“Sports do not build character. They reveal it.”- Heywood Broun
CROSSFIT GAMES
Quarterfinals Preview: Europe
The Quarterfinals, which are the newest part of the CrossFit Games season, are upon us this week. We want to preview each of the Continents and provide some insight into what to expect. The number of athletes who have qualified for Quarterfinals is vast, particularly in certain regions, but the number of athletes who have a good chance to advance to the Semifinals is far fewer.
Today’s focus is on Europe where there are 2,344 women and 3,594 men who are eligible to compete in the Quarterfinals. From this large group of athletes, only 60 women and 60 men will be eligible to qualify for the two European Semifinals this spring. That means that after whittling the continent down to the top ten percent through the Open, this weekend is going to significantly narrow the focus: only 2.5% of the remaining women and 1.7% of the remaining men in Europe will make it through to the next stage.
In trying to identify who these top 60 might be, it’s easiest to break it down into a few distinct categories. The athletes listed in all five of these groups (for both men and women) found themselves inside the top 60 after the close of the Open.
Five Habits of Highly Successful Nutrition Clients
With so much misinformation about nutrition, it can feel overwhelming to decide which diet is right for you.
Healthy Steps Nutrition believes something as fundamental as nutrition shouldn’t be complicated, so they focus on a simple, habit-based approach when working with clients.
That’s why they have successfully helped over 35,000 people become the healthiest version of themselves, one step at a time.
Available today — Mid-Atlantic CrossFit Challenge tickets.Spectator tickets will be available for purchase starting today at 12:00PM EST. The Early Bird Special price is $99 for a Three-Day Pass. This offer is for a limited time. Once the Early Bird Special is over, only single-day passes will be sold.
Athlete registration for Torian Pro, the Oceania Semifinal, is now live.
Nano X + Legacy Lifter Bundle: For a limited time, you can save $130 when you buy the Reebok Nano X and Legacy Lifter with code “WOD”.
MUST READ: In the South China Morning Post, Patrick Blenerhassett asked the question: “Will Mat Fraser Stay Retired?” and in it he notes that Fraser left the sport on top and that many other superstar athletes who have done the same felt compelled to comeback for another shot at greatness.
Blennerhassett: “Fraser may sit at home, watch the competitions on his laptop, and totally not give a single moment’s thought as to whether he pulled the plug on his career too early. Or, it may be something he may grapple with, more and more, as the season winds on, and a new champion is crowned.”
Here are 15 interesting stats from Open Workouts 21.3 and 21.4.
INTERVIEWS
MEMBER EXCLUSIVE
Seven Months Postpartum: Annie Thorisdottir on Track to Return to the Games this Summer
Last year, eight-time CrossFit Games athlete Kara Sanders made history when she became the first podium finisher to qualify for the CrossFit Games after giving birth, a feat she achieved just five months after giving birth to her baby Scotti.
This year, two-time Games champion Annie Thorisdottir, who gave birth to her daughter Freyja just seven months ago, is aiming to become the second.
Scott Panchik's Open Announcement Performance Was More Important Than You Think
The chance to be an Open announcement athlete has historically been an honor bestowed each year to a select group of athletes who either finished the previous year in the top-10 at the Games, or have a continued history of excellence in the sport.
What it historically is not is a chance to put forth a top score worldwide in the workout.
That is what makes Scott Panchik’s Open announcement performance impressive. Consider that even though he retested, his original 21.3 score would have been 12th worldwide in the workout as one of the first athletes to tackle the workout, and (most likely) the first athlete in the world to finish it.
Couple that with the fact that his original 21.4 score would have been higher than all but one athlete ahead of him worldwide in 21.3 — one Rich Froning Jr. who he does not have to compete against technically — and what Panchik was able to do with a few minutes notice in the pair of workouts stands as one of the better Open announcement performances we’ve seen to date.
In an ideal world, our flawless technique will always be enough. But we’ve all been there, on that last set of clean and jerks you just need the bar to stay overhead. This Cal Strength video offers some great tips on how to finish that heavy set with a win, even when you're fatigued.
Between whey, creatine, pre-workout, and CBD, it has become essential to learn precisely what is going into your body. Xwerks provides insightful education and guides on what each supplement does and whether you should be taking it. Morning Chalk Up readers also get 10% off any supplement purchase with code "MCU".
Whether you're moving on to the Quarterfinals or not, the 2021 CrossFit Open is over and it's time to start looking forward. If you're struggling with your performance then watch this video on how to "turn the page" and start crushing the next workout.
Brent Fikowski and the Train Your Weakness coaching team have put together a program to help you start stringing together double unders with ease. With only two 30-minute workouts a week, it easily fits alongside your regular schedule.
Everyone deserves a cookie every now and then. We love these paleo lemon poppy seed cookies made with a mix of coconut flour and almond flour then topped with an easy, sweet and zesty lemon glaze. Not for dipping in milk, but still delicious.
Chalk Up Highlights is our section dedicated to celebrating our community’s wins in the gym. Follow @ChalkUpHighlights and submit your highlight to tips@morningchalkup.com to be featured.
Happy birthday to Sam Kitching, Cofounder and Chief Partnership Officer of WIT.
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