Can we just say… What the heck just happened?

The new format for the Games this year continues to surprise (read: confuse) us. The pool of competitors continues to be cut down, and at the end of Day 2, 20 men, 20 women, and 11 teams were left to move into Day 3.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of all is two athletes out of the running: Brent Fikowski (who actually quit his job late last year to be a full-time athlete and just barely missed making podium) and former fittest man in the world Ben Smith. Both skilled competitors. Both immensely strong and powerful. Both fan favourites. All of that goes without saying.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0req-ADAgh/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0rPNe4JURO/

Sadly, with Fikowski standing in 23rd place at the end of Day 2 and Smith in 29th, this is the end of the road for them this year.

Do you think the new format makes sense? Furthermore, is it fair?

Main image: Brent Fikowski/Instagram, photo by Olivia Gabriel