![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/ive-won-olympic-boxing-medals-but-my-new-sport-is-hardest-thing-ive-done/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SD-SPORT-OFF-PLATFORM-BARNES.jpg&description=RING THE CHANGES Published : 11:14, 5 Aug 2023 Updated : 11:15, 5 Aug 2023 FORMER Olympic boxer Paddy Barnes has turned to a new sport after retiring from boxing in 2019. The 36-year-old declared he has "fallen in love" with CrossFit after training at the KVLR gym in Belfast since hanging up his gloves. 1 Paddy Barnes represented Ireland at the Beijing, London and Rio Olympic Games Credit: Sportsfile - Subscription He will compete in his first CrossFit competition in Northern Ireland this month. Barnes is a two-time Olympic bronze medallist who also won gold representing Northern Ireland in the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth games. The former flyweight fought nine times as a professional after moving into the paid ranks in 2016, challenging for a world title at Windsor Park in 2018. He said he has fallen in love with CrossFit despite admitting it's the "hardest thing I've done". Barnes told Belfast Live : "I absolutely love it, and I don't know why. I go in and it is the hardest training I have done in my life, but I am addicted to it. "And there could be worse things you could be addicted to, know what I mean? "This morning I did 100 double unders (skipping), 16 devil presses which went down in twos. It took me 11 minutes and nearly killed me, but I had been on the drink all weekend. "I remember my first session I ever did in CrossFit. I had to take a week off work after it to recover. "I did a thing called the 'Murph' which is a mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 press-ups, 300 squats and a mile run again. And I couldn't function for a week. "I would fly through it now though." CrossFit is a branded fitness regimen that was developed by Greg Glassman and Lauren Jenai in 2000. The exercise style combines a weight-lifting training style with developing cardiovascular fitness through high intensity exercise. Barnes says CrossFit has allowed him to refocus after a few wayward years. "I retired from boxing in 2019, and ever since then I have been eating and drinking," he joked. "){kind=link}
FORMER Olympic boxer Paddy Barnes has turned to a new sport after retiring from boxing in 2019.
The 36-year-old declared he has “fallen in love” with CrossFit after training at the KVLR gym in Belfast since hanging up his gloves.
A post shared by Paddy Barnes (@paddy_bronze)
He will compete in his first CrossFit competition in Northern Ireland this month.
Barnes is a two-time Olympic bronze medallist who also won gold representing Northern Ireland in the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth games.