CrossFit Games

Mayhem Freedom vs CrossFit Reykjavik: Are We Still in For a Superteam Showdown?

Photo Credit: Crispy Dudes
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One of the most intriguing storylines heading into the 2022 NOBULL CrossFit Games was actually in the team division. Of course it included the one and only Rich Froning, but this time around it also includes a super team based out of Iceland named CrossFit Reykjavik that features Annie Thorisdottir, Australian Khan Porter and Americans Lauren Fisher and Tola Morakinyo. And a returning podium team in CrossFit Oslo Navy Blue.

There were rumors flying around Fisher’s health heading into the first day of competition and media were eagerly watching athlete check-in as that would have been the last point they could have replaced her with alternate Katrin Davidsdottir.

Froning has also been part of the rumor mill, as always. Is this his last kick at the bucket for the team division and will he retire or go masters after? Of course the American CrossFit icon is mum on his decision, however it’s tough not to think something may happen after these Games. 

Day 1

CrossFit Mayhem came out strong on the weather-interrupted first day with two second place finishes to amass 194 and end the day in first place. Navy Blue kept things close though, tying with Mayhem’s second team – Mayhem Independence – at 179. The big story was that it looked like Lauren Fisher was struggling with shoulder intensive movements. Reykjavik took sixth in the Biker Bob event but dropped to 30th in the Pegs and P-Bars workout on the back of Fisher’s shoulders. They ended day one outside the top ten and sitting in a hole.

Day 2 

It was supposed to be a rest day, but the severe weather on day one pushed Events Two and Three “Strong” and “Fast” to Thursday. And it was a rough go for Mayhem Freedom. While they were able to take third in “Strong” and combined total of two one-rep max jerks (one male and one female) and two one-rep max front squats (one male and one female)–they lifted 1,300 pounds–but, they dropped to 13th in “Fast” a running test that involved each teammate running two miles total.

CrossFit Oslo Navy Blue took fifth in “Strong”– lifting 1,255 pounds, but recorded an event win in “Fast.” They ended day two in first place ahead of CrossFit Mayhem Freedom, and it’s fair to say that Froning took that personally.

Meanwhile, CrossFit Reykjavik crawled up the leaderboard, taking fourth in “Strong” with 1295 pounds and third in “Fast.” They ended the day in fifth overall.

Day 3

With two events on tap for the teams, the stage was set for a battle between these three crews abd that’s exactly what happened. CrossFit Mayhem Freedom won the day with two event wins in the “Muscle Pig” and “Handstand Machine,” leapfrogging CrossFit Oslo Navy Blue, taking a 25 point lead into the final day.

Navy Blue struggled a bit on the pig and took 10th, but rallied and carded a second place finish in the last event of the day. CrossFit Reykjavik continued their climb back up the leaderboard with two, solid third-place finishes on day three. Heading into the last day they are 72 points out of first place and only 39 out of a podium position.

Remaining Events

Today will see three events for the teams, however only one has been announced, “Rinse ‘N Repeat” which is: every 2 minutes: 50-yard swim and 8-cal Ski Erg (Add 2 calories each round for 6 rounds, then complete as many calories as possible for rounds 7 and 8). There will be two more events after that on Sunday to close out the entire CrossFit Games Affiliate Cup.. 

The bottom line: The question now is can Reykjavik storm back up the standings and put some pressure on Mayhem Freedom heading into the final day of competition? If anyone knows how to rally its Thorisdottir, and she may be able to help find her fellow teammates reach a new gear, however testing Froning has not turned out well for anyone on planet earth in the past. And where will Oslo Navy Blue settle out in this mix?

Time will tell, but right now it looks like Rich is going to get his (potential) swan song, or not, and nab another team title that will put him in a class all of his own. 

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