Emily Rolfe Discusses "Mixed Emotions" On Games Podium

August 27th, 2024

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Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up.

In today’s edition:

  • Canadian Games veteran Emily Rolfe achieved her long-term goal of earning a podium spot at the CrossFit Games, but it came in the wake of tragedy. She talked with us about her experience through it all.

  • We’ve all spent plenty of time in the gym, powering through workouts, and in the kitchen, meal-prepping our fuel. However, there are some other important things to consider when dialing in your overall health and wellness.

  • HYROX made some changes to the 2024/2025 season structure. Learn all about it below.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“A podium finish at the CrossFit games has always been a dream that I’ve been working so hard for, and I finally achieved it. This weekend was incredibly tough…We didn’t know what to do and we were in an impossible position all weekend. The proudest moment of my career and also the most heartbreaking.” - Emily Rolfe on her third-place finish at the 2024 Games, via Instagram

CROSSFIT GAMES

Credit: @carlitosfleury / Instagram

“Many Mixed Emotions”: Emily Rolfe on Her CrossFit Games Podium Finish

For years, Emily Rolfe dreamed about standing on the podium at the CrossFit Games. And after five attempts, she finally realized her goal with a third-place finish at the  2024 Games in Fort Worth, TX. 

Only, there was no podium for her to stand on.

Instead, the closing ceremony on Sunday, August 11, focused on Serbian competitor Lazar Đukić, who died on the first day of the competition. There was no podium, no national anthem, and no Spirit of the Games or Rookie of the Year awards this summer.

  • “It was very solemn,” the 34-year-old Rolfe said of the mood at Dickies Arena as athletes were awarded their medals at the completion of this year’s Games.

After placing a rose on Đukić’s starting block, athletes were called up to receive their medals. However, these medals weren’t placed around their necks but instead were simply handed to the athletes.

  • “I was third place so I was the first to get called up, and I wasn’t sure what to do. It was really awkward for everyone. They took a photo, and I was like, ‘Do I smile?’” Rolfe said.

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SPEED READS

Buttery Bros 2024 CrossFit Games Doc: Every season, the CrossFit community excitedly awaits the Buttery Bros’ take on the Games. And while “excited” is not the right word in this case, anticipation was high.

Rounding Out the TYR Cup Rosters: On Friday, Brian and PC at B.Friendly Fitness spoke with some of the TYR Cup team captains and revealed the captains’ picks. Here are the finalized rosters for TYR WZA SoCal:

  • Team North America

    • Patrick Vellner (c) | Danielle Brandon (c)
      Jeffrey Adler | Arielle Loewen
      Justin Medeiros | Alexis Raptis
      Dallin Pepper | Emily Rolfe

  • Team World

    • Björgvin Karl Gudmundsson (c) | Tia-Clair Toomey-Orr (c)
      Guilherme Malheiros | Seher Kaya
      Brent Fikowski | Emma Tall
      Aniol Ekai | Grace Walton

Divisional Games First Workouts Announced: The 2024 Masters CrossFit Games by Legends and the 2024 Teenage Crossfit Games by Pit Teen Throwdown released all their workouts for their upcoming events. The Masters will take on 10 tests, while the Teens will take on seven.

Good Reads: This has been a heavy news week and in case you missed them, both Men’s Health and the New York Times published articles related to CrossFit, the 2024 Games, and the recent public demands made by the PFAA.

Lazar Ðukić Support Funds have been set up here and here for those who are able to give.

ICYMI: No one at the 2024 CrossFit Games would say that it felt “normal” or that it was easy to find joy during the competition. But, athletes took to the floor and competed to the best of their abilities, and in their experiences, we found a few moments to smile.

MEMBER EXCLUSIVE

Credit: @comptrain.co / Instagram

20 Game-Changing Tactics CrossFitters Can Use to Optimize Their Health

As a CrossFitter, you've likely poured endless hours into training sessions and meal prepping.

  • However, optimizing your health requires expanding your focus beyond the gym and kitchen.

Unlock your full potential by taking action on all five of the Five Factors of Health: Move, Recover, Eat, Think, and Connect.

On a recent episode of the Chasing Excellence podcast, we unpacked the 20 tactics across all five factors that we’ve found to affect our overall health most positively.

Here they are:

MOVE: Train with Intention

Smart, well-rounded training is a pillar of CrossFit, but it’s not something most programs are getting right.

Here’s what your training should look like to get the best results:

  1. Combine compound body weight & lifting with cardio at intentional intensity levels, five to six times per week.

  2. Lift weights three times per week. Focus on the slow lifts.

  3. Prioritize enough mobility work that you have no significant range of motion restrictions.

  4. Run short, far, fast, slow, & often.

COMPETITION

Credit: @hyroxamerica / Instagram

How Does the HYROX Racing Structure Work? A Breakdown of the 2024/25 Season

HYROX, the self-proclaimed “World Series of Fitness Racing,” has swept into the fitness world, selling out races in minutes and expanding rapidly throughout the United States in recent years.

Like many other sports, HYROX has a championship event that is built to find the fittest athletes around the globe called the “HYROX Elite 15 Series.” 

The path to finding those athletes will look a little different for the 2024/2025 season. 

How HYROX Changed the 2024/2025 Season

For the 2024/25 season, there are two ways to qualify for the HYROX World Championship. 

  • An athlete can participate in one of four “Major Races,” being held in Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Las Vegas, and Glasgow, or participate in a Last Chance Qualifier, which is being held in Barcelona. 

Remind me: HYROX races consist of eight different stations with a one-kilometer run sandwiched between each one. The race is a test of both endurance and strength and requires athletes to be quite well-rounded in their aerobic abilities. 

HIGHLIGHTS

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