The 2023 Madrid Championship: A Gymnast’s Dream
It’s been a month since the Crossfit Games and the entire community is antsy for more competition.
Luckily we have the 2023 Madrid Championship starting tomorrow to give us our dose of action.
In anticipation for the event, we’ve taken a close look at the tests with an eye toward see anything that stood out.
What we found is a gymnast’s dream programming.
The workouts: With six out of the seven total tests already released we have been given enough info needed to make some deductions.
Let’s take a quick look at the tests:
Test 1: The Mad Beginning
- For time:
15 Box Jump Overs (42/32 inches)
30 Sandbag Squats (80/60 pounds)
45 GHD Situps
30 Pistols
15 Deficit SHSPU (6 inches)
60/48 Calorie Assault Bike
15 Deficit SHSPU (6 inches)
30 Pistols
45 GHD Situps
30 Sandbag Squats (80/60 pounds)
15 Box Jump Overs (42/32 inches)
Test 2: Facilito
- For time:
42-30-18
Chest-to-Bar Pullups
21-15-9
Snatch
Men: 143/165/187 pounds
Women: 99/121/143 pounds
Test 3: Lifting Test
- 3 Rounds (90-second window):
50 Jump Bar Double Unders
1RM Clean and Jerk
90-second rest
Test 4: El Parque
- For time:
5K Run
With plate carrier, 45/35 pounds
Test 5: The Burpee Maker
- 5 Sets for time:
75 Burpees over the bar
In a 2:00 window
16/12 Calorie Row
12 Thrusters (88/66 pounds)
Max Bar facing burpees
1:00 rest between sets
Test 6: Rap-Air Up
- 3 Rounds for time:
Handstand Walk (up stairs + down ramp)
20/15 Calorie Ski Erg
Handstand Walk (up ramp + down stairs)
Test 7: Unknown
- Released on-site
Our Analysis
Out of the 17 total movements included throughout the six released workouts, nine of them are gymnastic movements (53%), including high skill movements such as the handstand walk obstacles, Pistols, and deficit SHSPU, as well as high rep burpees.
With proficiency and speed in the gymnastics movements being the crucial factor in many of these workouts, we can now see the reasoning behind the title of this article.
At first glance smaller athletes should have a great chance at scoring well in at least 5 tests (Tests 1, 2, 4, 5, 6), while the only thing that will probably slow them down is the max clean and jerks in Test 3. That’s already 71% of the competition programming that is catered to their success.
On the flip side, bigger and stronger athletes look to be in a lot of trouble this weekend, especially if gymnastics is not one of their strengths. With only one event including heavy weights, that is not enough for them to create gaps on the leaderboard between themselves and the smaller athletes.
Not only will these bigger athletes struggle with all of the gymnastics movements, but the 5k run could also be a serious issue.
Of course, since Test 7 is still unknown, we have no way of judging how this will affect the overall leaderboard, but the bigger athletes will likely be hoping for a heavy barbell or sled for one last push up the leaderboard.
In our opinion, do not be surprised if the podium on both the men’s and women’s sides are predominantly smaller, lighter athletes.
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