The 2022 NOBULL CrossFit Games wrapped up in Madison, WI, on Aug. 7, 2022. In the front row of the action for all five days of competition were Heber Cannon and Marston Sawyers, the duo that comprises The Buttery Bros.
In addition to having a booth for Podium Nutrition — the supplements company they co-founded with five-time Fittest Man on Earth® Mat Fraser and Paul Haverland — The Buttery Bros collected an immense amount of behind-the-scenes footage at the 2022 Games, which included countless in-the-moment takes from Individual elite competitors right after several events.
Check out the full documentary-style vlog from The Buttery Bros adventure to the 2022 Games below, courtesy of their YouTube channel:
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After Event Two (A and B), “Shuttle to Overhead,” the Buttery Bros scored a post-event interview with Jeffrey Adler, who won the jerk portion of the event. Each athlete attempted to score the max number of jerks within a time limit after performing a run of varying distance over three rounds. Adler is notoriously strong with a barbell in his hands, and his strategy to win the event was straightforward:
If the bar is not moving, you’re too slow.
At the conclusion of Event Five, “The Capitol,” the Buttery Bros were at the finish line to understand just how challenging the nearly hour-long event was. Ricky Garard won the Individual Men’s division event and told the Buttery Bros that he recognized his edge when he heard the competitors breathing heavily near him in the lead. That was his signal to turn on the jets for a final push, knowing they would not be able to keep up with him.
Cannon and Sawyers got the camera up close on Lazar Đukić, who was laying on his back with his legs elevated after Event Five:
Hardest event I’ve ever done, I swear.
In a post-Echo-Press interview, Emma Lawson mentioned she lost count of how many no-reps her judge gave her in the front-facing handstand push-ups. She effectively ran through the event by feel because she couldn’t see where the line that indicated the movement standard was. Despite that, she still converted a solid ninth-place finish in the event, leading to her eventual sixth-place finish in the Games.
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While the Individual divisions saw the defending Fittest Man on Earth®, Justin Medeiros, and Fittest Woman on Earth®, Tia-Clair Toomey, defend their titles, there was plenty of excitement throughout the competition week. It was Adrian Bozman’s debut programming the CrossFit Games, which had a lot of strongman influence — farmer’s carries, Husafell carries, Super Yokes — and new movements never before seen at the Games, including a double-under crossover and a front-facing handstand push-up.
After covering the Games intimately, Heber Cannon told BarBend via email about the most significant moments that stood out to him. “Watching the overall shift in programming was fascinating,” Cannon said. “Swapping out a barbell for a heavy sandbag was such a cool event. Dani Speegle CRUSHING that event was awesome, but watching Dahlstrøm attack the sandbag was incredible.
Cannon highlighted the noticeable talent from the younger athletes in the field who put up high-ranking finishes in the Individual divisions. “Seeing two young females come in and push Tia was insane. We had both an 18 and a 17-year-old wearing the LEADER JERSEY throughout the weekend. Mal O’Brien and Emma Lawson are moving the sport in a fresh new direction that is really exciting.”
Featured image courtesy of the Buttery Bros.
