The 2023 CrossFit Games: A Week of “Firsts”

For its final year in Madison, the 2023 CrossFit Games did not disappoint. From the inaugural test on there was no shortage of action and controversy, and along with that, there were many “firsts” to note. When it came to the athletes, events, and implements tested we were surprised with what we didn’t see, just as much as what we did see. Below we are going to share some of the most interesting things at this year’s Games that happened for the first time ever. This content is available exclusively to Members Become an member and start enjoying full access to all our community and sports content, and an ad-free experience. PROMO Exclusive content Ad-Free web/app experience Comments on articles Exclusive 15% WIT discount $1 per month for the first 4 months, $8 each month after Get Started for $1 Exclusive content Ad-Free web/app experience Comments on articles Exclusive private Facebook Group Regular coffee breaks hang outs Exclusive 15% WIT discount Get Started $5/month billed annually Already a member? Log In. The first time a Games has ever had five total odd-object events We talked a great deal about this during the Games, but we would like to bring it up once more due to its significance. With 42% of the Games tests including heavy odd-objects it was definitely different than years before and definitely was an advantage for certain athletes. Rather than traditional metcon style tests that we see in the Open or Quarterfinals, the tests featured at this year’s Games looked like they were meant to test the best athlete, not generally the best Crossfitter. We will now wait and see if this becomes a trend for future Games. The first time there were no barbells in the first two days of events The barbell did not make its appearance this year until Test 9: Olympic Total at the very end of Day 3 after the first round of cuts had already been made and most of the positions on the leaderboard were already established. After that test, the barbell was not used again until the final test of the Games, meaning there were only two out of 12 tests that included a barbell (16%). That may sound like very few, but let’s not forget that only three out of 14 events last year included a barbell as well. This is absolutely something that Games athletes should be paying attention to in the coming seasons when outlining their training. The heaviest clean and jerk at the CrossFit Games or official Crossfit-run event When Jack Farlow hit his 396 pound clean and jerk in the Olympic Total, he broke a CrossFit record for the heaviest clean and jerk ever executed in an official CrossFit event. Everyone was expecting massive lifts from him, but not many expected almost 400 pounds, beating the 2nd place clean and jerk by 31 pounds. If we see another max clean and jerk in the near future we would love to see Jack Farlow vs Guilherme Malheiros. The first time the “Earth Worm” has been featured at the Games Every team at the CrossFit Games is now pretty familiar training with the original “worm” that is a constant at the Games, so this year Rogue and CrossFit decided to throw them something unexpected. The last team workout this year included a new implement called “The Earth Worm” which is similar to the traditional worm, but is 4 separate weighted sections held together by rope instead of being one solid piece as usual. Its shape is based on the original “Log Worm” that was fabricated out of section of tree trunk. Since this was an entirely new implement and teams had not had any experience with it, it was a great test to see which team truly could adapt the fastest. We are very confident that we will see the Earth Worm next year. The first time ever that the men’s podium had no Americans On the men’s side of competition, although we didn’t see an entirely Canadian podium, we did happen to witness the first year in the history of the CrossFit Games that the podium did not include a man from the United States. With Justin Mederios losing his title as Fittest on Earth, it could be tough for another American to crack the podium, especially considering how strong the Canadians are looking at the moment. 6) The first time a Belgian man has made the top ten and the first time any Belgian has won an event at the Games Rookie Jelle Hoste of Belgium is the first man from his country to ever break into the top ten at the Games, and as a part of that performance he even won the Cross-Country test. Could Jelle Hoste and other Belgian athletes be a part of a wave of European athletes that make the Games from new countries we haven’t seen there before?

The 2023 CrossFit Games: A Week of “Firsts”

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