CrossFit Games

Laura Horvath Leads the Lowlands Way After Day 1

May 20, 2022 by
Photo Credit: Athlete's Eye Photography | Patrick Clark
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Considering two-time CrossFit Games silver medalist Laura Horvath publicly stated her goal is to stand atop the Games podium, it’s no surprise to see the 25-year-old Hungarian leading the way after Day 1 at the CrossFit Lowlands Throwdown in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Horvath on Day 1: Horvath came out hot on Event 1—a repeat of the 2014 Regional Event 5 workout featuring 10 legless rope climbs—finishing the event in an impressive 3:47.94, just three seconds behind Karin Freyova’s 3:44.41 and good enough for second place.

  • Event 2 on Day 1, featuring running, axle bar deadlifts, handstand walking and rowing, was a similar story for Horvath: Another second place finish, this time behind Gabriela Migala.

Worth noting: The legless rope climb event is one of two that will be featured at all 10 Semifinals events, so it’s an opportunity where we can compare Horvath to five-time Games champion Tia-Clair Toomey, the woman Horvath is ultimately gunning for.

  • The result: Toomey posted a time of 3:32.54 on Friday at the Torian Pro Semifinals in Brisbane, Australia, 15 seconds faster than Horvath. However, Horvath’s time would have been good enough for second place in Brisbane, as well, right behind Toomey.

What’s to come: Looking at the rest of the weekend bodes well for Horvath, as Event 3 features high-rep pulling—chest-to-bar-pull-ups—a skill Horvath excels at, while Event 4 is a strength event in the form of a barbell complex, which has to be considered a Horvath event, as well. 

  • On paper at least, the only area of concern for Horvath comes in Event 5, an event with 60 handstand push-ups, a well-known weakness of hers. That being said, the event also includes 75 time consuming devil’s presses, and 30 sandbag to shoulder, suggesting the workout isn’t going to be won or lost on the handstand push-ups. Further, kipping is permitted on the handstand push-ups, which further bodes well for Horvath to hide her weakness.

The bottom line: Betting on Horvath to take Toomey this summer at the Games might still be a low odds bet, but putting money on Horvath to take the Lowlands Throwdown title can only be seen as a smart gamble.

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