For Mat Fraser and Tia-Clair Toomey, the 2019 Reebok CrossFit Games couldn’t have gone much better. Fraser was crowned the Fittest Man on Earth™ for the fourth-straight time, and Toomey became the first woman to win the Reebok CrossFit Games three-times. Fraser and Toomey sat at the top of their respective fields throughout the four-day competition, and managed to dodge the brutal last cut, and top the leaderboard ahead of the final workout.
Other top athletes at this year’s Reebok CrossFit Games, didn’t have as good of a time. Some of the biggest names in the sport were eliminated from competition early because of the new scoring format that issued cuts after certain events. At the beginning of the weekend, the field of individual athletes started with 148 men and 134 women, and on the third day of competition, the individual field went from 20 athletes to just 10.
It was the Sprint event that knocked 10 men and 10 women out from the finals, and some of the athletes sent home were Reebok CrossFit Games veterans and previous champions. But, even before the Day 3 cuts, some big names were also sent home like four-time Reebok CrossFit Games athlete Brent Fikowski, and France’s National Champion, Willy Georges.
[Official dates for the 2019-2020 CrossFit Open have been announced!]
After a wild four days, several of the top athletes have turned to their social media channels to reflect on this year’s competition.
While there was some obvious excitement from athletes like Fraser and Toomey, there was some mixed reactions from those who were knocked out of the competition early on from the individual cuts.
Mat Fraser: (2016-2019 Reebok CrossFit Champion)
It’s been a absolute blast having this savage as my training partner all year.
Tia-Clair Toomey: (2017-2019 Reebok CrossFit Champion)
It’s such an honor to be standing amongst such phenomenal athletes. I am so grateful and thankful for the constant push over the entire weekend. (from ALL the athletes)
Noah Ohlsen: (2nd place finisher at the 2019 Reebok CrossFit Games)
Dream come TRUE!
Kristin Holte: (2nd place finisher 2019 Reebok CrossFit Games)
This medal is for the TEAM. We have worked harder than ever this year: more focus, dedication and planning – better preparations, team work and execution. And hard work pays off!
Annie Thorisdottir: (Reebok CrossFit Champion in 2010 and 2011)
I don’t really know what to say… congratulations to the women that made the cut, but I don’t believe we have had enough tests to be able to make a top 10 cut just yet. I will leave it at that for now. Not sure what’s next, but THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart to everyone out there supporting me! It means the world
Sara Sigmundsdottir: (3rd place, 2015 and 2016 Reebok CrossFit Games)
Well, that sucked!
Brooke Wells: (Five-time Reebok CrossFit Games athlete)
Heartbroken. Keeping my head up knowing I am the fittest I have ever been in my life.
Patrick Vellner: (2nd place at the 2018 Reebok CrossFit Games)
Tough shake today. Back against the wall, had to send it this morning. Sucks not to make the cut and have the chance for another epic comeback this year, but those are the breaks.
Cole Sager: (Six-time Reebok CrossFit Games athlete)
Grateful. Disappointed, but Grateful. — Day 3.
Willy Georges: (Two-time CrossFit Games Athlete)
Finishing the Games during dinner at 8:30 pm while I was told that I was qualified for the next day, because of a claim, is not a good experience. But this one will make me stronger.
Alexis Johnson: (Three-time Reebok CrossFit Games athlete)
MY THOUGHTS ON THE CUTS- I’m going to be careful with my words here. In no way do I want to discredit any athletes this year— those who made it to the final cut absolutely crushed, and performed when they needed to! The tip top athletes are the top 95% in every aspect that is tested, and can survive any order of cuts. But in the end, if CrossFit aims to reward the most well rounded athletes, and the top 20 spots are paid out, then the top 20 should be ordered in a way that reflects that.
There has been mixed reactions from viewers, athletes, and media surrounding the cuts.
What this new format did do was throw a curveball at the athletes, and provide little to no wiggle room to fall behind. Even Fraser, who finished the weekend at the top, wasn’t in the lead for pretty much the entire weekend. In fact, on Day 3, he trailed behind Noah Ohlsen, until crushing the Clean event.
On top of the cuts, penalties throughout the weekend also came back to bite top athletes. Brooke Wells who was issued penalty for not stepping on the line during the Sprint event cost her a spot in the top 10. On day 1, Fraser was also issued a penalty when a bag fell out of his pack during the Ruck run. This penalty, which did not come back to hurt him in the long-run, did bump him to 17th place in that event.
Th chaotic 2019 Reebok CrossFit Games have come and gone, and now everyone has some time to reflect on the competitive four days. Do you think the format will change next year with all of the feedback?
Featured image from @pvellner Instagram page.
