Cameron Hanes - Keep Hammering Collective KHC 173 - Jayson Hopper
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Jan 26, 2026 Jayson Hopper, 2025 CrossFit Games champion and former Clemson football player turned elite CrossFit athlete. He talks about breaking the rock carry record and grueling lift-run-shoot challenges. He describes embracing pain as fuel, shifting to high-intensity training, rebuilding after setbacks, and how faith and integrity shape his pursuit of greatness.
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Vermont Training Mistake
- Jayson recounts moving to Vermont to train with Matt and getting cut at the Games after heavy-volume, low-intensity training left him run-down.
- He realized that huge volume without games-level intensity impaired performance and returned home to prioritize intensity over hours.
Train Intensity Over Volume
- Train with games-level intensity rather than high-volume low-intensity work to prepare for competition demands.
- Jayson reduced hours but measured every session by whether he could approach it as if at the CrossFit Games.
From Clemson Football To Coffee Shop
- Jayson left Clemson football after his freshman year to pursue CrossFit and worked in a coffee shop practicing latte art while he rebuilt his path.
- He framed the decision as 'bloom where you're planted' and trusted hard work would compound into future success.
