“Operating at 70%”; Brooke Haas Reveals Injury in Lead-up to Games

On the eve of the start of the 2020 CrossFit Games, qualifier Brooke Haas announced in an Instagram post that she is injured heading into the online stage of the Games on September 18-19.

Why it matters: Stating that she is “currently only operating at about 70%” due to numbness in her right leg possibly caused by bulging discs in her spine, the injury will hinder the two-time individual Games qualifier’s chances of placing in the top-five in the online stage.

The bottom line: Haas stated in her post that running, jumping and lifting heavy are “near impossible.” Those three components are expected to be tested in the online stage of the Games. How she approaches those events and movements will be something to watch.

Though not considered one of the favorites to qualify for the live finals in Aromas, CA, Haas was still someone to keep an eye on after finishing 22nd in the Open to earn her second-straight Games invite. In online competition formats she has had success, finishing in the top-25 in the Open the last four years.

Haas originally declined her Games invite to compete on a team with the ROMWOD Meat Squad, first at the Games and then at Mayhem Madness, before both events were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the injury, Haas stated that she will still compete.

• “Competing in any Sport has its risks of injury, and if you do it long enough, shit happens. I get it. This Sport of Fitness is so much of my life that no matter what I’ll keep doing it. I am honestly just SO GRATEFUL I can even still compete at all.”