Reykjavik vs Mayhem: What to Expect at the CrossFit Games
May 27 |
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Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up. Week two of the semifinals kick off today with the Mid-Atlantic CrossFit Challenge and the CrossFit Fittest in Cape Town.
In today’s edition:
Comparing semifinal programming from week one to two
CrossFit Reykjavik versus Mayhem Freedom, the dream showdown awaits
Age Group Semifinals preview, who makes the Games and who doesn’t?
Spartan World Champion Robert Killian on training for the impossible
Everything you need to know about the Mid-Atlantic CrossFit Challenge and the CrossFit Fittest in Cape Town
“Courage is fear holding on a minute longer.”- George S. Patton
CROSSFIT GAMES
How Does Semifinal Programming from Week One Compare to Week Two?
Week 1 of the 2022 CrossFit Games Semifinals is in the books and week 2 is here. Today the focus is on evaluating the programming for the two Semifinals in week 2 and how they fit in and compare with the first three slates of workouts from week 1. (If you haven’t read the article linked here, it is recommended to do so. Many of these topics are discussed in more detail there.)
Time Domains
When evaluating time domains, we are talking about expected time domains, not listed time caps. In the table below, we have updated the time caps (when needed) to reflect the actual times needed for the top 10 or so athletes in each event. In the case that it was notably different for men than women, the men are listed first followed by a slash and then the women.
For the MACC and Cape Town columns, those are the projected expected times for each workout.
“I’m so glad that I’ve found a belt that makes me feel safe and secure when I’m lifting, stays in place, and that I know won’t pop off. My belt is the moon phases, and it symbolizes my journey in CrossFit, the different phases and the ups and downs of life… so yeah, it’s basically me in a belt.” – Alexis Raptis, 2nd Place Finisher at the Syndicate Crown
In case you missed it: Lauren Kalil, the host of The Bottom Line, spoke to Justin LoFranco and Armen Hammer about whether or not they think anyone can actually beat Tia-Clair Toomey at the 2022 NOBULL CrossFit Games.
Wow that’s early: Tickets for the 2022 Rogue Invitational are now on sale for the Austin, TX event that will take place October 28 – 30.
Training buddy: Want to work out with none other than five-time Games champion Mat Fraser? Here is your chance, and it’s at the Granite Games. 🤩
What’s up, Doc?: Ever wanted to have a pair of Looney Tunes Reebok Nano X1 shoes? Well, the wait is over, the shoe is here and it is awesome. 🐰
CROSSFIT GAMES
MEMBER EXCLUSIVE
Reykjavik vs. Mayhem: What We Learned from Semifinals
The first weekend of Semifinals has concluded and it did not disappoint. But for all the questions that were answered as athletes secured their tickets to the Games in week one, some others linger, including: can the super team of CrossFit Reykjavík topple the five-time Affiliate Cup Champions, CrossFit Mayhem Freedom this summer?
The Semifinals: Fans were treated to both teams in action in the opening weekend, albeit on different continents. Mayhem was competing not too far from home in Knoxville, TN at the Syndicate Crown while Reykjavík made the trek from Iceland to the Netherlands to compete at the Lowlands Throwdown in Amsterdam.
Reykjavík, captained by two-time “Fittest Woman on Earth” Annie Thorisdottir, and consisting of Games veterans Lauren Fisher, Tola Morakinyo and Khan Porter became the first team this season to record a clean-sweep of their events (and second team ever after Eikestad Mighty Oaks won all seven events at last year’s Fittest in Cape Town Semifinal) going a perfect 6-for-6 as they dominated the European team field inside the packed RAI Amsterdam Center.
Mayhem, captained by four-time “Fittest Man on Earth” Rich Froning added Canadian and Games individual qualifier Samuel Cournoyer to his team that included 2021 Games holdovers Taylor Williamson and Andrea Nisler. They matched Reykjavik with a dominating sweep of the six events inside the Knoxville Civic Coliseum.
The fields at both Semifinals lacked the teams that could test the two powerhouses. Reykjavík’s closest competitor was Spanish team CrossFit Zarautz Training Culture, who they beat by 95 points. For Mayhem they beat CrossFit CLT by 80 points. Both teams never were pushed in any event and were competing against themselves and the clock.
2022 CrossFit Semifinals Preview: Age Group Divisions
There’s been much talk about week 2 of the NOBULL CrossFit Games Semifinals as the Mid-Atlantic CrossFit Challenge and the Fittest in Cape Town take center stage. However, a big online competition is kcking off, with the same thing on the line, an invitation to the 2022 Games in Madison, WI, this weekend
Three hundred athletes spread across 10 divisions will be tackling six workouts over the course of four days in the first-ever Age Group Online Semifinals.
Teens in the 14-15 and 16-17 age group will join their counterparts in the 35-39, 40-44 and the 45-49 divisions in the Game’s season’s newest stage and pathway to the Games. The top-10 finishers will receive Games invites.
35-39 Age Group Division
Men
We will have a brand new champion and contenders for this year’s podium as three-time division champ Kyle Kasperbauer “aged-up” and then retired from competition and podium finishers Adrian Conway and James Hobart are not competing this year. Regardless, this year’s division is stacked with Games veterans that will make this an exciting race.
Three-time Games veteran and fan favorite Sam Dancer is among the favorites to win the Semifinals after winning both the Open and Quarterfinals titles for the division. Roy Gamboa is just one year removed from competing at last year’s Games and finished seventh in the Quarterfinals. Other Games veterans to keep an eye on are Justin Ahrens, Paul Tremblay, Austin Malleolo, Craig Kenney and Frederik Aegidius, who like Dancer and Gamboa are in their first year in the division.
Women
Last year’s third place finisher Aneta Tucker is the lone podium returnee but she will have her hands full as the women’s depth is on par with the mens. Chyna Cho is an early favorite due to her Games and championship pedigree. Emilia Leppänen competed as an individual at the Games last year, finishing 29th in her second Games appearance.
Other Games veterans that will push for the vacated crown are Kelley Jackson and Carleen Mathews. April Payne and Colleen LeHane finished fourth and fifth respectively at last year’s Games in the division.
Training For The Impossible with Two-Time Spartan World Champion Robert Killian
In 2015, Robert Killian’s military mentor convinced him to sign up for a Spartan Race, a sport he knew absolutely nothing about.
Killian was apprehensive, mostly because he didn’t want to be “the guy who shows up and hasn’t done a race before,” he explained.
“Like a CrossFitter, I didn’t want to show up never having done wall balls. I wanted to at least practice,” said Killian, who then signed up for a small Spartan race in Breckenridge, CO just to get his feet wet.
Three Spartan Races to his name later, and Killian became the World Champion in 2015.
Who is Robert Killian?
Killian, 40, is best known for being a two-time Spartan Race World Champion—a sport that involves running between three miles and 26 miles, broken up by various obstacles along the way—but the 20-year Army veteran has a host of other athletic accomplishments to his name, as well.
In just a couple of hours, the Mid-Atlantic CrossFit Challenge kicks off in Knoxville, TN. Full details on that are included below.
We have our eyes on CrossFit Mayhem Independence. If they secure a Games ticket, it will be the first time a single affiliate has sent three teams to the Games.
This is Brooke Wells’ first time back on the competition floor after her injury at the 2021 Games. We are looking for her to shake off some rust and build confidence through the weekend.
Fan favorites Noah Ohlsen, Danielle Brandon, the Panchik twins, as well as teen powerhouses, Dallin Pepper and Faith Ferguson round out some of the top stories we are tracking.
Want to see the schedule in your local time zone? Our schedule will automatically update to where you are on MorningChalkUp.com, and on our iOS or Android app.
The 2022 Fittest in Cape Town is already off and running and depending on your time zone (and alarm clock), some of the swimming events have already taken place. With only one Games ticket available for the men, women, and teams, look for the action to be hot and heavy from the start.
For a full schedule and leaderboard, we’ve included quick links to access all the information below.
The competition kicked off at 4:00 AM PT, but the first events have yet to conclude so there are no scores to tabulate. Here are the top 10 seeded athletes and teams coming out of quarterfinals.
Friday’s schedule of events: Below is the broadcast schedule. You can watch all events live on our content hub.
Team Event 1 — 11:45 PM PT (Thur) | 2:45 AM ET | 8:45 AM GMT+2
Individual Event 1 — 1:15 AM PT | 4:15 AM ET | 10:15 AM GMT+2
Team Event 2 — 6:21 AM PT | 9:21 AM ET | 3:21 PM GMT+2
Individual Event 2 — 7:31 AM PT | 10:31 AM ET | 4:31 PM GMT+2
Want to see the schedule in your local time zone? Our schedule will automatically update to where you are on MorningChalkUp.com, and on our iOS or Android app.
Day 1 Events
Team Event 1
For time:
Split anyhow as a team,
2000m ski erg
Then, in any order, each athlete completes,
150m swim
20 Slam Ball Squats women 66 lbs/30 kg men 110 lbs/50 kg
Time Cap: 25 minutes
Individual Event 1
For time:
1000m ski erg
Then, 5 rounds for time:
100m swim
20 alternating bear hug-forward lunges with slam ball women 66 lbs/30 kg men 110 lbs/50 kg
Time cap: 24 minutes
Team Event 2
For time:
Accumulate 50 synchro bar muscle-ups per pair MM then FF (50/50)
Within a maximum of 7 rounds, 3 minutes on 1 minute off
15/10 calorie assault bike (partner 1)
20m handstand walk
In remaining time of 3 min round: Max synchro bar muscle-ups
Time cap: 27 minutes
Individual Event 2
For time:
10 rounds of:
1 legless rope climb
170ft run
Time cap: 11 minutes
THINGS TO...
...WATCH
Behind The Scenes With The World's Fittest Man
Justin Medeiros booked his ticket back to the Games last weekend, topping the leaderboard down in Tennessee. Head behind the scenes while Justin competes at Syndicate Crown, hear some top-quality trash talk with Jayson Hopper, and see some epic fort-building skills.
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Celebrating a PR, hosting a fundraiser, this, that, or otherwise. Send us a highlight.
😳 Italian weightlifter Antonino Pizzolato makes 463 pound/210kg front squats look like a warm-up set.
Congratulations Sam Schon from Pilchuck CrossFit in Arlington, WA on the new snatch PR of 235 pounds/107kg.
Congratulations Rosalie Belanger from CrossFit Sag in Saguenay, Canada on the 195 pound/88kg power snatch.
🏊♀️ Congratulations Kaitlyn Johnson from CrossFit Ridgeline in Morgantown, WV on the 41st fastest 50 LCM Free swim in the United States.
“My time of 25.82 qualifies for the US National Championship, is faster than the 2020 Olympic Trial qualifying time, and is also only .07 off my PR while training full time as a professional swimmer. All thanks to CrossFit.”
Remember Giorgio Rapicavoli— the Miami chef from CrossFit Soul that we interviewed last month? Check out these inspiring before and after photos from Giorgio’s 40 pound (18kg) weight loss journey.
✍️ Welcome to the Morning Chalk Up team, Preslie Hirsch! Check out the Hey Preslie podcast to learn more about our newest staff writer from Austin, TX.
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