With the 2018 CrossFit Games in the rearview mirror and the 2019 season looming on the horizon, what better way to celebrate than to look back at some of the greatest moments of the past week? From Spealler using every ounce of his being to push a sled to an over-the-top Josh Bridges celebration, the Games has a history of producing some of the most iconic moments in our sport. This year was no exception. Here are 10 of the greatest moments from this year’s CrossFit Games.
1. Pichelli Finishes the Marathon
These are the moments that separate CrossFit from so many other sports. In what other sport do you see competitors cheering each other on when someone is struggling to finish an event? With the threat of not finishing and being eliminated from the competition looming overhead, Pichelli, who was suffering from extreme cramping, battled through all 42,195m on the rower to the cheers of the crowd and her fellow competitors. They always say the loudest cheers are reserved for the last person on the floor.
2. Chaos
For sure one of the most unique workouts Dave Castro has ever cooked up. All 40 athletes were marched out onto the field without ever being told what the workout was. Every time they progressed to a new station they were told the reps that needed to be completed. It forced athletes to game plan on the fly and let their fitness speak most of all.
3. Froning’s Comeback on the Bicouplet
You can never count out the champ. Team CrossFit Mayhem Freedom started slow in this workout, hanging out toward the middle of the pack through the first two athletes, but thankfully they had four-time individual and two-time team champ Rich Froning as their anchor. With two teams ahead of him before the final couplet, he closed the gap, passed both teams, and walked across the finish line to secure a 1st-place finish in the event.
4. Tia’s Total
With some of the heavy hitters in the field – Brooke Wells, Kara Saunders, etc. – I doubt many people had Tia on the short list of potential winners of the CrossFit Total. But just like she did all weekend, she showed why she was the defending champ. It’s always fun to look back. The last time the CrossFit Games did the CF Total was back in 2007. Back then, the winning score was 530lbs – Tia topped that by 345lbs!
5. Vellner Gets to Stand on the Podium
Vellner wasn’t shy to admit that he was disappointed he wasn’t able to stand on the podium in Madison last year after he was retroactively awarded 3rd place. You put in all that work, usually by yourself, all year long. This is your chance for recognition – and he got robbed of it. It was nice to see him actually stand on the podium this time around. Also, this makes him one of only three other athletes to stand on the podium every time they’ve competed at the Games. The other two? Rich Froning and Mat Fraser.
6. Sager’s Dummy Drag
Being a former Division 1 collegiate running back has its perks. Also, having Mat Fraser breathing down your neck doesn’t hurt either. While so many other athletes struggled with the Rescue Randy drag, Cole Sager showed his savage power, grabbing the dummy by the vest with one arm and sprinting to the finish.
7. Tola Morakinyo’s 315lb Snatch
You know, just doing some average 22-year-old things like snatching 315lbs at the CrossFit Games. If you don’t know Tola Morakinyo, his Instagram is littered with feats of strength and freakishly strong lifts – the link above shows him hit a 300lbs hang snatch for a double! He put up the heaviest weight in the team snatch event with a laughably easy 315lbs before narrowly missing 335lbs.
8. Nick Urankar Wins the Ladder
Everyone loves a ladder. They are designed to be rise-to-your-feet, adrenaline pumping, show-stopping events. This year was no exception, with Nick Urankar asking the crowd to cheer him on and help him lift the 345lb bar overhead.
9. Rookie Willie Georges on the Bicouplet
Georges out of nowhere – not once but twice. Rookie Willie Georges – the first individual qualifier from France – took 1st and 2nd overall in the Bicouplet 1 and 2. Better yet, he won his heat both times amongst the leaders of the pack. That’s what made it even more special. The camera was fixated on Noah and Fraser the whole workout before Georges, in the furthest lane, snuck in to beat them both. He then repeated that effort a second time in the Bicouplet 2.
10. Cassidy Lance-Mcwherter’s Last Clean and Jerk
Cassidy Lance-Mcwherter had nothing to gain and everything to lose with her last clean and jerk. By this point, the other four women in the heat had finished, which meant Cassidy was locked into a 5th place finish in the event – so there was really no point to even attempt that final bar and risk injury. But, unwilling to disappoint the crowd and after a few failed attempts, she managed to clean and jerk her final weight to thunderous applause.
Main image: Katrin Davidsdottir/Instagram
