Emma Lawson to Sit Out 2025 Open Due to Injury

February 24th, 2025

POWERED BY:

Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up.

In today’s edition:

  • On the heels of several athletes announcing they would sit out of the CrossFit Games season, four-time elite CrossFit Games athlete Emma Lawson revealed that due to a nagging back injury, she too would sit the Open out in favor of preparing her body for the World Fitness Tour.

  • Is weighing your meals weighing you down? Tracy Tucker from Training Think Tank has some tips to help you dial in your nutrition without being hand-cuffed to the food scale.

  • The GOAT, Tia-Clair Toomey-Orr, signed a new exclusive partnership with Australian fitness apparel brand LSKD. Get the details below.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“For now, I’ll be focused on getting my back healthy and preparing for the upcoming WFP season and a few other exciting events ahead!” - Emma Lawson, four-time Games athlete, from her Instagram post announcing her intention to sit out the Crossfit Games season in 2025.

CROSSFIT GAMES

Credit: @emma.lawson_5 / Instagram

Emma Lawson to Sit Out CrossFit Open, Focus on World Fitness Project

Emma Lawson, the teen phenom turned elite individual, announced on Friday that she plans to sit out of the 2025 CrossFit Open, citing a nagging injury. She is still preparing for the World Fitness Project (WFP), which kicks off its first event on May 9.

One big thing: Lawson’s announcement comes as several other individual elite athletes announced they are choosing not to participate in the Open. Lawson’s reasoning, however, differs from many of the others, who cited the aftermath of Lazar Đukić’s death as why they are sitting out the Games season. 

The details: In an Instagram story post, Lawson wrote that she’s been dealing with an injury that is preventing her from signing up and potentially putting her entire season at risk if she did compete. 

  • “I know the right decision for me is to take the time my body needs to heal,” Lawson said. 

This would have been her seventh Open. 

Lawson competed in her first official Open in 2021 when she was just 16. She came in 15th place worldwide and went on to win the Teens (16-17) division that year at the 2021 Games. 

She had great success at a very young age and is seen by many as the future of the women’s division. 

  • At just 20 years old now, Lawson has gone to the Games four times already, with her best finish being second place in 2023. Last year, she placed 16th.

A MESSAGE FROM AG1

Elevate Your Health Routine With AG1

We’re excited to share a game-changer in our daily routine: AG1, a research-backed Daily Health Drink that combines a multivitamin, probiotic, and a blend of superfoods in one scoop. Since incorporating AG1, we’ve noticed improved digestion with less bloating and smoother regularity, as well as boosted immunity and steady energy throughout the day.

What truly sets AG1 apart is how it simplifies our supplement routine. Its potent blend of vitamins, minerals, and whole food nutrients helps us close those common nutritional gaps, even on our busiest days. And because AG1 is NSF Certified for Sport®, we trust its quality whether we’re powering through workouts or just living our active lifestyle.

When you grab the welcome kit, you’ll receive:

  • A 30-day supply of AG1

  • Shaker bottle

  • Metal canister

  • Metal scoop

  • 5 free Travel Packs

  • AG Vitamin D3+K2

Curious about this daily health essential? Check it out.

SPEED READS

🚨🚨 The CrossFit Open Is Coming: The 2025 CrossFit Open will take place from February 27 to March 17, so sign up now!

  • And, Velites, CrossFit’s new “Official Grip and Jump Rope of the CrossFit Games,” is giving away free limited edition wristbands to all Open registrants and Games spectators for the next three years! Learn more here.

🌎 🎟️ 2025 Qualifying Event Updates: Here are a few quick updates from some of the 2025 CrossFit Games Qualifying Events. 

  • French Throwdown: The French Throwdown, one of two In-Person Qualifying Events in Europe, has announced all three online qualifier workouts, as well as several athletes who are already confirmed to compete in Montpellier, France.  

  • Syndicate Crown: Earlier this week, Wilson Pak, event organizer for the Syndicate Crown, announced that JR Howell, owner of CrossFit Crash and the Crash Crucible, will program the “North America East” CrossFit Games Qualifying Event.

  • Copa Sur: Announced earlier this week, the Qualifying Event in Brazil will feature a podcast recording space that overlooks the competition floor. Plus, a professional A/V team will handle audio and video editing. 

🦣 😂 Wooley Memeth Open Fundraiser: John Wooley is throwing down against Sevan Matossian during the 2025 CrossFit Open, and he is raising money for the affiliate community, especially those affected by the Southern California wildfires. Donate or buy a shirt. Also, be sure to check out Wooley’s new website.

ICYMI: Last week, World Fitness Project athletes received a welcome packet of information that includes prize purse details, point system breakdowns, and more. Check out the details and what WFP Pro athletes Justin Medeiros, Dallin Pepper, and Jayson Hopper had to say about them.

MEMBER EXCLUSIVE

Credit: Frank Nguyen

How to Dial in Your Nutrition Without Weighing and Measuring

There are plenty of people who do not have the time or inclination to weigh and measure everything they eat or drink in a day. 

  • This may surprise you, but actually, that level of accuracy and precision isn’t really necessary in order to make progress toward your training goals. 

There is no one “right” way when it comes to nutrition – the only thing you need to do is find the method that works for you and is easy to implement.

  • Success in nutrition is about long-term consistency and slowly moving the needle rather than quick fixes that don’t last!

There are many benefits from not weighing and measuring your food, which include but are not limited to the following:

  • Improved relationship with food.

  • Increased mindfulness and intuition.

  • Less time-consuming.

  • Reduced stress and anxiety.

  • Focus on whole, unprocessed foods.

  • Sustainability.

  • Flexibility in social situations.

  • Promotes natural portion control.

  • Better mental and emotional well-being.

If you don’t want to weigh and measure, we have some simple steps to follow in order to make nutrition a bigger priority in your day without turning into something too time-consuming or overwhelming.

INDUSTRY

Credit: LSKD

Tia-Clair Toomey-Orr Signs Global Partnership With Australia’s LSKD

It was officially announced last week that Australian brand LSKD and CrossFit G.O.A.T. Tia-Clair Toomey-Orr have inked an exclusive partnership. 

  • This collaboration marks a significant moment for the apparel brand as it aligns with the most dominant athlete in the world of competitive fitness. 

Just last spring, Toomey-Orr signed on as a GORUCK athlete after previously representing NOBULL. Now, she joins fellow athletes Sara Sigmundsdottir, James Newbury, Khan Porter, and Anikha Greer as members of the LSKD athlete team.

Some Background 

Toomey-Orr first connected with LSKD at the 2022 Torian Pro. In a press release, she said that since that time, she’s been drawn to the brand’s commitment to community, performance, and innovation. 

LSKD has gained a significant following over the years and has become a staple at CrossFit events worldwide. Toomey-Orr said she values brands like LSKD that prioritize quality in their product and support the larger community. 

  • “LSKD’s mission aligns with my own values – striving to be the best but doing it in a way that empowers and elevates others along the way,” Toomey-Orr said.

For Toomey-Orr, this partnership is about more than apparel—it’s about joining a team that embodies resilience and progress. She sees LSKD as a brand that inspires people to take action and be their best selves. 

  • “Together, we can push boundaries and inspire others to do the same,” Toomey-Orr added.

HIGHLIGHTS

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

  • 🎂Happy birthday to Kyra Milligan and Marcus Wilson.

  • Congratulations to Jennifer from CrossFit Grow in Baxter, MN, on the 61-kilo/135-pound split jerk.

  • Congratulations to Sean-Tom, also from CrossFit Grow in Baxter, MN, on the 111-kilo/245-pound split jerk.

  • Happy 15-year-anniversary to 8th Day Gym in Grand Rapids, MI.

  • 🏋️Congratulations to Dennis Olsson on the 122.5-kilo/248-pound hang snatch.