CrossFit: Mat Fraser dives into topic of sleep and how important his routine is – ‘It’s a conscious effort to get to sleep’

Five-time CrossFit Games champion Fraser, who retired from the sport in February, talks the benefits of sleep on podcast

Fraser says falling asleep requires a nighttime routine and that sometimes he gets 10 hours

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Mat Fraser, five-time CrossFit Games champion, said sleep is a big priority for him. Photo: Adnan Karimjee/OneManOne.Camera

Published: 8:32pm, 20 May 2021Updated: 8:32pm, 20 May 2021

Mat Fraser said sleep is an integral part of his lifestyle and that he can sleep for up to 10 hours a night. He also admitted that getting to sleep isn’t always the easiest.

“If I’m in a situation that allows it, I can stay up until 5am without batting an eye, not even a question,” said Fraser on the JOSH MAT SEVAN podcast. “I have accidentally fallen asleep twice in my life and it freaked me out when I woke because I didn’t know what happened.”

Fraser, who retired after winning his fifth straight CrossFit Games title in 2020, said he has a specific nighttime routine that helps his body realise when it’s time to shut off for the day.

“Unless I go through my nighttime routine of telling my body it’s time to go to bed, for some reason if I get into bed and close my eyelids, my mind is like all right now we’re going to figure out all of your life problems. You know, ‘How am I going to figure out how to pay property taxes for the next 50 years’.”

Mat Fraser said sleep was important for him as a CrossFit athlete and still is in retirement. Photo: Adnan Karimjee/OneManOne.Camera

The American, widely regarded as the greatest CrossFit athlete of all-time, has given a number of insights into his life via the podcast he does regularly with fellow CrossFit competitor Josh Bridges and filmmaker Sevan Matossian, who acts as the de facto host. He said his fiancée has no issues falling asleep.