• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
The BarBend Logo in white.

BarBend

The Online Home for Strength Sports

  • Strength
    • Best Home Gym Machines
      • Best Functional Trainers
      • Best Squat Racks
      • Best Budget Home Gym Equipment
      • Best Cable Machines
      • Best Weight Benches
      • Best Smith Machines
      • Best Smart Home Gyms
    • Best Barbells
      • Best Budget Exercise Bikes
      • Best Budget Barbells
      • Best Powerlifting Barbells
      • Best Barbells For Women
    • Best Kettlebells
      • Best Adjustable Kettlebells
    • Best Dumbbells
      • Best Adjustable Dumbbells
    • More Strength Equipement
      • Best Resistance Bands
      • Best Weight Plates
      • Best Bumper Plates
      • Best Slam Balls
      • Best Weighted Vests
      • Best Weight Sleds
      • All Other Strength Equipment
    • Training
      • Exercise Guides
        • Deadlift
        • Bench Press
        • Back Squat
        • Overhead Press
        • Lat Pulldown
        • Shoulder Exercises
        • Chest Exercises
        • Ab Exercises
        • Quad Exercises
        • Biceps Exercises
      • Training Guides
        • Beginner’s Guide to the Gym
        • How to Build Muscle
        • Guide to Muscle Hypertrophy
        • How to Train on a Cut
      • Workouts
        • Back Workouts
        • At-Home Workouts
        • Chest & Back Workouts
        • Full-Body Workout
        • HIIT Workouts
        • Bodybuilding Workouts
        • Farmer’s Carry Workouts
      • Programs
        • 5×5 Program
        • Bodybuilding Programs
        • Push-Up Program
        • Pull-Up Program
        • 5/3/1 Program
        • Powerbuilding Program
        • German Volume Training
        • Build Your Own Program
    • News
      • CrossFit
      • Strongman
      • Bodybuilding
      • Powerlifting
      • Weightlifting
      • HYROX
    • Individual Strength Equipment Reviews
  • Nutrition
    • Best Protein
      • Best Protein Powder for Men
      • Best Whey Isolate Protein Powders
      • Best Protein Powder For Women
      • Best Tasting Protein Powders
      • Best Protein Bars
      • Protein by Goal
        • Best Mass Gainer
        • Best Protein Powder for Weight Loss
        • Best Protein Powder for Weight Gain
        • Best Protein Powder for Muscle Gain
      • Protein by Diet
        • Best Egg White Protein Powder
        • Best Keto Protein Powder
        • Best Organic Protein Powder
        • Best Vegan Protein Powders
    • Best BCAA’s
      • Best BCAA’s for Women
    • Best Fat Burners
      • Best Non-Stim Fat Burners
      • Best Fat Burners For Men
      • Best Curved Treadmills
      • Best Fat Burners For Women
    • Best Pre-Workouts
      • Best Non-Stim Pre-Workouts
      • Best Pre-Workout for Women
      • Best Pre-Workouts for Men
      • Strongest Pre-Workouts
    • Best Creatine
      • Best Creatine Gummies
      • Best Creatine For Women
      • Best Creatine for Men
    • Other Nutrition Products
      • Best Meal Replacements
      • Best Nitric Oxide Supplements
      • Best Electrolyte Supplements
      • Best Greens Powder
        • Best Greens Powder for Pregnancy
      • Best Meal Delivery Services
        • Best Budget Meal Delivery Services
        • Best Vegan Meal Delivery Service
        • Best Healthy Meal Delivery Service
        • Best Meal Delivery Service for Weight Loss
        • Best Paleo Meal Delivery Services
        • Best Multivitamins for Women
        • Best Multivitamins for Men
        • Best Supplement Stacks
        • Best Multivitamins
    • Guides
      • Diets
        • Carb Cycling
        • Vertical Diet
        • Reverse Dieting
        • Carnivore Diet
        • Ketogenic Diet
        • Intermittent Fasting
        • IIFYM Diet
      • Muscle Gain
        • How to Dirty Bulk
        • Go From Cutting to Bulking
        • Eat These Carbs
        • How to Eat for Muscle
      • Fat Loss
        • Macros for Fat Loss
        • Calorie Deficits
        • Natural Fat Burners
        • Cut 2 Pounds Weekly
      • Supplement Guides
        • Pre-Workout
        • Whey Protein
        • Mass Gainers
        • Greens Powders
        • Creatine
        • BCAAs
      • Daily Protein Needs
      • Pre- and Post-Workout Nutrition
      • Foods With Creatine
      • Bulking Tips
    • Individual Supplement Reviews
  • Conditioning
    • Best Treadmills
      • Best Manual Treadmills
      • Best Compact Treadmills
      • Best Budget Treadmills
      • Best Treadmills Under $2000
      • Best Treadmills Under $1000
      • Best Treadmills For Tall People
      • Best Commercial Treadmills
      • Best Under Desk Treadmills
    • Best Rowing Machines
      • Best Water Rowing Machines
      • Best Budget Rowing Machines
      • Best Compact Rowing Machines
      • Best Foldable Rowing Machines
      • Best Air Rowing Machines
    • Best Exercise Bikes
      • Best Recumbent Bikes
      • Best Folding Exercise Bikes
      • Best Exercise Bikes For Seniors
      • Best Air Bikes
    • Best Ellipticals
      • Best Budget Ellipticals
      • Best Compact Ellipticals
      • Best Rear Driving Ellipticals
      • Best Ellipticals For Seniors
      • Best Under Desk Ellipticals
      • Best Ellipticals Under $1000
    • Other Conditioning Products
      • Best Jump Ropes
      • Best Plyometric Boxes
      • Best Speed Sleds
      • Best Agility Ladders
      • Best Vertical Climbers
      • Best Commercial Stair Climbers
      • Best Affordable Stair Climbers
    • Individual Cardio Equipment Reviews
  • Recovery
    • Best Cold Plunges
    • Best Saunas
      • Best Infrared Sauna
    • Best Massage Guns
      • Best Mini-Massage Guns
    • Best Compression Boots
    • Best Back Massagers
    • Best Massage Chairs
    • Other Recovery Tools
      • Best Inversion Tables
      • Best Vibrating Massage Rollers
      • Best Massage Balls
      • Best Ice Wraps
      • Best Foam Rollers
    • Recovery Guides
  • Fitness Accessories
    • Fitness Tech
      • Best Fitness Apps
        • Best Weightlifting Apps
        • Best Workout Programs
        • Best Cycling Apps
        • Best Treadmills Apps
        • Best Workout Streaming Services
        • Best Workout Apps
        • Best Running Apps
    • Best Bluetooth Earbuds
    • Best Digital Scales
      • Best Smart Scales
    • Best Fitness Trackers
      • Best Heart Rate Monitors
      • Best Pedometers
      • Best Stopwatches
    • Apparel
      • Best Running Shoes
      • Best Weightlifting Shoes
      • Best Cross Training Shoes
      • Best Gym Shorts
      • Best Sports Bras
      • Best Trail Running Shoes
    • Support Gear
      • Best Lifting Straps
      • Best Gym Bags
      • Best Lifting Gloves
      • Best Wrist Wraps
      • Best Lifting Chalk
      • Best Dip Belts
      • Best Pull Up Assist Bands
      • Best Lifting Belts
  • Community Forum

2024 CrossFit Games Europe Semifinals Day 1 Recap: Uldis Upenieks and Gabi Migała Lead in Lyon

May 17, 2024 by Austin Heaton

The 2024 CrossFit Games Semifinals have officially begun, and with only one event down in Europe, we have already seen a handful of big surprises. (You can check out the leaderboard here.)

  • Worth noting: Athletes took on only one event on the first day, with five more remaining for the weekend. They are nearly 20 percent of the way through the competition, and those toward the bottom of the leaderboard can’t afford any more poor finishes.

With that being said, here’s a quick look at what happened on day one in Europe.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by CrossFit Games (@crossfitgames)

[Related: 2024 CrossFit Games Worldwide Rankings and Strength of Field, Explained]

Men’s Division

At the top: The Conditioning King, Uldis Upenieks of Latvia, took Event One, edging out last year’s European champion Lazar Ðukić. 

  • These two will likely be battling it out all weekend. Upenieks finished sixth in the semifinals last year, five spots below Ðukić.

A strong start for Serbia: Serbian athletes Lazar Ðukić (second), Luka Vunjak (third), and Luka Ðukić (fourth) all sit in the top five at the end of day one.

  • Lazar’s position is no surprise, but his brother Luka is fighting for a return trip to the Games, having last earned a ticket to the big show in 2021.
  • And let’s not forget Vunjak, one of our young guns to watch this weekend. 
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by CrossFit Games (@crossfitgames)

[Related: Powerbuilding Workout Routine]

Veterans find trouble early: Bjorgvin Karl Gudmundsson (16th), Moritz Fiebig (19th), Jonne Koski (34th), and Bronisław Olenkowicz (40th) all sit far outside a qualifying position to begin the weekend. 

  • Koski came in as the favorite, winning both the worldwide Open and worldwide Quarterfinals this season.

Dark horse danger: Games rookie hopeful Victor Hoffer (30th) started much lower than expected and needs an immediate strong comeback to have a chance.

One cool stat: Only four total athletes worldwide completed Event One under 21:00 in week one of Semifinals. They happen to be the top four men on the Europe leaderboard – Upenieks, Vunjak, and the Ðukić brothers.

Women’s Division

Repeat on tap? The 2023 European Semifinal champion, Gabi Migała, picks up where she left off and sits in the lead after winning Event One.

  • Trailing early, the Polish powerhouse came back to eke out the victory.

Every (hundredth of a) second counts: Only .02 seconds separated Gabi Migała from Aimee Cringle in Event One.

  • It was almost too close to call, given there was no foot race to a finish line, but Migala took the “W” and 100 points that went with it. Cringle will come into the second day trailing by three points.

A British affair: British athletes Aimee Cringle (second), Ella Wilkinson (fourth), and Jennifer Muir (fifth) all sit in the top five after Event One.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Aimee ♡︎ (@aimee_cringle)

[Related: Semifinals Spotlight: Europe’s Rising Star, Colin Bosshard, Eyes CrossFit Games]

  • While Cringle is the most well-known of the bunch, having competed at Semifinals every year since 2021, Wilkinson competed at the Strength in Depth Semifinal in 2022, and Jennifer Muir took 15th at the Europe Semifinal last season, just missing a Games spot by a few places.

Calm and comfortable: 2023 Games champion Laura Horvath currently sits in seventh place overall. Only six seconds separated her from a fifth-place finish.

  • Sitting 18 points off the lead and comfortably in a qualifying position for the Games, it’s safe to say the reigning Fittest Woman on Earth is exactly where she wants to be. 

Veterans in danger: Games veterans Manon Angonese (18th), Elisa Fuliano (20th), and Thuri Helgadottir (29th) all need to make some big moves on Saturday to survive. None can afford another bad finish.

One cool stat: Four total women finished Event One Under 22:00, and they sit at the top of the leaderboard in Europe — Migała, Cringle, Tall, Wilkinson.

Be sure to check back in tomorrow for more updates!

Featured image: @crossfitgames / Instagram

BarBend

BarBend is an independent website. The views expressed on this site may come from individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the view of BarBend or any other organization. BarBend is the Official Media Partner of USA Weightlifting.

  • About Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest

Sections

  • CrossFit
  • Strongman
  • Bodybuilding
  • Powerlifting
  • Weightlifting
  • Reviews
  • Nutrition
  • Training

More

  • BarBend Newsletter
  • BarBend Podcast
  • The Ripped Report
  • 1RM Calculator
  • BMR Calculator
  • Macros Calculator
  • Protein Calculator
  • Squat Calculator

Policies

  • Accessibility
  • Advice Disclaimer
  • Cookies Policy
  • Disclaimers
  • Disclosures
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Copyright © 2025 · BarBend Inc · Sitemap