Mal O'Brien Out for 2024 Games Season

Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up.

In today's edition:

• BREAKING: Mal O'Brien to sit out 2024 CrossFit Games season. Have we seen her on the competition floor for the final time?

• The last one was such a hit that Nicky Freymond is offering up 10 more books for your 2024 reading list

• CrossFit Reveille wants every gym to have an AED on-site

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"I mean, it's one of those things that you prepare for and hope never happens, but you're grateful that you're prepared for when it does.”

- Allison Bruce, co-owner of CrossFit Reveille on helping a member in a cardiac emergency

BREAKING NEWS

BREAKING: Mal O’Brien Out for 2024 Season

Young up-and-comer Mallory O’Brien announced on Thursday that she’ll be sitting out of the 2024 CrossFit Games season. 

The CrossFit Open will kick off at the end of the month, marking the start of the new year. O’Brien also pulled out of the Games competition last year right before the North America East Semifinals. 

O’Brien made the announcement in an Instagram reel from Hawaii, citing her struggles with anxiety and her recent time spent on the islands. 

• “I feel very, like, at peace, I would say,” O’Brien shared in the Instagram reel. 

• “I’ve felt very overwhelmed and frustrated and anxious the past few months and now being here in Hawaii I feel very at peace and kind of like it’s a fresh start.”

• “My focus overall is just my well-being as a person because it’s not something I’ve focused on almost ever and so with that being said I won’t be competing in the 2024 season.”

The last time we saw O’Brien at the Games was in 2022 when she took second place overall. Since that appearance, she’s dealt with health issues and hasn’t been back to the final stage of competition. She didn’t rule out competing altogether and plans to keep creating content with brands she’s partnered with. 

• “I truly feel like it’s not what I need in my life right now,” O’Brien continued. 

• “I’m focused on other areas and more important things in my life than competing.”

• “I’m not putting a timeline on anything and I’m just kind of letting it play out and see what’s best for me,” she concluded. 

O’Brien has sought coaching and mentorship from Mat Fraser and HWPO over the last several years. Supportive comments flooded in from those in the CrossFit community and other Games athletes on her post. 

While she isn’t planning to be an elite competitor this year, O’Brien added, “I’ll forever be a part of the sport.”

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LIFESTYLE

10 (More) Books to Add to Your 2024 Fitness Reading List

In case you missed it, we recently published a list of 10 books to add to your 2024 CrossFit reading list. 

We combined titles released within the last year with some classics that you may have overlooked. The list was far too brief, though, so we present to you 10 more titles to add to your library: 

Atomic Habits by James Clear - James Clear, one of the leading researchers on habit formation, shares strategies for building and maintaining habits that can dramatically impact the quality of our lives. 

The author shares personal stories that he has collected from athletes and other individuals he’s worked with through the years, giving examples of success and failure. He identifies the difference between motivation and habit, and why certain methods for habit forming are not effective. 

This book is one you’ll refer to again and again, as its lessons apply in and out of the gym, and are ones you’ll carry with you daily. 

As Many Reps as Possible by Jason Khalipa - After facing obstacles in his career, dedication and devoted training led Jason Khalipa to win the 2008 CrossFit Games. His competitive career was cut short years later, however, as his daughter, Ava, was diagnosed with leukemia in 2016. 

In this book, Khalipa reveals the lessons he and his wife learned during the most trying time of their lives and how it helped him as a thriving business owner and leader. He credits his success to dedication, hard work, and focusing only on what one can control. 

Feeding the Frasers by Sammy Moniz - Partner of five-time Fittest on Earth Mat Fraser, Sammy Moniz is largely credited with his success. Fraser has spoken at length about the support that Moniz provided throughout his training, helping to fuel his 10,000-calorie-per-day diet. What began as a passion project on Instagram, Moniz turned into a cult following and a published book. 

Beautifully laid out with stunning photos of food and offering meticulously tested recipes, Feeding the Frasers is not only one of the most beautiful cookbooks available, but it is a tender glimpse into another side of Fraser and the talented genius of Moniz. 

SPEED READS

Free 14-Day Trial: With the Open and Quarterfinals just two weeks away, now is the time! Try Brute Athlete, Age Group, or Body for the next 14 days for free. 

✍️ 💪 Need to get your L2 for affiliation? The Affiliate University will pay for your L2 when you enroll with them.

• Affiliate University is a comprehensive and results-based Business Mentorship program.⁠ They seek to help you create a thriving business and develop your coaches at the same time.

3-Day Individual and Age Group Semifinal Camp Brute Camp is coming to Jacksonville, FL on April 5-7. This camp is made for the top 1000 athletes in Quarterfinals (including Age Group). Register now.

• The whole staff of Brute coaches and all of their sponsored athletes will be at the camp. That means you’ll have eyes on you from some of the best coaches in the game and you’ll be training alongside some of the best competitors in the world. 

🏀 🏋️ Detroit Pistons x Core City CrossFit Kids: Core City CrossFit Kids and the Detroit Pistons are teaming up for a fundraiser on Saturday, February 24, and here's how you can help:

1. Buy tickets!! Bring your family and friends and come watch the game with them.

2. If you can’t come to the game, purchase tickets for the kids to bring their family members and friends.

3. Share this IG post to help spread the word.

Your ticket package includes a game ticket (vs. Orlando Magic), a post-game shot on the court, and a donation to the Core City CrossFit Kids. 

Help Katarina Fight Leukemia: The Morning Chalk Up's Julia Papworth has organized a GoFundMe campaign for her friend Maddy Curley, a former CrossFit Games team athlete. Curley's daughter, Katarina, was diagnosed with a particular form of Leukemia called "B-Cell ALL" and is undergoing heavy chemotherapy.

Working with Larger Bodies Seminar and PRVN Fitness: Athena Perez and Scaled Nation will be joining PRVN Fitness at their new headquarters in Nashville, TN to present the "Working with Larger Bodies" seminar. The event will take place on April 21, 2024, beginning at 9 AM. Register now!

ICYMI: Week 4 of The Open Report with Mike Halpin from Known and Knowable not only provides a weekly update on current 2024 Open registration numbers, but he also digs into some important, potentially controversial topics, including gym affiliation, athlete registration, and trying to gauge the "true" participation numbers in the CrossFit Open.

PROFILE

But Did You Die? CrossFit Reveille’s Journey to Get AEDs Into More Affiliates

Countless CrossFit workouts will lay you out on the ground, “dying.” 

But on October 13, 2023, CrossFit Reveille member Tim Sheffield actually did. 

• After completing his usual late morning class, Sheffield experienced a sudden cardiac arrest. 

Most people’s stories might end there. Thankfully, Tim’s doesn't. 

Allison and Bob Bruce, the co-owners of CrossFit Reveille, speak fondly about what they have built:

• “We have a great community just outside of Memphis. Our gym is very family-friendly, with kids' classes, moms, a teens' program, and a recently added legends program.”

• “We like to say, no matter your age, we will take care of you!”

At CrossFit Reveille’s inception, the Bruces were fortunate to come in contact with CrossFit Games Masters athlete Gus Vandervoort.

Allison shares the story of how they connected with the Morning Chalk Up:

• “I had been friends with him in the CrossFit community. We connected, and he met with Bob and me to hear our business plan. We wanted him to mentor us. We told him our plan, and he told us he loved where our heart was and what we wanted to focus on. He wanted to come and do this with us, so we opened it together.”

At this point, Vandervoot had competed at the CrossFit Games twice in 2017 and 2018 and was, himself, a two-time heart attack survivor. 

He was battling to qualify to return to the Games. This was where the necessity of the AED came in.

According to the American Heart Association, an automated external defibrillator (AED) is a lightweight, portable device that delivers an electric shock. It is used on the chest to shock the heart when it detects an abnormal rhythm. If used correctly, it changes the rhythm back to normal.

• AEDs play a vital role in responding to a heart attack. A person’s chance of surviving drops by almost 10% every minute that a normal heartbeat is not restored. Coupling an AED with immediate CPR can double or triple someone’s chance of survival.

Allison noted, “Vandervoot was at the Games in 2018; he did not do well and knew something was wrong.

One of the athletes in his division was a cardiologist. He told Gus, ‘what you’re feeling and how you’re performing – something’s not right; you need to go right home and get checked.’”

• “Gus went home, and he was around 90% blocked in his Widowmaker and had to have a stint put in. All within a week.”

When the Bruce’s opened their affiliate, their primary focus was to reach people who would not usually make it to a CrossFit gym. With this in mind, they over-emphasized safety and health protocols. That, coupled with Vandervoot’s presence and history of heart issues, made the existence of AEDs and training on them crucial for the gym community.

• Allison: “I mean, it’s one of those things that you prepare for and hope never happens, but you’re grateful that you’re prepared for when it does.”

Bob tells the story of that fateful October 13th class:

• “Tim finished his class and stayed around, waiting for Gus to come in to train so they could chat. Gus arrived, and Tim leaned against the wall to talk with everybody and said he felt dizzy.”

• “Gus stepped a few steps closer to him as they were talking. Then Tim goes down, falls off the plates he was leaning on, and to the ground. Gus catches him, breaks his fall a little bit, and pulls him away from the wall.”

Then, the dance to save Tim’s life began.

THINGS TO…

…TRY

Pulling Practice on the Snatch

Try this drill, which helps you pull intentionally with the help of a target. As Dylan Cooper explains, it's easy to just go through the motions of the pull, but this helps with focus and can improve the pull.

TRAIN WITH INTENTION.

The AIRWAAV Mouthpiece That Elevates Performance

If you're looking for that extra edge to boost your Open performance, AIRWAAV has you covered. Whether you’re a first-time participant or a seasoned competitor, the mouthpiece is key to unlocking the benefits of improved breathing, increased strength, and optimized recovery.

BREAK YOUR BEST.

…PUMP

Josh Bridges' Leg Burner

Try this metcon from Bridges' Operation LFG Program, which is a guaranteed leg-destroyer. You'll feel like your legs may fall off, but Bridges assures you, they won't. 

GET SWOLE.

Ka'Chava Superfood Drink

With five different flavors and sourced from Earth's most powerful superfoods like chia, cordyceps, and chlorella, Ka'Chava is your new morning drink. 

CHEERS.

…TRAIN

New Position for a Good Morning

This different position, led by Greg Everett, puts far more stress on the hamstrings and in a different manner. This movement can be used as loaded, active flexibility work. 

MIX IT UP.

HIGHLIGHTS

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

• 🎂Happy birthday to Chaz Clark and Mike Roth. 

• Happy birthday on Saturday to Becky Rogers.

• Happy birthday on Sunday to Ellie Turner.

• Congratulations to Regional athlete Corey Lunney from CrossFit Shrewsbury in Oceanport, NJ, on the two 505 pound/229 kilo deadlifts.

• 🤯Congratulations to 15-year-old Sienna from CrossFit Hero in Australia on the 60 unbroken bar muscle-ups.

LOCAL COMPETITIONS

2/17 - 2/18: Busto Throwdown (Busto Arsizio, Italy)
2/17: Cupid’s Throwdown (Las Vegas, Nevada)
3/2: The LKW Games (Lake Waccamaw, North Carolina)
3/9: The Valkyrie Fitness Competition (Tampa, FL)
3/16: Upper Hunter Strongest Novice (Muswellbrook, Australia)
3/16: Oceanside CrossFit 1st Annual Shamwod & Shenanigains (Oceanside, Ca)
3/16: Shamwod & Shenanigains (Oceanside, Ca)