“She’s the reason I’m here. Today, her dream came true.”- Jeffrey Adler, talking about his partner and coach, Caroline Lambray, after winning the 2023 NOBULL CrossFit Games
CROSSFIT GAMES
A Look Back: What Did We Learn from the 2023 NOBULL CrossFit Games Teams Division?
Fifteen years ago, Northwest CrossFit took home the first Affiliate Cup after CrossFit introduced a new team division to the CrossFit Games. Nearly a decade and a half later, the tradition still continues.
While the competition looks substantially different than it did at the Home Depot Center in 2009, and has undergone a number of qualification systems and team structure changes over the years, the quest remains the same, to find the fittest affiliate.
This year, that award went to one of CrossFit’s oldest affiliates. An affiliate that has sent a team to every single CrossFit Games since the inception of the team competition, CrossFit Invictus. As we wrap up the 2023 season and volunteers break down the Rogue Rig in Madison and load the truck with worms, it’s time to take a look at what we learned from this year’s team competition.
Consistency Breeds Results
Like most sports, CrossFit teams have a tendency to switch up their roster with the start of a new season.
However, unlike most sports, because CrossFit teams consist of just four athletes, a swap of even just one or two athletes can change between 25-50% of the team.
Very rarely do we see teams return with the same roster year after year.
CrossFit Invictus decided to put that to the test.
In 2022, they came in third with Jorge Fernandez, Joshua Al-chamaa, Brittany Weiss, and Devyn Kim.
In 2023, they went back to San Diego, worked on their weaknesses and came back stronger and more united as a team.
In their second year working together, the team took the Affiliate Cup back to San Diego for the first time since 2014, beating second-place team CrossFit East Nashville PRVN by 31 points.
By the time the final event rolled around, CrossFit Invictus already had first place on lock, only needing to place 16th or higher to secure their first-place victory.
Invictus also took home three test wins and only finished three tests outside the top three.
Beyond that, in a world of super teams, CrossFit Invictus remains one of the few homegrown affiliate teams.
All four members are members of CrossFit Invictus in San Diego, including Devyn Kim, who has been there since she was a teenager, and Brittany Weiss, who has called Invictus her home since 2017.
It’s a true callback to the original intentions of the Affiliate Cup and the grassroots community of affiliates that CrossFit has created, as well as to the Invictus community out in San Diego.
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For the past several years, fan favorite and multiple-time Games podium athlete, Patrick Vellner has been recapping his Games tests. Don’t miss them over the next few days.
Another Games veteran, Bethany Flores is getting in on the recap action too.
Unfortunately, not all news is good news. Dane County Sheriff’s Office detectives revealed that they arrested a Tennessee man for allegedly filming men using the bathroom at the Aiilant Energy Center during the CrossFit Games.
ICYMI: Thirteen moments that will stick with us from the final CrossFit Games in Madison.
LIFESTYLE
MEMBER EXCLUSIVE
Fueling After an Injury, Featuring Travis Mayer
Earlier in 2023, eight-time CrossFit Games athlete Travis Mayer developed a severe bone bruise on the hook of the hamate in his hand during the final event at Wodapalooza. This injury was one that ultimately made the decision for him to not compete in the NOBULL CrossFit Games season this year.
We talked with Mayer about his experiences with injuries during his career, how he’s dealt with them and how he’s used nutrition to help through recovery.
CrossFit Community Rallies for Affiliate Coach After Bike Accident
At Certus CrossFit in Clovis, California, every class starts with a “rhythm clap”–athletes clap three times, then slap their thighs three times. It brings the group together and primes them for a good workout.
Now, the coach that started the rhythm clap needs his gym’s–and the greater CrossFit community’s–help.
James Scharnick has been in the hospital for weeks after a serious biking accident over Father’s Day Weekend, in which he was launched over the front wheel and sent him headfirst into the ground. He was rushed to the hospital and his surgeon fused his spine at C3-C6. While he’s on the mend and has gained some strength in his arms, the road ahead to a full recovery is a long one.
“James is super important to our gym. It’s not like he’s some random guy that came in at some point, he’s helped build this place from the ground up,” head coach Joe Devane said. The two are the head coaches at Certus together. “James, he’s the type of guy that would do anything for anyone no questions asked.”
Devane said that just like Scharnick is always encouraging his gym members and lifting them up, members are now bringing the same support back to Scharnick. The gym has helped raise over $80,000 to help Scharnick’s family with medical bills. In addition, CrossFit Mayhem shared Scharnick’s story on their YouTube channel and asked their viewers to pray and donate if possible.
“(I’m) more grateful than I could explain,” Scharnick’s wife, Sarah Scharnick, said. “I knew we had a big and generous community but I didn’t think that it would become what it has.”
Now, the gym is going one step further to reach more people and get more support for the Scharnick family. They’ve created a hero workout, called “Rhythm Clap,” that they’re asking affiliates around the world to participate in on August 19. Their goal is to spread awareness, raise money, and share Scharnick’s encouraging spirit with the greater CrossFit community.
Despite the long journey he’s facing ahead, Scharnick still has his trademark positivity.
Scharnick: “It’s been very challenging with lots of ups and downs. However, there are two things that have prepared me most for this. My faith is by trusting that God has everything under control and CrossFit because we challenge ourselves daily and put ourselves through hardship and challenging circumstances each and every day in the gym. As coach Glassman said, the biggest adaptation is between the ears.”
Watching the 2023 CrossFit Games gives all sorts of feelings, but often the main one is the motivation to get fitter. There is nothing like watching these incredible athletes reach the highest fitness levels to push you to want to do the same – to test your ability to push yourself past levels you never thought possible. But how to best attack this goal?
Enter Mayhem Performance Coaching, brought to you by Jake Foster and the crew over at Mayhem Athlete. Mayhem is now doing 1:1 personalized performance programming with clients remotely, so wherever you are in the world, you can glean knowledge from some of the best in the CrossFit space. This is an elite program, though, not necessarily for the level of the athlete but for the level of personalized attention each participant will get. This means that Mayhem will only be taking 50 – yes, 50 – clients at a time, and you must apply to be accepted. This is an exclusive program!
“One of the biggest challenges as a competitive CrossFit athlete is the immense amount of confusing advice available on improving in the sport. That’s why we created Mayhem Performance Coaching,” said Jake Foster, Mayhem Performance Head Coach. “We team you up with a coach who guides you in finding the most effective training, nutrition, and lifestyle program for your needs. It’s the most personalized, scientific, and fastest way to help you compete in the next level of CrossFit.”
You can earn exclusive rewards like stickers, patches, and mugs (all the way up to a barbell) by simply referring people to subscribe to our free daily newsletter. Grab your exclusive link and start sharing the Morning Chalk Up with your friends, family, and people you met one time on a Saturday morning WOD to get started.
Embracing our legacy of innovation and leadership, Wodify is thrilled to introduce Brendan Rice as our new CEO. Rice has spent over five years at Wodify, leading the marketing, sales, and customer success functions. He has a passion for fitness and enjoys being an ambassador for Wodify in the community.
Kineon is a biotech company that is dedicated to changing the way we approach chronic pain, through next-generation light therapy products. Read more about them and why they’ve already raised over $120k in crowd funding!
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We were all inspired by Roman Khrennikov doing single leg double-unders at the Games. But you shouldn’t be pushing through an injury like that at the gym…
Congratulations to Briley Smith for taking first place in the Black Sheep Games this past weekend at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, FL.
Former Professional Racing Driver Danica Patrick made an appearance at the CrossFit Games.
Strongman Laurence Shahlaei broke the world record with his Dinnie Stones Carry of 22 feet, 4 inches. (6.8m)
On Monday, August 14th, Sheyenne River CrossFit in West Fargo, ND is hosting a memorial workout for fallen Fargo Police Officer, Jake Wallin. Several gyms in the Fargo area are hosting the workout, including multiple heats at CrossFit Fargo.
The workout includes:
3 Rounds for time, which signifies the beat Officer Wallin worked on.
1,050-meter run. 10-50 is the police code for an auto accident that Officer Wallin responded to on July 14th.
7 weighted box stepovers, 14 squats, and 23 burpees. This signifies 7/14/23, the date of the fallen officer’s end of watch.
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