CrossFit Games

Athletes Sitting Out 2018 CrossFit Games Season

March 11, 2018 by
Photo Credit: Crossfit LLC
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Every year, athletes decide to take a season off or become sidelined due to an injury. We could list a whole ton of former CrossFit Games athletes who are taking 2018 off, but we’re going to narrow the list down to athletes who’ve competed in the previous two CrossFit Games. If we’ve missed someone, please send us a note.


The Dudes.

1. Dan Bailey

Reason: Injured his knee during 18.2a.

What he said about it: “‪I’m disappointed to say that my CrossFit Games season was cut short…I’ll be back at it soon enough!”

Recent competition record: Failed to qualify for 2016 Games after placing 6th at California Regional. Injured his pec at 2017 Central Regional.

Will be back? Yes

View this post on Instagram

‪Im disappointed to say that my @crossfitgames season was cut short due to injuring my knee during 18.2a last week. Best of luck to all the other competitors and @crossfit community through the rest of the #Open. I’ll be back at it soon enough! #Acts2024 #ConsiderItNothing #EverythingIsEarned #Psalm46:1‬

A post shared by Dan Bailey (@dan_bailey9) on

2. Lucas Parker

Reason: Taking a year off to recover.

What he said about it: “I have decided that a year off will be very beneficial for me. Due to a handful of various setbacks and issues, I don’t believe my capacity is where it needs to be to achieve my goals this season…Rather than have a weak 2018 that sets me up for a disappointing 2019, I’d rather have a productive 2018 that sets me up for a successful 2019.”

Recent competition record: Failed to qualify for the 2017 CrossFit Games after withdrawing from the East Regional due to a pec injury.

Will be back? Yes

View this post on Instagram

I’ll be sitting out this year’s crossfit open qualifiers. – A few of you have noticed my name is absent from the leaderboard – don’t worry, I didn’t forget to sign up! – I have decided that a year off will be very beneficial for me. Due to a handful of various setbacks and issues, I don’t believe my capacity is where it needs to be to achieve my goals this season. – This was a difficult thought to confront, but I’m very excited about the growth potential here. – Rather than have a weak 2018 that sets me up for a disappointing 2019, I’d rather have a productive 2018 that sets me up for a successful 2019. – Since the start of my career in 2011, I believe I’ve been one of the only athletes who consistently takes extended breaks each season (I usually took the entire month after the Games off from training) and I credit this approach for my longevity in the sport. – I’ve also talked a lot in old interviews about how, as the sport matures, athletes will move toward an “Olympiad” style of 2-4 year competition cycles, to allow recovery and optimal training peaks as the demands of the sport increase. So, maybe it has reached that point for me. – By removing the specific calendar, training, and travel demands of the crossfit season I will be free to focus on rebuilding my fitness, health, and mindset to where it needs to be to compete at the highest level. – Thank you to my friends and family for your support in this decision.

A post shared by Lucas Parker (@toqueluc) on

 

The Ladies.

1. Carly Fuhrer — Year Off

Reason: Taking a year off to enjoy life.

What she said about it: “It’s been a tough decision, but for the last 6 or so months its been quite a wild ride, lots of big life changes, and training has been on the back burner. Thru all that I have made the decision not to compete in 2018. I decided a while ago that I wanted to take 2018 off to enjoy life, go back to school, wreck my body on the snowy mountains, and overall try to enjoy training again, competing isn’t what I need or want at the moment…I look forward to being back for the 2019 season, cuz I will be back.”

Recent competition record: Placed 31st at the 2017 CrossFit Games and 37th in 2016.

Will be back? Yes

View this post on Instagram

Its been a tough decision, but for the last 6 or so months its been quite a wild ride, lots of big life changes, and training has been on the back burner. Thru all that I have made the decision not to compete in 2018. I decided awhile ago that I wanted to take 2018 off to enjoy life, go back to school, wreck my body on the snowy mountains ?, and overall try to enjoy training again, competing isn’t what i need or want at the moment, and im 100% ok with that, and so thankful for my sponsors being so supportive and in agreement with my decision. I did the first open workout for fun with my friend and training partner Cody, to support him and have the fun of doing the open without feeling like I needed to post a competitive score, I ended up signing up, cuz a friend from my gym gave me the perfect reason too, thank you @amyludz . I may do more of the open workouts, and I may not ??‍♀️, supporting @lyon_kira and @codyanderson2_34 is what I’m loving doing right now, but the important thing is I that I am taking a much needed break to enjoy myself. Thankful fo be able to spend more time at home and with my daddy too. Thank you all for your continued support on my journey and I look forward to being back for the 2019 season,cuz i will be back??… that is if I don't become a professional snowboarder instead ? best of luck to everyone this 2018 season! & keep rockin’ those #sideponies @crossfitgames @blonyx @romwod @m2performancenutrition @kiloflexfitness @sfh @rxsmartgear @greaterthan @crossfit_type44 @aimees2cents @sweattshopcincinnati

A post shared by Carly Fuhrer (@carlyfuhrer) on

2. Val Voboril

Reason: Injury, torn ligament in her hand. Recent surgery.

What she said about it: “This is the first year since I began crossfit (2009) that I am not officially participating in the CrossFit Games open, yet I am enjoying the togetherness of community the open brings out in my crossfit families – cheering, encouraging, pushing each other to do and be our very best!”

Recent competition record: Six-time CrossFit Games athlete. 32nd at the 2017 CrossFit Games.

Will be back? Unknown

View this post on Instagram

18.2 ✅ The calm before the storm. Swipe ⬅️ for the ⛈ Today marks 1 month exactly since I got my cast of after my fully torn ligament in my hand was surgically reattached. I used dumbbells for my Burpees because I still don’t have full extension of my right pinky finger, and I don’t want to re-injure it diving down to the ground in a burpee. This is the first year since I began crossfit (2009) that I am not officially participating in the @crossfitgames open, yet I am enjoying the togetherness of community the open brings out in my crossfit families – cheering, encouraging, pushing each other to do and be our very best! @crossfitrisingwave ?@torrance_training_lab ?#crossfitopen2018 #enjoythejourney video credit to my 72 year old dad ?my hubby/judge @stevenvoboril Sweet jams ?by @djsly1

A post shared by Val Voboril (@valvoboril) on

3. Kristin Reffett

Reason: Injury-ish

What she said about it: “As the weeks went by, full of frustrating performances, I was feeling worse and worse in each metcon…I found the littlest things would get me unreasonably out of breath and dizzy, and I was never able to ‘push’ workouts. The feeling only got worse. After some Dr apts and testing, I found out I’m not just out of shape, but my body is going through a few things that make it feel like I’m working out in quicksand and only have one lung. I’m not making myself physically or mentally better by pushing through, and time to listen to my body.”

Will be back? That’s a no. She’s retiring from competitive CrossFit.

View this post on Instagram

This is a tough decision and a tough post to make. The competitor in me can't help but to feel like a quitter, although I know it's the furthest thing from it. It's time to take a big step back, listen to my body, and start working on my recovery. ・・・ That being said, I have decided to stop my CrossFit season here, thus ending my competitive run at this sport. I've always planned for this to be my last season, but of course, this isn't how I envisioned it ending. ・・・ The last few months of training have been a mental test to say the least. I took some big risks with my programming, forgoing conditioning to enable myself to improve upon my biggest weakness, strength. Returning to mectons at the beginning of the year, I knew I'd be out of shape, but if I trained hard, I had faith I'd get enough back in time. ・・・ As the weeks went by, full of frustrating performances, I was feeling worse and worse in each metcon. I kept blocking it out, telling myself "you're just out of shape. You just gotta train harder." I found the littlest things would get me unreasonably out of breath and dizzy, and I was never able to "push" workouts. The feeling only got worse. ・・・ After some Dr apts and testing, I found out I'm not just out of shape, but my body is going through a few things that make it feel like I'm working out in quicksand and only have one lung. I'm not making myself physically or mentally better by pushing through, and time to listen to my body. ・・・ I want to thank my sponsors @american_gainz @nova3labs @nuunhydration, my gym communities @mbscrossfit @thecrossfitmayhem @crossfitnashville , and of course my coach/boss/friend @mike_m2pn and @m2performancenutrition for supporting me every step of the way. I am beyond grateful for everyone, and all my friends, for the love and support the past 6-7 years in this sport. It's now time to refocus on my many other life goals outside CrossFit, and start having more adventures outside the gym. #peaceloveandcoffee #healthfirst #everybodywangchungtonight

A post shared by Kristin Reffett (@kreffett) on

4. Alethea Boon

Reason: Injury

What she said about it: “18.3 = 1 rep…Sport is a fickle thing. You work hard day in day out knowing that in one second it can all disappear and you train with a willingness to lay it all out on the line all in the pursuit of being the absolute best you can be. Why? Because you just love it! Breaking barriers and seeing just how far you can push mentally and physically. When injury strikes you are disappointed but not surprised…Not a spring chicken and forced to choose between 2 sports the choice was made for me once I felt those two pops in my tendon at the park.”

Will be back? Yes.

View this post on Instagram

18.3=1 rep for #Boon ❤ || Sport is a fickle thing. You work hard day in day out knowing that in one second it can all disappear and you train with a willingness to lay it all out on the line all in the pursuit of being the absolute best you can be. Why? Because you just love it! Breaking barriers and seeing just how far you can push mentally and physically. When injury strikes you are disappointed but not surprised. Running the midnight oil, training at less than ideal times, dealing with stressors of everday working life and a body that's a bit more worn than most, yet you are happy to push because you enjoy it, you enjoy the challenge, your window as an athlete is small and you want to leave with no regrets. Not a spring chicken and forced to choose between 2 sports the choice was made for me once I felt those two pops in my tendon at the park. I am proud to be on the path that I am on this year and I know I dodged a major bullet. Representing my country in another sport at my 3rd Commonwealth Games is something special and I am so fortunate to be in a position to do so. Amongst the gratitude however there is still a fire ?. Come April I look forward to taking the platform to compete and after that I will rest, recalibrate and gain a clearer picture of what I want and need to do. But for now it is time to sharpen the focus for @gc2018 and as a result 1 rep for 18.3 will have to do. Peace out CrossFit 2018 season will see ya next round ? . . . ?Photo by Reanna Kebblewhite . . . . #humbled #reallife #choices #perspective #crossfit #crossfitgames #weightlifting #GC2018 #earningthatsilverfern #eachtotheirownjourney #NOREGRETS #resilience #BePresent #theAbWay #nomorebootadventuresplease ? #longestpostever #Limafinallygetsaholidaythisyear

A post shared by Alethea Boon (@alethea_boon) on

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