European Regional CrossFit Games in Berlin marked Roman’s first major victory in an international competition. Roman then made history by being the first Russian competitor to qualify for the CrossFit Games. Regretfully, Roman was unable to participate in the CrossFit Games because of issues acquiring a visa for admission into the United States.
Roman went on to win the Italian Showdown CrossFit competition in 2019 and qualified himself once more for the CrossFit Games, but he could not compete again due to problems acquiring a US visa.
Well, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the format for the 2020 CrossFit Games was a little different: there was an online qualifying round, and after that, a final round where only the top 5 competitors go full-time. Roman qualified to compete in the online phase, and on the weight of the results, he placed 13th.
Roman placed first in the Dubai CrossFit Championship in 2021. Roman finished in third place during the CrossFit Asia Invitational qualification rounds. He was only granted entry to the CrossFit Games by winning the subsequent Last Chance Qualifier. Roman was unable to secure a US entrance visa in the fourth year of his professional career because of the intricacy of the application process and the limitations imposed by the pandemic.
With an athlete visa in hand, Roman competed at the CrossFit Games in Madison, Wisconsin in 2022, finishing in second place. Roman also mentioned the support from Pat and Roze Gilles, the Madison-based Pat’s Gym proprietors, in getting a visa and getting ready for contests.
Why do athletes decide to move to Tennessee?
In fact, nine states charge no state income tax at all, and Tennessee is one of them. Other states are: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming.
Khrennikov’s relocation due to tax considerations is not unusual—in fact, it’s really typical. Mat Fraser moved to Cookeville, Tennessee, back in the year 2017. When asked what made him move, the champion revealed, “Taxes, bro.”.
Logically, so does Tia-Clair Toomey. She now calls Nashville home with her husband, Shane, after previously residing in Cookeville.
With the recent move to Cookeville, 2022 CrossFit Games runner-up Roman Khrennikov would compete in the North America East Region next year, should he be approved to stay in the United States for the full season.
Who is Roman Khrennikov, the Fittest Man in Russia
Roman Khrennikov is 27 years old, born in Irkutsk, Russia. He broke into the limelight in 2018 when he took down more recognized Olympic veterans like Bjorgvin Karl Gudmundsson, Adrian Mundwiler, and Lukas Hogberg at the Europe Regionals.
Following the Europe Regionals, he competed in the 2019 CrossFit® Strength In Depth, finishing fourth, and the Dubai CrossFit® Championship8, finishing fifth.
In addition, Khrennikov finished second in the Filthy 150 competition the same year he won the CrossFit® Italian Showdown.
He placed third in the Dubai CrossFit® Championship in 2019 and tenth in the CrossFit® Open in 2020. He has since made steady progress, winning three spots at the CrossFit® Games.
Roman Khrennikov did well, although he was competing remotely until 2022 due to visa issues – he had four rejections.
This year, he finally made it onto the podium and became the second strongest man on Earth! We shall see what he will show in the new season!
Khrennikov’s Claim
In the article, Khrennikov attacks Adler, claiming that he is attempting to “get into his head” by using deceptive methods that, in his opinion, are contrary to the sportsmanship that CrossFit should be known for. View the message’s translation below:
“Unsportsmanlike behavior. Being dishonest In the Crossfit community, people hold leaders to a very high level. In 2018, I started working professionally. I’ve heard the head judges read the general rules paragraph several times over, with particular attention to section C, which mandates that “all athletes compete in a sportsmanlike manner.” The most physically fit individual on Earth prevails because he is the fittest. I’m sorry to disappoint you if you were hoping to convince me of a “strategy” that you and your coach believed would be effective. Instead of “playing dirty,” I hope you follow the guidelines more closely the next time and make an effort to get more fit! Jeff Adler at @lambrayliving”
Jeffrey Adler Responde
In a recent interview, Adler makes it clear that he never tried to trick Khrennikov by playing mind games or making unscrupulous physical contact with him during the battle.
And Now, What’s Your Opinion?
In view of these reports, we would like to hear your thoughts. Are these tactics a component of the sport’s competitive nature, or do they go against the ideal of fair play that permeates CrossFit?
