Crossfit Games 2012
by: Team Vpx Sports
The 2012 Crossfit open workout was one of the most challenging ones to date, giving rise to a lot of inter-community jokes about burpees and needing to go out and purchase 100lb dumbbells. Then the Crossfit Regional Qualifiers came and went, leading us into the multi-day competition that purports to find (and crown) the Fittest on Earth.
As most Crossfitters know, the 2012 Crossfit Games started off with a twist. Athletes were told to arrive early for meetings and administrative-type functions, but were instead surprised to learn that they'd be kicking off the 'Games several days early, with a Triathlon and obstacle course at Camp Pendleton. Reigning champion Rich Froening failed to place in the top ten for either event, as had several others who were predicted to do very well.
That is the "unknowable" that Crossfit preaches about being prepared for. While it's true that a Triathlon isn't going to break out while you're walking to the grocery store, nor will a powerlifting meet, in life you never know what's going to happen. Such is life, as goes Crossfit.
That's why there are no "heavy favorites" to win the CFG each year - over the course of several days, it's any man's game. Or any woman. Or, for that matter, team.
In the latter category, teams consisted of six competitors, evenly distributed among male and female members. Three days and 11 events later, Hacks Pack UTE was the Fittest Team in the World.
For solo women, "Iceland" Annie Thorisdottir became the first woman to repeat as champion, showing complete mastery, if not domination, of nearly every event. It's been said, but it bears repeating - nobody, not even Crossfit Games Champions, are the best at everything. The CFG attempts to reward people for being good at everything, although perhaps not the best at any one thing; with Annie, perhaps, being the exception - amassing 85 points with two first place finishes over 15 events and seven top six finishes.
Over by the Y-chromosome side, Rich Froening managed to place in the top five for nine events, taking first in 1/3rd of those. He wasn't simply consistent, he was dominant, winning two out of three benchmark girls.
At 22 and 24 years of age, respectively, Annie and Rich have a long career ahead of them with Crossfit.
And of course, we (VPX Sports) were there as well, as we have been for the past year!
You might not realize this, but the company hired our first Crossfitter over a year ago (yes, even before the 2011 Reebok Crossfit Games took place), and we've consistently and consciously been hiring acolytes of Crossfit since then, and putting out articles about their training methodology.
We hope to see you at the 2013 Crossfit Games - especially if you missed us this year (handing out free samples of our great products at the huge VPX booth).
