Heinla is quickly becoming deadlift royalty.

Written by Robert Zeglinsky Last updated July 25, 2023

When it comes to mass deadlift, Rauno Heinla comes, he sees, and he almost always wins. The seasoned strongman now has another conquest to brag about. On July 22, 2023, during the Tartu Rammumees ja Rammunaine (TRJR) 2023 contest, Heinla successfully locked a 18-inch deadlift of 540 kilograms (1,190.5 pounds). An 18-inch deadlift is characterized by athletes pulling a dumbbell loaded with large diameter plates, leaving the bar 18 inches off the ground. Heinla’s brand is a world recordexceeding the previous high bar of 2.5 kilograms (5.5 pounds). The athlete wore a lifting belt and used lifting straps to help with traction.

The last record belonged to 2020 The strongest man in the world (WSM) champ Oleksii Novikov, who completed an 18-inch 537.5-kilogram (1,185-pound) deadlift en route to his WSM title. Now the record is in the possession of 41-year-old Heinla, which adds to his hallowed reputation as one of the world’s greatest deadlifters. Novikov offered Heinla a simple “congratulations” in the comments section of the Instagram post showcasing the world-record 18-inch deadlift.

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A record deadlift of any variation is nothing new for Heinla. On the contrary, based on his productive 2022, it might come as a surprise that it has taken the Estonian athlete so long to add another deadlift achievement to his resume.

At the beginning of June 2022, Heinla broke the Silver Dollar Deadlift World Record with a pull of 579.7 kilograms (1,278 pounds) at the Estonian Silver Dollar Deadlift Championship 2022 (SDDEC). He would follow this performance by breaking the Master deadlift world record with a pull of 476 kilograms (1,049.4 pounds), earning him the 2022 World Deadlift Championships (WDC) title.

Through his page on Strongman ArchivesHeinla has had a very active competitive run in recent months, including finishing as runners-up in both the Masters 2022 World’s Strongest Man (MWSM) and the 2023 Australia’s Strongest International (UPS). However, none of his recent accomplishments in full competition can be compared to holding three separate deadlift world records in three separate draw events.

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After securing another world record, Heinla will likely focus on one of strength sports’ biggest unicorns: the all-time deadlift world record of 501 kilograms (1,104.5 pounds) set by Hafthor Bjornsson in May 2020. Heinla will have the opportunity to make history as a member of the 2023 WDC roster, which will take place at the 2023 Giants Live World Open (GLWO) on September 2, 2023 in Cardiff, Wales.

The Giants Live organization is offering a $55,000 prize to any WDC 2023 athlete who can break the record And deadlift at least 505 kilograms (1,113.3 pounds). If there was a choice for a strongman capable of reaching the milestone, Heinla would undoubtedly be one of the more plausible options.

Featured Image: @rauno_heinla on Instagram

Mica is an exceptionally strong pre-teen.

Written by Robert Zeglinsky Last updated July 24, 2023

Jordan Mica is not your average 11 year old. The young athlete may enjoy some typical childhood staples — playing video games, coming home when the streetlights come on — but he adds being an accomplished weightlifter into that mix. He is no slouch and continues to demonstrate why he could be a true superstar as fans of the sport of strength watch him grow.

On July 22, 2023, Mica’s Instagram account admin shared an update on his latest exploits as a 56-kilogram competitor. An excerpt from the 2023 USA Powerlifting (USAPL) Barbell Brigade Opener features Mica squat 80 kilograms (176.3 pounds), bench 42.5 kilograms (93.7 pounds) and deadlift 90 kilograms (198.4 pounds). According to the caption of the message, all best lifting stats are all-time raw competition PR for Mica. As of this writing, while shining with strength milestones, it’s unclear how Mica fared in the overall competition. The same clip shows Mica receiving a medal, but the accolade was unspecific.

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In terms of assistive equipment for her lifts, it doesn’t look like Mica needed much help, who weighed 53.4 kilograms (117.7 pounds) during the contest. Mica was not wearing lifting belt or wraps for one of its best lifts. The knee pads for his squat were the extent of his extra gear. Mica performed her best deadlift from a conventional position while using a combination grip. He entered the contest beltless and raw, adding to his mystique as a rapidly developing powerlifter.

Notably, the athlete locked out his allotted nine attempts.

Here’s a look at Mica’s performance at the 2023 USAPL Barbell Brigade Open:

Jordan Mica | 2023 USAPL Barbell Brigade Open Top Statistics

• Squat — 80 kilograms (176.3 pounds) | Best competition ever
• Bench Press — 42.5 kilograms (93.7 pounds) | Best competition ever
• Deadlift — 90 kilograms (198.4 pounds) | Best competition ever
• Total — 212.5 kilograms (468.4 pounds) | Best competition ever

Mica, whose parents opted out of lifting him all year, apparently had a different approach to his pre-competition training. The caption for Mica’s competition post states that the athlete has competed in wrestling and jiu-jitsu in addition to spending quality time with dumbbells, refining his technique. Such a “balanced” preparation process seems to have benefited Mica’s strength outlook to a breaking personal degree.

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Considering that Mica doesn’t do bodybuilding year-round, it becomes easier to see his ceiling as a powerlifter. For an athlete of any age to show that much strength despite only having specific periods of actually lifting weights is a great sign of their long-term prospects. Time will only tell for Mica, but these are the types of events that usually only derive from the career of an established powerlifting star.

Featured Image: jordan_mica on Instagram

Liverpool will welcome tons of visiting stars in November.

Written by Robert Zeglinsky Last updated July 24, 2023

The directory The strongest nation in the world (WSN) is a battle of proper strength between two international superstars. This year, with the former The strongest man in the world (WSM) champions Eddie Hall (2017) and Martins Licis (2019) again captaining Team UK and Team USA, respectively, the contest is sure to feature another entertaining gauntlet in Liverpool, England. That’s especially true now that both superstars know who’s on their team.

On July 22, 2023, the Giants Live organization — which organizes the WSN and promotes the competition — revealed the full lists of the British team and the American team on his Instagram page. Both rosters are starred with some of the biggest active names in strongman and strongwoman. The competition is due to take place across the pond on November 18, 2023.

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Here’s a look at the line-up of the UK squad at WSN 2023:

List of the strongest nations in the world 2023 | United Kingdom Team

Team UK has some unique qualities. They are the following:

The UK team in numbers

• Two former WSM champions (Hall in 2017, Tom Stoltman from 2021-2022)
• Three former World Strongest Women’s Champions (Moore in 2016-17, 2019, Thompson in 2018, Roberts in 2021)
• The current strong woman deadlift world record holder (Underdown, 300 kilograms / 661.4 pounds from 2021)
• The flow wrecking ball jack World record holder (Felix, time of 2:20.49 from 2022)

Here’s a look at Team USA’s roster at WSN 2023:

List of the strongest nations in the world 2023 | United States team

Team USA also has a few distinctive attributes. They are:

Team USA in numbers

With such a diverse catalog of accomplishments and repertoire of skills, WSN 2023 appears to be a balanced duel of strength on paper between the two teams.

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There aren’t many team-focused contests in strong men and strong women, let alone like the WSN, that feature so many accomplished athletes. One thing is certain, these two teams should put on a unique show for Liverpool this fall.

Featured Image: @giantslivestrongman on Instagram

Björnsson has equipped himself with sophisticated new equipment.

Written by Robert Zeglinsky Last updated July 24, 2023

In early 2023, Hafthor Björnsson revealed that he would be return to both professional strongman and powerlifting. However, after notable feats of progress in training, the former World Strongest Man (WSM) 2018 champion tore his left pectoral muscle, temporarily derailing part of his planned competitive schedule. As he continues to work to regain his strength, Bjornsson recently revealed that he was busy in other areas.

On July 20, 2023, Björnsson posted a video on his YouTube channel where he explained how he used a new investment (total) of $116,000 to expand his personal gym in Kópavogur, Iceland. The athlete has apparently thought of all avenues, purchasing and showcasing various high-quality gear focused on building legs, upper body and back. strength.

In order to make room for his new equipment – ​​which is primarily aimed at tall athletes – Björnsson purchased the unit next to his main gym facility. Here’s a look at what he went through in the video:

belt squat

Björnsson said his new belt squat machine was his favorite purchase. The machine allows an athlete to perform squats without dumbbells and without additional pressure on the muscles of the neck, shoulders and back. Athletes lock into the machine while wearing a belt from a seated position.

“It’s the belt squat, which is probably the best investment I’ve made,” Björnsson explained. “Because I’m going to be able to train my legs right away… I’ve wanted this for years, and finally I have one.”

Extended Hamstring Curl

An extended hamstring curl allows athletes to build muscle and strength in their hamstrings either curling with both legs or performing a single-leg variation from a lying position. Björnsson’s new curling machine was almost double the size of a traditional machine.

Standing calf raise and leg extension

Like most of his equipment, Björnsson’s calf The machine can load more weight than standard machines, making it potentially ideal for stronger and taller athletes. During this time, the leg extension machine was more of a traditional variety and will help mold the quadriceps muscles accordingly.

Flat Chest Press and Incline Chest Press Machines

Björnsson placed his flat and incline chest presses near the entrance to his new unit to accommodate athletes looking to hone their chest muscles. Both feature quality options for working the chest as alternatives to a more traditional barbell Bench Press.

Combo Pec Flye-Reverse Flye, Cable Machine and Reverse Leg Curl

Further on in his tour, Björnsson showed off a dual purpose upper body machine chest flies as well as rear delt flies. He also featured an adjustable cable machine to isolate and contract upper body muscles from various angles. The reverse leg curl machine presents a change of pace but is still an effective way to work balance and functional strength from an unconventional position, similar to the bodyweight-only Nordic hamstring curl. The exercise might be more difficult for taller athletes, given the body weight they have to lift, and the reverse curl machine allows resistance to be added to help the movement.

Björnsson seemed to be a big fan of the latter.

“It (the reverse loop) is very cool for heavy guys,” Björnsson said. “It’s a killer for the hamstrings. The more weight you put on, the easier it gets. I think it was made for tall people, because tall people have trouble doing that specific move.

Seal Row, Hip-Quad Machine, Hack Squat

To end his tour, Björnsson presented the row of seals, an equipment with athletes performing a strict dumbbell row variation. The difference is that athletes lie face down on the seal row bench to execute the row, taking the legs and lower back out of the equation. The hip-quad machine effectively isolates the thigh muscles, and a squat demands a lot more from quads than one barbell squat due to the positioning of the machine, while providing upper body support that reduces lower back fatigue.

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According to an Instagram post from July 2023, Björnsson is well on his way to a full recovery from his pectoral injury. The athlete said he was starting to regain a “full range of motion” and was “feeling better” by the week. Perhaps, when he is healthy in due time, he will begin to seriously use his new equipment.

Featured Image: @thorbjornsson on Instagram

Underdown continues to show why she’s an absolute superstar.

Written by Robert Zeglinsky Last updated July 21, 2023

On July 19, 2023, strong woman Lucy Underdown shared an Instagram video of her deadlift 300 kilograms (661.4 pounds) for three reps in a recent workout. The feat of strength is remarkable because this weight is the current world record for a strong woman. Underdown itself set that mark in 2021.

For assist gear on her latest feat of strength, the elite strongwoman wore a lifting belt and lifting straps, and completed his mind-blowing pull-ups with a conventional position with a double grip.

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This is far from the first time Underdown has made waves with one of its deadlift workouts.

Just recently, about a week before this three-rep bonanza, Underdown shared a 280 kilograms (617.3 pounds) fight four repetitions of strength, endurance and power in one. Add to that having both the strong woman deadlift world record and the Kratos barbell deadlift world record 305 kilograms (672.4 pounds), and Underdown continues to stand out as one of the best deadlifts in the world.

Underdown isn’t just a strong athlete when it comes to pulling massive weight off the ground. This is further evidenced by a personal file (PR) log press of 105 kilograms (231.5 pounds) for three reps starting July 17, 2023. In almost every case, Underdown made those lifts easy to predict. This is a promising sign for his ongoing competitions.

Underdown is cooking up a litany of strong woman contests.

The athlete will feature in each of the upcoming 2023 Europe’s Strongest Woman, the 2023 Britain’s strongest woman (BSW) and England’s Strongest Woman contests in 2023. Despite her reputation built on world records, Underdown is still looking to build on the only victory of her professional career – strongest woman in england 2022 — according to his profile on Strongman Archives. The athlete came close in the UK’s Strongest Woman (UKSW) in 2023 but ultimately trailed the defending champion by one point Rebecca Robert.

If Underdown transfers her deadlifts and shows of strength like this to one of her next strong woman appearances, another big win looks likely. It would undoubtedly be a big moment for one of the sport’s biggest stars.

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As Underdown can probably attest, all it would take to finally break through with another victory is one more glorious moment where she could leap above her peers. Maybe his deadlift or log press will eventually help this ambitious quest.

Featured Image: @lucyunders_strongwoman on Instagram

The Games will once again put the athletes to the test.

Written by Robert Zeglinsky Last updated July 21, 2023

THE CrossFit Games 2023 should prove to be another worthy test strength, endurance, versatility and athleticism for the greatest CrossFitters in the world. When the sports community descends on Madison, WI, August 1-6, 2023, they will also be prepared for the gauntlet of obstacles that stands between them and ultimate glory.

On July 19, 2023, the organization of the CrossFit Games began revealing some of the planned workouts for the six-day flagship contest in the Wisconsin State Capitol. For those unfamiliar with the usual CrossFit workouts, some familiar elements will likely be at play. However, a few surprises to unbalance the respective athletes in each division shouldn’t be out of the question. Justin Medeiros is the two-time men’s individual defending championwhile the legendary Tia Clair Toomey willingly left the women’s throne as she focused on her first pregnancy.

As the competition approaches, Break the muscles will continue to update this preview of upcoming workouts as the CrossFit organization releases them ahead of competition. Break the muscles will provide available details accordingly.

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Here’s a running list and preview of the CrossFit Games 2023 workouts revealed so far:

Helen

Date and time: To be determined

A CrossFit staple, the organization didn’t announce the exact format for “Helen” at the 2023 Games, but said athletes would “do a version of the benchmark workout, Helen.” As a benchmark workout, the circuit is familiar to competitive CrossFit athletes as well as recreational lifters in any CrossFit box. “Helene” revolves around a series of fast races, kettlebell swingsand pull-ups. As of this writing, it’s unclear what day and time Helen will be during the Games.

Helen’s standard workout is below:

Three rounds for time:

• 400 meter race
• 21 kettlebell swings (22.7 kilograms/50 pounds for men, 15.9 kilograms/35 pounds for women)
• 12 pull-ups

Cross Country 5K

Date and time: To be determined

THE in progress concept may seem quite simple and straightforward. Although it is currently unclear where and when precisely this will take place, most competitors in the CrossFit Games 2023 will run five kilometers (3.1 miles), probably for the weather as one of the competition workouts. However, suppose the Cross-Country 5K looks like Training “The Capitol” of Games 2022, which incorporated a slightly longer distance run. In this case, it may be somewhere around the grounds of the Wisconsin State Capitol and have some sort of heavy, awkward-to-carry tools. In the 2023 edition, lower extremity adapted athletes will run five kilometers on a SkiErg machine instead of running.

Weightlifting Olympic Total

Date and time: To be determined

In what appears to be a familiar sight at the CrossFit Games, athletes will perform movements fully consistent with Olympic weightlifting as part of this workout. Competitors already know shouldered and wanked and the snatch. This workout will combine the two and will demand a lot from their explosive strength. As the name suggests, scores will likely be determined by the total weight lifted.

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The 2023 CrossFit Games will test everyone’s physical preparation and mental toughness on the competition field. Expecting the event catalog to keep athletes on their toes should probably be the baseline.

Featured Image: @crossfitgames on Instagram

Adler is stepping up his athletic preparation after finishing in the top five last year.

Written by Robert Zeglinsky Last updated July 21, 2023

Jeffrey Adler has been a staple of the annual CrossFit Games for what will be five consecutive years. After finishing in the top five in 2022, the Canadian athlete will now be looking to topple the two-time defending men’s individual champion (2021-2022) Justin Medeiros for the crown. Before officially earning his spot in the 2023 iteration of the Games, Adler surged into 2023 by winning the men’s CrossFit Open and the 2023 North America East Semi-Final. He will look to capitalize on this momentum in his training.

On July 7, 2023, the Butter Brothers shared a video on his YouTube channel where they got a glimpse of how Adler is training for his final opportunity at the Games.

At the time of the video, Adler was about six weeks away from the 2023 Games. He explained that this part of his training process was looser than it had been in the past.

Pre-workout diet

Adler starts his day accordingly with some dynamic stretching. The athlete uses a wall, the floor and a small ball to adapt to the training demands of their day. The main objective was to get his back And shoulders prepared.

Adler schematized his stack of supplementswhich begins with a pre-workout energy drink mornings. He then takes a BCAAs afternoon powder, which provides electrolytes and amino acids for performance and post-workout recovery. Citrulline and beta-alanine are its final components.

Full training day

Here’s a look at Adler’s training program featured in the video.

Speed ​​Bike Intervals

Adler completes two laps at timed intervals after warming up for about 20 minutes on a stationary bike. The intervals had durations ranging from two to four minutes with goals of reaching between 150 and 400 watts. Adler’s 40-minute average watts were 292. By comparison, the Buttery Bros stayed in the 170-190 range.

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muscle mix

Both Adler and the Buttery Bros have completed three rounds below, for time, during this segment:

• Deadlifts — 142.9 kilograms (315 pounds), five repetitions
• Burpee Muscle-Ups — Five repetitions
• Burpee bar muscle-ups — Five repetitions
• Muscle Ups Yoke Bar — Five repetitions
• Deadlifts — 142.9 kilograms (315 pounds), five repetitions

At the end of each circuit, everyone rested for two minutes. Adler clocked 2:22 on his final lap. Each athlete performed all 45 muscle-ups.

12 minute EMOM

Adler explained that this third workout is to start a series of exercises “every minute to the minute.” This meant that he would cycle through his movements starting at the beginning of a minute and use the remaining time as a rest:

• Parallel bar traverse — Three repetitions
• Double-under crosses — 15-20 repetitions
• Ski Erg – 60 seconds

Adler explained his traversal technique – trying to shift as much of his weight as possible onto each support arm before moving along the parallel bars. The double-sub crossings were a tough ordeal that cost many competitors, including the five-time champion Tia Clair Toomeyvaluable points on his debut at CrossFit Games 2022. The move requires athletes to use stamina, coordination, and quick movements to complete all reps without tripping. The Ski Erg is an imitation of the movements of the upper body in skiing, which requires lats and overall upper body strength.

After the 12 minutes required for the third practice, the group left for a long break and breakfast.

Traditional weightlifting

Adler warmed up with 20 box jumps before lifting weights after breakfast. He then rolled through boxed speed squats using a safety squat bar and resistance bands for nine sets of three repetitions. The idea was to improve dynamic movement instead of necessarily focusing on weight or technique. To further combine strength and cardio training, one set was performed 30 seconds.

Afterward, Adler performed fast deadlifts, this time focusing on how fast he could perform his pull-ups at lighter loads for nine more sets of three. He rounded out the day’s overall workout routine with “incidental” moves, like single leg romanian deadlifts and basic training.

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Recovery

Adler enjoyed the hot-cold alternating therapy after the workout, which lasted more than two and a half hours. He spent a few minutes in the hammam and a few minutes with a cold dip. Part of the goal was to reduce knee inflammation and combat heart rate variability (a measure of overall recovery).

Adler’s CrossFit Games journey isn’t over. He will look to win his first-ever individual men’s title in Madison, WI in early August 2023.

Stoltman looks like a champion on a mission.

Written by Robert Zeglinsky Last updated July 21, 2023

The 2023 strongman season hasn’t exactly gone to plan for Tom Stoltman. Not only the former double World’s Strongest Man (WSM) Champion (2021-2022) lose on a legendary “three rounds” to Mitchell Hooperhe came in sixth place in the 2023 edition Arnold Strongman Classic (ASC) and was a finalist at the 2023 Giants Live Strongman Classic (GLSC) by a slim margin of half a point. Now officially without a professional strongman win for over a year, Stoltman’s winning drought is the longest of his career since initially breaking through with the 2021 WSM title, per Strongman Archives.

On July 20, 2023, Stoltman shared a sneak peek at how he’s gearing up to get out of his recent competitive rut. The athlete posted an Instagram clip where he completed an 800 kilograms (1,763.7 pounds) leg press. The telling feat of strength was all the more impressive, considering Stoltman affixed resistance bands to his machine and set up breaks between rehearsals for additional challenges. THE lower body workout is part of Stoltman’s bulk prep for the Shaw Classic 2023 (SC), taking place August 19-20, 2023 in Loveland, CO.

A Car Leg Press is one of the most eye-catching events at SC 2023, which is what Stoltman’s prep in the clip is likely tied to. In the 2022 edition, competitors were tasked with performing maximum reps with a 907-kilogram (2,000-pound) car loaded on a custom-made leg press and the winning performance was 8 reps.

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Based on her Instagram profile, Stoltman doesn’t usually show previews of her prep before contests. In fact, most of Stoltman’s posts feature competition highlights, photos and collaborations with his older brother, Luke, another professional strongman. As Stoltman elaborates on what’s going on behind the scenes, the athlete appears to be deviating from the script and showing he could mean business at SC 2023.

That would line up with Stoltman’s thoughtful stance following the conclusion of WSM 2023, where he came within 4.5 points of another historic title. In the aftermath, the strong man explained that he “gave all he had” and was “proud” of his performance, but it was ultimately not enough for a win.

The 2023 SC will be Stoltman’s debut in the growing contest hosted by the four-time WSM champion (2011, 2013, 2015-2016) Brian Shaw. If Stoltman wins on his debut, he will not only have knocked down other notable competitors like 2020 WSM winner Hooper Oleksii Novikovand two-time defending SC champion Trey Mitchellbut he will also have earned the title of “The strongest man on earth.”

It would be quite the way for Stoltman to bounce back from a “sluggish” first half of 2023.

Here’s a preview of the full roster for SC 2023:

List of the Shaw Classic 2023

• Trey Mitchell (USA) – 2-time defending champion
• Brian Shaw (USA) – 2022 finalist
• Mitchell Hooper (Canada) — third place in 2022
• Tom Stoltman (United Kingdom)
• Luke Stoltman (United Kingdom)
• Oleksii Novikov (Ukraine)
• Bobby Thompson (UNITED STATES)
• Adam Bishop (United Kingdom)
• Graham Hicks (United Kingdom)
• Pavlo Nakonechnyy (Ukraine)
• Thomas Evans (UNITED STATES)
• Maxime Boudreault (Canada)
• Kevin Do (UNITED STATES)
• Aivars Šmaukstelis (Latvia)
• Evan Singleton (UNITED STATES)
• *Gavin Bilton (United Kingdom) | *Replaces Mateusz Kieliszkowski

Here is an overview of the SC 2023 events:

2023 Shaw Classic Events

• Mix of logs
• Max Hummer tire Deadlift
• Wheelbarrow and arm-in-arm mixing
• bag toss
• car leg press
• Atlas stones
• Standing bench press
• Fingal’s Fingers and Motorized Stairs Mix

Along with Shaw, Hooper and Novikov, Stoltman is notably one of four current or former WSM champions vying for the 2023 SC title.

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The year 2023 hasn’t turned out the way Stoltman originally envisioned it, but it’s not too late to save it and make it memorable. This strongman superstar isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, and this leg press could be proof of just how much power he’ll show at SC 2023.

Featured Image: @tomstoltmanofficial on Instagram

One of these women could ascend the throne in Toomey’s absence.

Written by Robert Zeglinsky Last updated July 20, 2023

As the history books say, whenever a dynasty comes to an end, there will be a struggle to fill the huge power vacuum. After a dominant reign as the Fittest Woman on Earth® six times, Tia Clair Toomey will not be defending his title at the August 2023 CrossFit Games. The athlete has not retired and may well return to the limelight soon enough post-pregnancy, but for at least one edition of the Games, his throne will be vacant. It reminds me of the question of who can climb the mountain.

As the Games 2023, here is a list of five potential contenders for the women’s individual title. Toomey leaves behind some size shoes to fill, but one of these athletes could prove quite capable soon enough.

Potential individual competitors for the 2023 CrossFit Games

Just because Toomey won’t be present at the latest iteration of CrossFit’s flagship competition doesn’t mean there aren’t worthy competitors waiting in the wings. Here is a brief profile and overview of a few to consider.

Laura Horvath (Hungary)

• Best finish: Finalist (2018, 2021)
• Games debut: 2018

Horvath has had a relatively constant place among The elite of CrossFit since the time she started competing in Madison, WI. Now entering her seventh edition of the Games, some might consider the 2022 podium runner-up to be the women’s favorite overall with the absence of Toomey and Mal O’Brien. After a third place in European semi-final 2023 and a second place overall in the quarter-finals, Horvath looks ready to finally break through after three podiums (2018, 2021-2022).

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Annie Thorisdottir (Iceland)

• Best finish: Champion (2011-2012)
• Beginning: 2009

A living legend of CrossFit, it’s been a long time since Thorisdottir stood at the pinnacle of the sport. A former two-time women’s individual champion (2011-2012), injuries and pregnancy halted much of Thorisdottir’s progress in the sport midway through the last decade. However, in recent years, “Iceland Annie” has begun to regain her form. After missing out on the cut in 2019 and 2020, Thorisdottir came third in 2021 and ventured into team competition in 2022, where she placed fourth as captain of Team CrossFit Reykjavik. These days, the 33-year-old might be considered more of a dark horse as she returns to individual competition.

However, few ‘dark horses’ already have two league titles and two second-place finishes to their name.

Emma Lawson (Canada)

• Best finish: Sixth place (2022)
• Beginning: 2022

At just 18 years old, Lawson approaches CrossFit competition like a seasoned veteran. The 2022 CrossFit Rookie of the Year and 2021 Games champion in the girls division (16-17), Lawson stormed to sixth place on her debut in the women’s division. Usually, potential Games champions have a bit more experience before they finally break into the bigger stage. However, with much of the women’s division seemingly evolving, this could work to Lawson’s advantage as the exceptionally young and bright possible first-time winner.

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Arielle Loewen (USA)

• Best finish: 11th place (2022)
• Beginning: 2021

Loewen is another top contender who would certainly qualify more naturally under a dark horse or “surprise” tag. Unlike other potential winners, Loewen doesn’t have a big-name trophy accolade and arguably has a less high-profile resume overall, having never broken into the top 10. That said, a third-place finish in the North America West Semi-Final and third place overall in the world in the quarterfinals paint a picture of an athlete ready to soar. His third appearance at the Games in 2023 could be that momentous opportunity.

Gabriela Migała (Poland)

• Best finish: Sixth place (2021)
• Beginning: 2019

An experienced Games veteran, Migała has seemingly only improved since entering the women’s division at the end of the last decade after reaching the podium in 2016 in the girls’ division (16-17). For someone who has never even landed a podium in the women’s competition, Migała’s reputation almost precedes her. She is trained with the strongest man in the world Hafthor Björnsson, and seems to be an athlete waiting for that last stepping stone. Notably, Migała or Horvath would be the first Eastern European individual champion in the entire history of the contest.

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There’s a lot to decide for female individual competitors at the 2023 CrossFit Games. Ultimately, one of these women could be the next queen of CrossFit.

Featured Image: @laurahorvaht on Instagram

These elite athletes know hard work.

Written by Robert Zeglinsky Last updated July 20, 2023

The HWPO (Hard Work Pays Off) team is one of the many arms of Fittest Man on Earth®, fivefold Mat Fraser’s Growing Organization. Based on a preview of a recent training camp, Fraser appears to be using his experience and resources to groom top contenders and prepare them for the CrossFit Games 2023from August 1 to August 6.

On July 13, 2023, the Buttery Bros posted a video on their YouTube channel where they visited the HWPO team while preparing for their camp. Under Fraser’s leadership were CrossFit Games veterans – two-time Fittest Woman on Earth® Katrin Davíðsdóttir, top 10 finalist Jayson Hopper and Christine Kolenbrander (making her second appearance as a female individual competitor).

Here’s a look at the dynamic drills Fraser and Co. are doing in their camp ahead of the 2023 Games.

headstand practice

The day’s practice began with the assembled team performing a variety of handstand exercises. The path included a handstand step to go up and down a ramp, a handstand pushup, a pirouette (perform a 360 degree turn while holding a handstand), a second handstand pushup, and a final climb and descent on the ramp.

Fraser also participated in this training and soon developed a friendly rivalry with Hopper to the point of betting five dollars to see which athlete could complete the course in the least amount of time. Hooper picked up a win over the winningest champion in Games history. However, when the pair attempted a ‘double or nothing’ attempt, both elite competitors suffered technical breakdowns and neither completed the course one last time.

Scarecrow Snatch, Power Clean and Back Squat

Hopper asked the Buttery Bros to join him for a scarecrow snippets. The athlete worked up to 84 kilograms (185 pounds). Hopper revealed that he was relatively new to Olympic weightlifting and his technique apparently leaves something to be desired. Fraser, a national weightlifting champion prior to his CrossFit training, helped him with this aspect of his training.

Davíðsdóttir and Kolenbrander led the Buttery Bros through power cleans, eventually finishing at 95% of their respective one-rep maximums. To close this strength session item segment, everyone played squats, working up to a maximum of five reps, taking three seconds to lower the first rep followed by traditional speed with the next four reps. Several participants hit the 136 kilogram (300 pound) range.

Echo Bike Sprint Interval

The next part featured the team going through 12 sprint and echo bike intervals every 90 seconds – a variation of EMOM training. The goal for the women was to burn eight calories in 15 seconds. The goal for men was to burn 12 calories in the same amount of time. They closed out this interval and functional portion of the morning with 15 legless rope climbs.

Sprint Metabolic Conditioning

Once the athletes had eaten a meal and recovered, they returned for an afternoon session centered around an AMRAP (as many rounds as possible) format. It was six sets with a 2.5 minute work period, resting 2.5 minutes after each set:

• Standing bike — Women: 12 calories | Men: 16 calories
• 12 Burpee Box Jumps
• Four squat snatches — Women: 61 kilograms (135 pounds) | Men: 93 kilograms (205 pounds)
• Max Ring Muscle Ups

According to Fraser, the goal was to get the athletes’ heart rate up on the bike, fatigue with burpees, perform a technical move on the squat snatch, and then push for fatigue with muscle-ups.

Games-style training

After apparently “softening up”, Fraser asks his group to perform a practice session reminiscent of something that would happen at the Games. They completed four laps of two handstand walking ramps, barbell thrusters and 400-meter runs. The thrusters increased in weight and reps with each round. They started at five reps with 43 kilograms (95 pounds) and ended at 11 reps with 56.7 kilograms (125 pounds).

Outside

Finally, to close the day of the camp, Davíðsdóttir and Hopper achieved the exploits outside. They started with a 300-meter (984-foot) lake swim, followed by 21 repetitions of doubles kettle bell snippets, 21 double kettlebell reps front squats,. The next round required another swim with 15 reps of each exercise, then a third swim with 9 reps per exercise and a final swim.

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Fraser’s group appear to be ready and willing to put in the hard work needed to capitalize on their upcoming Games appearance. At the very least, from a training standpoint, they seem up to the task.

Featured Image: @butterybros on Instagram