CrossFit Games Kick Off Today
If you haven’t heard of CrossFit yet, well, you’ve somehow missed the Reebok commercials, the ESPN2 airtime, the celebrity endorsements, and coverage in magazines and websites like this one. But just in case, here’s a quick rundown: CrossFit is a strength and conditioning program that combines Olympic weightlifting, plyometrics, and gymnastics. You’ll find CrossFit affiliate gyms all over the world, including 5,000 or so in the United States (and that number is growing fast!). Some CrossFitters even compete in strongman-like competitions—and every summer since 2007, the best of the best have convened to crown the “Fittest Man” and “Fittest Woman” on Earth. (There are also team and masters categories.)
The 2012 CrossFit Games officially kick off today in Southern California, but at their opening night dinner on Monday, individual athletes were greeted with a surprise: an additional day of competition had been added. Wednesday morning, they were shuttled to Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base Camp, where they tackled what I’d call a triathlon on crack: a 700 meter swim, followed by an 8 kilometer bike ride and 11-kilometer run—on sand. As if that wasn’t enough, the CrossFitters then battled an intense obstacle course.
The Games will resume today at the Home Depot Center (home of the LA Galaxy soccer team) just outside of Los Angeles in Carson. Events will take place through Sunday and promise to be as exciting as Wednesday’s bombshell. ESPN3 will be streaming parts the Games online (full schedule and stream here). Here’s a taste of what to expect tonight:
“Medball HSPU”
- 3 rounds for time:
- 8 medicine-ball cleans
- 100-foot medicine ball carry
- 7 parallette handstand pushups
- 100-foot medicine ball carry
Last year’s CrossFit Games champions, Rich Froning and Annie Thorisdottir (pictured above), are back to defend their titles—and take home another $250,000 apiece—but no individual, team, or master’s competitor has earned the “Fittest on Earth” distinction twice in the five years the Games have existed. Chances are, a new king and queen of CrossFit will be crowned by the end of the weekend. Be sure to follow along with exclusive coverage from Fitbie on Twitter and Instagram.
—Christine Mattheis, editor, Fitbie
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