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2024 Concept2 Ambassadors
Jun 19, 2024
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Concept2 is about more than just the machine—it's the worldwide community that has grown around our ergs. We are excited to introduce our 2024 Concept2 Ambassadors and celebrate the enthusiasm, fresh ideas, and camaraderie they bring to their unique communities. From Olympic athletes, to veterans, to coaches and business owners, to fitness advocates, to cancer and addiction survivors, our ambassadors exemplify what it means to be Powered by Sport and Driven by Community. Check out their bios below and head over to their social media pages to follow their journeys.
Napoleon Winston Griffin II
Meet Napoleon. Napoleon is a competitive masters on water rower that uses sport as a way to find solace, while pushing himself to compete at the highest level. As a teacher and cancer survivor, he inspires others who may be facing similar battles to pursue their passions and to overcome obstacles. With these unique experiences, Napoleon exemplifies what it means to be a part of the Concept2 community by fostering connection, belonging, and value within sport.
Marc Howe
Marc is a highly accomplished HYROX athlete, being crowned HYROX Mixed Doubles World Champion with his wife, Lauren Rantala, in 2022. He is an addiction and recovery advocate, having just surpassed four years of sobriety this year, and he says the exercise community is a large reason why he was able to hit this milestone. In his own words, Marc says community is “everything”. He says, “Community is now something that I seek out, and if one doesn’t exist, I will help build one because I know that they can save lives!”
Emily Kramer Throckmorton
Emily Kramer Throckmorton is the founder, owner, and head strength and conditioning coach of Kaizen Athletics and their nonprofit organization Kaizen Adaptive Training in Virginia Beach, Virginia. They provide an all-inclusive training facility for individuals with long-term physical or traumatic impairments (visible/invisible) through movement and community. She strives to make fitness training accessible and inclusive for everyone, regardless of ability. As a new mother, community to Emily means being a leader. She says, “Having the ability to bring like-minded individuals together to improve their health and fitness is what community is about.”
Lauren Miller
Meet Lauren! Currently living in Vermont, Lauren is deeply engrained in the fitness community as the Youth Director of RunVermont, a non-profit running organization. She directly impacts Vermont children by promoting and educating them on the importance of a healthy mind and body. You can also find Lauren teaching cycling classes, personal training at a CrossFit class, out on the mountain bike trails, or playing with her dogs, George and Moonie. She says, “Community means being alongside folks that inspire, educate, motivate and congratulate one another on their journey towards bettering themselves or others.”
Bella Martin
Bella is a CrossFit commentator and host. Through this work she travels the world and experiences the global community of the sport. She says, “Community is everything to me. It’s important to me to be involved in many sport communities from CrossFit to running and swimming. I fill my cup by giving my time to others.” When she is not traveling, Bella trains with Mayhem Athlete, which takes up a majority of her time. Outside of the fitness space she enjoys photosynthesizing on the beach and exploring San Diego.
Jillian Crespi
Jillian is a competitive surfer and CrossFitter who loves the outdoors and staying active. She is also a full-time personal trainer and is in school for physical therapy. She loves opportunities to get uncomfortable and push herself. Lately she has been trying to surf bigger waves and push her workouts to help support this. To her, community means encouraging and pushing those around her while sharing knowledge and ideas that benefit everyone to succeed and be better.
Neftali Mendoza
Neftali is a Trainer at the Adaptive Training Foundation, a native Texan, and Marine Corps Veteran. After sustaining life threatening medical complications five years ago, Neftali woke from a medically induced coma with his left leg amputated. From that moment he decided to reevaluate his goals, which has led him to work directly with like-minded people who strive to better themselves, despite the challenges they may face. He says, “My community is composed of people with all types of physical and cognitive disabilities. We are empowered by movement and use physical fitness and a little bit of something called sweat equity to prove that we can do anything and defy the impossible.”
Kareem Brinson
Kareem is a man of many talents and passions as an accomplished DJ of over 20 years, a co-owner of CrossFit Shrewsbury, and a CF-L2 CrossFit Coach. Kareem first got into CrossFit over 10 years ago during his weight loss journey and has since been a contestant on hit NBC TV Show, “Titan Games.” For him, community is everything. He says, “It's happiness, it's togetherness, it's being around like-minded people who are there to uplift and motivate you, that are also there for your energy and vibe you bring to them. Community grows together, gets stronger together, and goes far together.”
Jenna Mastrouni
Meet Jenna! She is a mother, personal trainer, and yoga instructor. Jenna loves working with clients to help them realize their fitness goals and fall in love with a healthy and happy lifestyle along the way. For her, community is like-minded individuals coming together to build one another up. When she is not with her daughter or working with clients, you can probably find her competing in a Spartan race or checking off an AMRAP of choice.
Giuliana Olmos
Giuliana Olmos is a professional tennis player, a 2020 Olympian, and is currently playing on the WTA Tour. She graduated as a two-time All-American from the University of Southern California in 2016 and represented Mexico at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Last year she reached a career high of #6 in the world in women’s doubles. She loves using the Concept2 SkiErg for conditioning. For her, “Community means having a group of people around you who are supportive, positive and strive to excel with you or alongside you. Having a supportive community makes a huge difference!”
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