Alyssa Kobela Wins Minor Neuromuscular Division at the 2024 Adaptive Open

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Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up.

In today’s edition:

• After a rule change in 2023 made her ineligible, Alyssa Kobela came back with a vengeance and won the 2024 Adaptive Open

• Individual Quarterfinals start soon. What can you do now to be ready?

• Tim Taylor won the 2023 “Comeback Award” at CrossFit Convergence — read about his journey below

Nominate your affiliate as the Morning Chalk Up’s Affiliate of the Month for May. Just drop us a note explaining why your gym should be featured.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Show me someone who has done something worthwhile, and I'll show you someone who has overcome adversity.” - Lou Holtz

PROFILE

Alyssa Kobela: From Ineligible in 2023 to Adaptive Open Winner in 2024

Last season, Alyssa Kobela was devastated when she found out she was ineligible to compete in CrossFit’s neuromuscular division.

Though she has Multiple Sclerosis (MS) – a central nervous system condition without a cure – CrossFit LLC added new criteria to the adaptive division, and Kobela was effectively told she was “not disabled enough.”

Remind me: Before last season, having a condition such as MS or cerebral palsy was enough to compete in CrossFit’s adaptive category. However, last season, athletes were asked to undergo physical testing and assessments and submit paperwork to prove they fit one of the 10 eligible impairments to qualify them for one of the adaptive categories.

Ultimately, CrossFit found Kobela, who has ataxia (poor muscle control that causes clumsy movements), was ineligible. Needless to say, Kobela, who was fifth at the CrossFit Games in the women’s multi-extremity division in 2022, was devastated and angry. 

She wasn’t the only one. Many adaptive athletes who had competed at the CrossFit Games in 2022 were deemed ineligible because they were “not disabled enough.”

What happened next: CrossFit handed the adaptive divisions over to WheelWOD, the most trusted experts in adaptive CrossFit. 

WheelWOD revamped the various adaptive divisions, and Kobela became eligible to compete once again in the minor neuromuscular division. (There are also moderate and major neuromuscular divisions this season.)

The result: Kobela found herself atop the leaderboard in the women’s minor neuromuscular division of the 2024 WheelWOD Adaptive CrossFit Open and couldn’t be happier just to have the “privilege and opportunity to compete,” she says.

“Last year was tough, but I have my eyes forward on this year and leaving last year in the past,” Kobela tells the Morning Chalk Up.

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SPEED READS

🚨🚨Rogue Invitational 2024 Volunteer Applications: In case you missed the announcement, the Rogue Invitational is going international in 2024, and you can be there, behind the scenes, for all the action in Aberdeen, Scotland. Get more information and apply now.

2024 Team Quarterfinals Are On!: CrossFit released the 2024 Team Quarterfinals workouts earlier this week. Check them out now.

👟👟 Reebok Revives the Nano UKNWN: Reebok launched the Nano UKNWN in 2020, and now it’s back by popular demand. Check out the design and pre-order today.

West Coast Classic Private Suite Contest: Affiliate owners — learn how you can enter your gym for a chance to win a private suite in the "Tennis Stadium” at the West Coast Classic in Carson, CA.

• From the post: “1️⃣ Shoot us a DM from your gym’s or coach’s account and we’ll hook you up with an exclusive code. 2️⃣ The gym that purchases the most tickets with their code get access to an exclusive suite for all 3 days of the West Coast Classic. With seating for 15, and standing room for up to 30, the whole crew is invited!”

✍️ Now Hiring: PRVN Fitness is growing and wants to hire a new coach with a background in online programming and community building. The hours and location are flexible. Want to be part of the PRVN Team? Send your application now.

🎥🥇 Chasing the Podium: Check out Finnish CrossFit Games veteran and endurance master Jonne Koski’s new YouTube series, “Chasing the Podium.” The episodes will follow Koski as he attempts to qualify for his 10th Games.

🚨🚨 Affiliate Owner Quarterfinals Database: With a tip of the hat to Morning Chalk Up contributor Mike Halpin at Known and Knowable, here’s a super useful tool for affiliate owners heading into the Quarterfinals.

• Simply search your affiliate name in the drop-down menu to access a full list of all your athletes who qualified for the next stage of competition.

ICYMI: Bubble athletes from 2023 start the 2024 CrossFit Games season strong.

MEMBER EXCLUSIVE

You Made It to Quarterfinals — Now What?

The 2024 CrossFit Open was a success. 

You pushed yourself to your maximum capacity alongside friends and community members. 

You made the top 25 percent, you received your invite from HQ, and you are moving on to Quarterfinals! 

So…now what? 

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COMMUNITY

Tim Taylor’s “Comeback (Award)” at CrossFit Convergence and the Power of Community

Tim Taylor was a regular at the 6:30 evening CrossFit class on Thursdays at CrossFit Convergence in Tallahassee, FL. 

It was like any other class for him on February 23, 2023 — he hit a metcon and even PR’d his clean and jerk. His wife, Jennie, was coaching the class, and after the hour was up, the couple left the gym, picked up dinner, and went home to crash.

Around 5 a.m. the following day, things began to go sideways. 

• “I got out of bed and headed to the bathroom, and suddenly, I started feeling a little different. I didn't know what it was, but I knew something was up. I collapsed on the floor in the bathroom, which obviously had never happened to me before,” Taylor told the Morning Chalk Up.

In the middle of it, Tim still thought it wasn’t that big of a deal. “I remember thinking, I'll just get up and sit on the toilet. I will get up, stand up, and I'll be fine. This will pass.”

But he couldn't get himself up.

• Taylor remembers: “I was lying there, and I could tell my right arm was numb. I was telling my body to do things and trying to move on the floor, but my ability was gone. My right side was paralyzed. It was not moving and not listening to my brain.”

Tim understood what was probably happening. He knew this was a symptom of a stroke, and thankfully, his wife heard the commotion in the bathroom from Tim’s fall and rushed in.

• “She came in, asked me if I was alright, and wanted to know what was happening. I couldn’t answer her – I tried to speak but could not get any words out.”

Jennie quickly called 9-1-1, and the ambulance got to the house to take Tim to the hospital. He was quickly diagnosed with an ischemic stroke and spent several days in the ICU.

HIGHLIGHTS

Celebrating a PR, hosting a fundraiser, this, that, or otherwise? Send us a tip.

• 🎂Happy birthday on Saturday to Kelsey Kiel.

• Congratulations to Semifinals athlete Jennifer Muir on the 85-kilo/187-pound snatch PR.

• Congratulations to all the kids from CrossFit Camden Frontier in Camden, MI, who participated in the Cub Games.

• Great work to the athletes at Rose Barbell Club in Dover, NH, on their dedication every day.

• 😮‍💨Nice job to Games athlete Henrik Haapalainen on his 5×5 hang snatches at 102 kilos/224 pounds.