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This is the CrossFit Story Everyone is Talking About

Good morning. It’s Wednesday, August 10, and this is your Morning Chalk Up. Did we miss something? Send us a tip at [email protected].

 

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Masters does not know much about weightlifting. He knows even less about CrossFit.” – Russ Greene, CrossFit HQ

 

THE COMPETITION FLOOR


In the crosshairs: Tia-Clair Toomey — The CrossFit world is on fire over what can only be described as a hit piece against Tia-Clair Toomey, who placed 2nd at the Games and 14th at the Olympics (Editors note: we inaccurately wrote that Toomey placed 5th overall yesterday. She actually placed 5th in her group and 14th overall.) Roy Masters of the Sydney Morning Herald wrote a scathing editorial criticizing Toomey’s 14th place Olympic performance.

Here’s what he wrote
“The 23-year-old came second at the World CrossFit Games this year but clearly all that exercise, including bizarre events such as handstand walking, ocean swimming and “suicide sprinting” does not prepare a woman for the snatch and the clean and jerk of Olympic weightlifting.

“Although the World CrossFit Games does include lifting, it is not the focused type to which Toomey was exposed in Rio where she came fifth in group B, meaning there are nine lifters in Group A with personal bests well ahead of her, as well as the four who bettered her on Monday….Nor did Toomey achieve her personal best in the clean and jerk (111kgs), failing to lift 112kgs…”

Here’s how CrossFit responded — 
Russ Greeene writes in a post yesterday, “Masters does not know much about weightlifting. He knows even less about CrossFit….The idea that CrossFit detracted from Toomey’s weightlifting is also flawed in an obvious way: CrossFit is the reason Toomey qualified for the Olympics in weightlifting. According to the Australian athlete, “If it hadn’t been for CrossFit, I wouldn’t be going to Rio.”

If you agree, share this.

From the Rio Olympics Blog
“The Olympic debutant looked confident early despite missing her second snatch attempt…After successful first and second attempts, Toomey paced herself to line up for a 112kg clean and jerk attempt. Her personal best in the clean and jerk is 111kg – the pressure mounted. The 112kg clean and jerk evaded all but one competitor, Mathlynn Sasser of the Marshall Islands, who nailed it on her third and final attempt.”

WHAT THE ELITE ATHLETES ARE UP TO —
Brooke Wells joins team Bergeron. Jamie Hagiya starts her first day back at training with 175# and 185# power snatches. Chandler Smith sumo-deadlifts525 pounds for 3 reps. Carly Fuhrer celebrated her one month anniversary.

 

SPEED READ


IN 2 MINUTES…
Two Klamath Falls residents are riding 300 miles, a mile for each veteran they hope to save. Billy Sullivan, 32, and AJ Davila, 34, are planning a two- to three-day ride from Klamath Falls to The Dalles starting Aug. 25 to raise $45,000 for Lift for the 22, a nonprofit that aims to help prevent the 22 suicides per day committed by military veterans nationwide.

Cindy Doesn’t Know the Word “Can’t” — Cindy Martinez contracted a flesh eating virus a little more than a year ago. Between the disease and the medicine used to treat it, she lost her arm and her legs were amputated just below the knees and the fingers on her left had were amputated half way. “Sitting in a house while her husband worked and children went to school, was too sedate for her. She wanted her strength back and searched for a gym to get in shape. The coaches at Crossfit GOAT met with her one on one…She’s says her core muscles are strengthening. Her balance is better and she is able to go much further now on her prosthetic legs, which is good because she now plans to participate in the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington D.C. this October.” CINDY: ”I want to be able to do things with them and be active. I want them to see their mom as a positive influence and for them to still see me continuing to be strong.” 

FloElite explores Dave Castro’s hunt for the new CrossFit Games host cityAboutTime traveled to Ethiopia to feed families.

HEALTH, MOBILITY & MERCH


PurePharma is offering 15% off your first month of PurePharma-3 subscription— no code necessary. Get 50% off AboutTime’s daily cleanse, joint complex and multi vitamin with code “FIFTEEOFF.”

Chris Spealler breaks down the idea of the “frontal plane,” demonstrating correct and incorrect versions of front squats, push presses and deadlifts. This is the kind of course correction that every athlete from beginner to advanced can benefit from.

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