The Professor at work

The 2019 CrossFit Open is in full swing, and one of the fittest men in the world is taking part in Kelowna.

The CrossFit Open includes five workouts over the span of five weeks in which people across the world push themselves to the limit, logging their entries online.

''It gives people the opportunity to compete all across the globe as one large community. It used to be a qualifier for regionals, which took you to the Games, and now it gives you a guaranteed spot if you are No. 1 in the country," said strength coach Kevin Lutz. 

Workout number four includes three rounds of 10 snatches, 12 bar-facing burpees with a three-minute rest, then, three rounds of 10 bar muscle-ups and 12 bar-facing burpees. It has a 12-minute time cap.

Brent Fikowski finished second at the 2017 CrossFit Games, earning him the title of second fittest man on Earth. In 2018, he returned to the Games after winning his third straight regional title, finishing fourth.

Now, he's set his sights set on getting back to the podium for 2019.

The Kelowna native eats, sleeps and breathes CrossFit, but also spends a lot of time helping other athletes with his Professor Project. 

''Brent is huge. He helps people. He's here training and ... he takes his time to correct somebody on the rower, he will go out of his way to show people to warm up their wrists, or do mobility," said CrossFit Okanagan coach Troy Boot. 

'It's not like 'Hey I'm Brent, look at me'. He isn't like that at all. Everybody knows him, and he's always happy. He is a great advocate of the sport." 

For more information on CrossFit, click here.