This passion has driven him to become the first Malaysian to qualify for the CrossFit Games semifinals in South Korea – often referred to as the “Olympics” of CrossFit.
Speaking with FMT, he said his accomplishment came as a surprise even to him. “I was rather shocked initially because it was always my goal to qualify for the semifinals, but I didn’t expect to do it this year.
“There wasn’t much time for me to properly prepare after qualifying, so I had to quickly organise flights and accommodation.”
Kaisun, who hails from Selangor but is based in the United Kingdom, balances a vigorous training schedule with his full-time job as a data software engineer for a prominent supermarket chain.
Unlike many competitors, he does not have a personal coach, and instead trains at his local CrossFit gym in South London.
“There are classes every day. I train six days a week, supplementing classes with additional workouts specific to my goals. Generally, it’s about two to three hours per day, fitting it around my work schedule,” he said.
Recounting how he got into CrossFit, he said the diverse nature of the sport appealed to him after he found running to be monotonous.
“The combination of technique, strength and fitness, along with the supportive community, got me hooked,” he explained.
Of course, it’s not without its challenges: great mental and physical resilience aside, there’s the high costs associated with competing.
Funding his competitions primarily out of pocket, Kaisun highlighted the financial hurdles many CrossFit athletes face.
“It is still a relatively new sport, and there’s not much money (in terms of sponsorship) in it. I ran a T-shirt fundraiser to help cover some costs, but mostly I use my day job to fund my training and competitions.”
Kaisun’s success has not only brought pride to him and his family – it has also spotlighted Malaysia on the CrossFit map.
He hopes his achievement will inspire more Malaysians to participate in CrossFit and help grow the sport locally.
And although he ultimately did not qualify for the finals – only four athletes, two men and two women, from the region got to move forward – he remains proud and hopes for greater Malaysian representation in CrossFit.
“I’ve learnt a lot from this experience. Hopefully, I can go into next year’s season better prepared, be a better athlete, and see what happens. I would love to just keep progressing,” he concluded.