Owner/Head Coach Jonathan Varela placed 8th in the World at the
2022 No Bull CrossFit Games and 1st at the
2022 Legends Championship!
He's currently working towards competing at the 2023 Legends and qualifying for the 2024 Games.
My name is Jonathan Varela. I was born and raised in Costa Rica but currently live in Wyoming, USA with my wife, 5-year-old daughter and 1 year-old son. I own and operate Kura Fit, a functional fitness gym where I offer small group classes, personal training, nutritional coaching, home workouts/remote training packages and more. This space has helped me in accomplishing my dream of competing in the CrossFit Games.
As a child I struggled with poor health, I was constantly sick and had severe childhood asthma. I grew up in the inner city of San Jose, Costa Rica – a beautiful country but often a challenging place to grow up for some. As I grew, I was very thin, had difficulty gaining weight, and battled anxiety and depression. In my early 20s, I discovered fitness. It became my medicine, changed my life, and shaped my adulthood, eventually leading me to compete professionally in the sport of CrossFit.
Nine years ago, I tried my first CrossFit class in Santa Ana, Costa Rica and instantly was drawn to the sport. Since then, I’ve inched my way closer towards qualifying to the games – once a dream I thought would never become my reality. It’s taken years of hard work, dedication, energy and money with many challenges and obstacles along the way – but a massive amount of reward and opportunity and I am forever grateful for the journey.
Currently I divide my time between coaching group classes and personal training at my gym, and my training, health, and wellness. I train an average of 4 hours per day, in 2 sessions and am a Mayhem Athlete. I spend additional time studying the sport, strategizing, fueling my body and recovering. It’s a 24/7 commitment. The process comes with much sacrifice, and I am grateful for my family and friends who support me.
After a global three stage qualification process, I qualified for the 2022 CrossFit Games. This is the Superbowl/World Cup/World Series of CrossFit. Out of all the competitors who start in the CrossFit Open (stage 1), less than 1.5% advance to the Games. Top athletes must advance through the Open, Quarterfinal, and Semifinal qualification stages before advancing to the Games.
In August 2022 I competed at the Games, finishing 8th in the world - and the only athlete to represent Costa Rica and Wyoming. It was an incredibly experience, and I am so grateful for all the support and encouragement I received.
My immediate goal is to now focus on qualifying for the 2024 CrossFit Games, which I am actively doing now, and to enter the coliseum again as a competitive, elite, professional athlete. I would like you to be a part of my team, for the 2024 CrossFit Games season, and for my professional career hereafter.
Along with the proper training environment, I know I have the work ethic, motivation, and the drive to become a CrossFit champion, and represent my home country and Wyoming with pride. For me, this is not a one-time goal, I plan to continue training for return trips to the Games and beyond while still owning and operating Kura Fit.
To excel, I need to constantly push my limits. I am ready to work hard, but at the same time, I know that the road to success will be time consuming and costly. By supporting me today, you are investing into something bigger than just a fundraiser and sponsorship. You're changing my life and helping me accomplish a long-time dream that will help me excel in my career as a professional athlete, coach, and trainer.
Please consider donating here via PayPal.
Costa Rica in Madison! 💪 Here's a little bit of the history of Jonathan Varela, the guy who will represent us in the 2022 CrossFit Games.
Jonathan Varela: El tico que va a representar a Costa Rica en los CrossFit Games.
Congrats to our #LATAMathletes from age groups who qualified for the 2022 NOBULL CrossFit Games!