Jami Tikkanen

Jami Tikkanen is a prominent figure in the CrossFit community, best known for his role as the head coach of Annie Thorisdottir, a two-time CrossFit Games champion.1 Here are some key details about Jami Tikkanen:

Coaching Career

Tikkanen began coaching Annie Thorisdottir after the 2009 CrossFit Games and has been her head coach since April 2010.13 He is widely regarded as one of the most successful coaches in CrossFit, having guided Thorisdottir to multiple championships.

Coaching Philosophy

Tikkanen believes his role as a coach is to create an environment for success, allowing athletes to realize their full potential.1 During competitions, he focuses on maintaining the athlete's positive mindset and handling logistical details so they can concentrate on their performance.1

Programming Approach

His programming philosophy emphasizes:

• Establishing a strong base using General Physical Preparedness (GPP) templates
• Focusing on movement quality and skill work in every session
• Targeting specific energy systems
• Using block training (Conjugate Sequence System) for high-level athletes1

Professional Background

• Founder of The Training Plan by Optimum Health and Performance Ltd. (September 2009 - Present)3
• Member of the CrossFit Level 1 Seminar Staff, traveling on weekends to teach1

Athlete Experience

Before coaching, Tikkanen competed in CrossFit himself. In 2009, he participated in the Northern Ireland Regional, where he met Mikko Salo, leading to a series of events that shaped his coaching career.1

Other Notable Athletes

Besides Annie Thorisdottir, Tikkanen has worked with other successful CrossFit athletes, including:

• Björgvin Karl Gudmundsson (3rd place in CrossFit Games 2015 and 2019)
• Sara Sigmundsdottir (3rd place in CrossFit Games 2015)
• Katrin Tanja Davidsdottir12

Tikkanen is known for his dedication to his athletes and his passion for the sport of CrossFit, often describing his work as living his dream.1