CrossFit Virtuosity was founded by Sam (with former partner Keith Wittenstein) in 2008.  What started as a few people doing crazy workouts in the park morphed into tens of people doing crazy workouts in various temporary spaces all over the city, and then into hundreds of people doing crazy workouts in a giant, dirty warehouse on North 8th Street, and finally hundreds of people doing crazy workouts in a much nicer, cleaner warehouse on Bayard Street.

Sam loves every day she gets to spend in this magical place helping people discover their full athletic potential.

As a child, Blanco was often called “husky” and always picked last in kickball. He battled with his weight, a struggle that would follow him into adulthood. Fifteen years ago, weighing an impressive 280 pounds, Blanco found himself at a crossroads. In one direction was continued unhappiness and ill health. In the other was the hard road to fitness. After struggling through a series of false starts, including a diet named after a Miami beach and some questionable pharmaceutical remedies, he found CrossFit.

Since then, he has shed 100 pounds and is in the best shape of his life. Blanco is truly happy to share his experience and help other people along the road to transformation!

Blanco has a secret identity as an opera singer… for real!  Never challenge him to a karaoke showdown!

CrossFit Level 2 Trainer
CrossFit Gymnastics
CrossFit Kettlebell
CrossFit Olympic Weightlifting
CrossFit Endurance
CrossFit Kids
USAW Sports Performance Coach
USAW Advanced Sports Performance Coach
USAW Club Coach
USAW National Coach
CrossFit Olympic Weightlifting Seminar Staff

The myth of Ariel Fernandez begins in Queens, New York, where he is rumored to have grown up amongst many brothers (perhaps as many as 5!) Details are sketchy, but we hear he attended Baruch College, and played baseball in the minor leagues (a story that may serve to explain his immense strength.) A true New Yorker, Ariel still lives in Queens and subjects himself to the horrors of the LIE and the BQE to bring us his coaching magic.

As a member of Team Virtuosity, Ariel went to the CrossFit Games in 2014. His training regimen is impressively extensive. He claims to be training for this year’s Games season, but we suspect he’s really trying to steal away the strongest+stretchiest coach crown away from Elizabeth: we’ve seen him get absurdly close to full splits, as well as front squat over 400lbs.

Reggie has been a Virtuosity fixture since he joined our youth athletic program as a bright young 16-year-old looking to supplement his wrestling training with a strength and conditioning program.

After competing in wrestling throughout high school (and reaching a rank of 3rd in NYC!) Reggie turned his attention to Olympic Weightlifting. His passion and natural aptitude for the sport has led him to great success: he ranked 9th at Junior Nationals in 2014, and 11th at University Nationals in 2015, in addition to winning several local competitions.

Reggie began coaching for us as an assistant in 2012, and has grown into a passionate and dedicated member of our coaching staff. He is currently a student at Baruch College.

Noelle began her strength journey after she gave birth to twins, and found herself carrying around two increasingly heavy babies-slash-weights. Her resultant shoulder pain led her to an exploration of bodywork that (in typical Noelle no-half-measures style) became a career, turned her on to the world of physical culture in general, and eventually led her to try CrossFit with us.

In addition to being one of the most gifted bodyworkers we’ve ever had the privilege of having torture massage us, Noelle is a natural coach. She describes her coaching style as “your badass mom,” so expect some tough love!

Noelle specializes in working with older athletes, particularly women. She dreams of a world full of strong, kick-ass 40-, 50-, 60-, 70-, 80-, and 90-plus year-olds who are fully embracing their physicality and staying self-sufficient throughout their golden years!

Coach Ursula Podosenin is a strength athlete who competes in Powerlifting at the national level. Over the years, she has applied her athletic abilities to a diverse range of sports including Olympic Weightlifting (in which she was also nationally ranked), CrossFit, ice skating, tennis, and wrestling.

Ursula is currently completing her psychology degree, coaching for us, strength training, and also somehow finding the time to get in a few CrossFit workouts!