“When one burns one's bridges, what a very nice fire it makes.”- Dylan Thomas
CROSSFIT GAMES
Meet Games Rookie Pedro Martins: Putting Medicine on Hold to Live his CrossFit Dream
Some athletes quietly shed a tear of happiness when their name gets announced and they realize they’re heading to the CrossFit Games. Others smile and embrace their coach or a loved one.
But not Pedro Martins. The 32-year-old Brazilian, who recently qualified for his first CrossFit Games through the CrossFit Copa Sur Semifinals, experienced arguably the most boisterous and memorable Games-bound celebration of the season.
The scene in Brazil: Before his name was announced, Martins sat quietly on the floor with the other competitors. Waiting.
Then it happened.
The announcer called his name and Martins was immediately circled by other athletes, who created a huddle and began jumping up and down together, smiling, cheering, celebrating Martins’ accomplishment in a beautiful scene that looked more like a team winning a championship than opponents embracing a fellow competitor.
“The moment of the announcement was spectacular. As soon as my name was spoken I was very happy. I was even happier with the best scene that has ever occurred to me during the sport: my friends and opponents jumping and hugging me, being happy for me,” Martins said.
That’s exactly what Dena Garner, Ph.D. first thought when her research started to show the impact a mouthpiece could have on breathing during workouts.
Like all good scientists though, she then spent years trying to disprove her findings.
But…she couldn’t.
Don’t sleep on it: Over years of sleep studies, CT scans, and hands-on research Dr. Garner found that using a mouthpiece to alter your tongue and jaw position, you gain increased endurance, recovery, and even strength.
In case you missed it: Lauren Kalil, the host of The Bottom Line, spoke to Brian Friend and Dex Hopkins about Danielle Brandon parting ways with Underdogs Athletics and the Games implications for her.
Sponsor alert: TYR is now the headline sponsor for Wodapalooza this coming January in Miami. Expect to see a lot of cool shades, even more so now. 😎
Athlete confirms: Kenzie Nolte has confirmed for the 2022 Buckeye Games July 16 & 23.
Tortilla slap: Ummm we aren’t sure what this is, but it’s ever so funny watching CrossFit athletes slap each other with, yes, tortillas. 🤔
Controversy: The New York Times (paywall) has a piece on Arizona Republican Senate candidate Blake Masters’ and posts he made in a CrossFit chat room.
CROSSFIT GAMES
MEMBER EXCLUSIVE
Scoring the 40 Female Games Athletes Against One Another on 2022 Workouts
Yesterday we highlighted the men in this study, today it’s the women’s turn.
We’ve taken the ten workouts from the Open, Quarterfinals, and Semifinals that all 40 Games qualifiers did, ranked and scored the athletes against each other using Games scoring and will dive into what that data offers.
The Freakest Challenge 2022: Everything You Need To Know
What do you get when you mix two days of fitness competition, the top athletes from eight European countries, the five-time fittest man on earth, and an Olympic arena packed with fans in an atmosphere resembling a Barcelona nightclub?
You get the 7th edition of the Freakest Challenge, one of the more unique competitions in the CrossFit space that kicks off this weekend. This year the event has expanded and rebranded to the Fittest Freakest Challenge Weekend, and now boasts two separate competitions on Saturday July 9, and Sunday July 10, each with a unique format as athletes battle it out for 25,000 euros in prize money.
Both competitions will take place at the Palau Olímpic de Badalona, which during the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics hosted the basketball competition and famed United States basketball squad dubbed the “Dream Team.”
The Challenge is a four person team competition open to squads from all over Europe that in past iterations has been the centerpiece of the Freakest Challenge, and will take place on Saturday. Similar to years past it will feature eight teams going head to head in an elimination style format until one team is crowned the champion.
Just in case you needed a refresher on the event, in 2020 the Morning Chalk Up was on the ground at the event and had the chance to document our experience as well as some of the action going on behind the scenes with the athletes.
Today’s workout is programmed by three-time Games qualifier and Morning Chalk Up Bottom Line correspondent Dex Hopkins. The Brute Strength coach and content creator is coming off his first individual competitive season since the 2016 Regionals. The 33-year old “girl-dad” of two qualified and 2024 Games masters division hopeful placed 23rd at the Syndicate Crown Semifinal this past May.
Dex Hopkins
Every 2:00 until you accumulate 120 Cals on Ski Erg
4 Ring Muscle-ups
50-feet Handstand Walk
AMRAP Cal Ski remainder of time
Time Cap: 24 minutes or 12 Rounds (or death!!!)
Scaling Options:
Muscle-ups – 6 Bar Muscle-ups
Handstand Walk – 50-feet down dog bear crawl
Some advice from Dex: “Scale skills to allow :60ish of skiing per round. Scale muscle ups/handstand walk appropriately based on skill level/capacity.”
To inquire about submitting an upcoming workout of the week, shoot us a note.
THINGS TO...
...MASTER
Your Snatch Contact
Too little and you're off balance, too much and you're in pain, but how much is the correct amount of contact in your snatch? Here's the ultimate breakdown of when to let the bar leave your body to help you hit new PRs.
TYR Sunglasses Worn By Top Qualifiers at Granite Games
Check out TYR Sunglasses worn by Games qualifiers, Travis Mayer and Amanda Barnhart. Polarized, lightweight, and equipped with a no-slip grip, TYR Sunglasses are engineered to perform under the most demanding conditions. Make sure to utilize the virtual try-on feature with the “Try on Now” button on each sunglass style.
Every athlete loves the build-up to the Games, but none more than last year's fifth-placed finisher Haley Adams. Check out a day of Games prep as Haley looks to hold on to her crown as the Fittest Woman in America.
A Free WHOOP Strap 4.0 and Extra Month's Membership
WHOOP measures your body's data over 100 times a second to provide personalized feedback on your recovery, strain, and sleep. Morning Chalk Up readers can get a free strap and an extra month's membership when you sign up at the link below.
Think caramel is just for dessert? You thought wrong. This all-purpose concoction of caramel and savory sauces is excellent for braising and stir-fries, but watch it sing when used to baste anything on the grill, like these flavorful charred chops.
Celebrating a PR, hosting a fundraiser, this, that, or otherwise. Send us a highlight.
Congratulations to Jordan Noe from Naples, FL on the 215 pound/98kg bench press.
Congratulations to 15-year-old Gabi Napper from Central Weightlifting Academy in Auckland, New Zealand on the 220 pound/100kg clean and jerk PR.
Congratulations to Evelyn Brady from Jamerson CrossFit in Lynchberg, VA on the 235 pound/107kg deadlift double.
💪 This little girl loves working out with her daddy— even on push-up day.
Encouraged by our recent series, Rachael Skinner from CrossFit Ergon in Clarksville, TN took a brave step forward in sharing her own story struggling with body image.
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