THE RUSSIANS EXPLODE ONTO THE WORLDWIDE CROSSFIT SCENE
Roman Khrennikov and Andrey Ganin have arrived.
Relatively unknown athlete Roman Khrennikov demolished the competition at The Europe Regionals by earning 500 points from only 6 events. He finished the weekend in style by winning the final event in 3:42.91.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BjAI7lBg2nO/?taken-by=crossfitgames
Fellow Russian Andrey Ganin will also be going to Madison this summer to represent Russia. The 34 yr old athlete is a Regionals veteran, having an exceptional ability to flick a switch and get brutal on a WOD. He won Linda, and his performance was nothing short of savage.
In the previous heat Adrian Mundwiler gave the crowd a show. He paced well, all reps were completed at the same tempo and his technique was flawless. It looked like an impossible time to beat however Ganin simply attacked the WOD like an animal. He often had to run between equipment with straight legs because his hamstrings were so destroyed from the deadlifts. He kept this pace throughout and won the workout.
He also won event 5 as well. Ganin has a strong capacity to pull phenomenal performances out of the bag, and I look forward to see him attack whatever Dave Catsro has prepared for the athletes this summer.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bi_zER6gZFF/?taken-by=crossfitgames
One of the great aspects of the changes in Regionals format is that we will see more non-american athletes at the Games, and as a result the diversity will be increased. These two are the first Russian individual competitors, and it will be exciting to watch them both throwdown at The Games.
Europe Regionals Top 10 Male Athletes
KATRIN DOMINATES EAST REGIONALS WITH 5 EVENT WINS OUT OF 6
Katrin Davidsdottir has taken 1st place in 5 out of 6 events at the CrossFit East Regionals. Even Mat Fraser has never dominated to this same degree at Regionals competition. Her lowest place finish was 3rd, and describes herself that she has once again found her fire. For the other top female Games competitors, this is more than simply a great performance, it is a statement that the 2x former CrossFit Games champion wants her crown back. Check out the top 10 placings below.
East Regionals top 10 women
Katrin almost seemed shocked by her own performance in the post that she created to talk about her victory!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BjBmh5vjC99/?hl=en&taken-by=katrintanja
The icelandic athlete posted this message on her instagram prior to the competition.
“We have put in more work & worked harder than we ever have before. Now: it’s time to COMPETE ????? So PROUD to be #BuiltByBergeron & so excited for this season that is juuuuuust getting started! See you on the comp floor in TWO days.”
The work has clearly paid off.
CAMILLE LEBLANC BAZINET RETURNS TO CROSSFIT GAMES FOR NINTH TIME AFTER BAD INJURY AT THE 2017 GAMES
“From last August 21st to yesterday! I’ve been so laser focus on the process that this morning was one of the first time I reflected on how far I’ve come… I am beyond grateful for all the new amazing people that join my team this year to help me come back from my surgery! I dislocated my shoulder and tore my labrum last summer and underwent shoulder surgery! Thanks to my surgeon for being so amazing @kseng73 , to my rehab guy @jtodd28 and to my mental coach @justinsua for keeping me sane and focused!!! This is just one more stepping stone towards the big show and I know I have a lot of work ahead of me!!! (So many more people to thank to and will do in the next post haha).”
“If you think the road back from injury will be easy let me tell you it ain’t … you will be challenge every step of the way and question your will many many many times… and when you think it might be finally over it will hit you hard again! … the good news is I’ve grown more in the past 9months or so then I’ve ever before, I am more résiliant more consistant and more brave then I’ve ever been!!! The struggle is the gift and that’s what I remind myself when I am tested again and again and again! Hard work is just hard.”
BJORGVIN KARL GUDMUNDSSON’S EPIC COMEBACK
Bjorgvin Karl Gudmundsson went into the Europe Regional as the number 1 favourite. He finished the first day in 19th position, a bad result for an athlete that rarely found himself outside the top 5, but by the end of event 6 he had fought his way back up to fifth and earned his fifth trip to The CrossFit games.
In this interview with Snorri Bjorns, Bjorgvin explains exactly what happened, the obstacles he had to overcome, how he pulled off this impressive feat and exactly what was going through his mind the entire time.
Find out more about the Snorri Bjorns Podcast and BK Gudmundsson.
ANNIE THORISDOTTIR WINS EUROPE REGIONAL IN HER 10TH YEAR AS AN ATHLETE
“I am so incredibly Happy and Grateful for this weekend. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the incredible support I have around me from my team and sponsors! ?❤ The atmosphere in the Velodrom was electric – thank you to everyone loosing their voices! ?”
“All of this was made possible by the countless volunteers who chose to spend their weekend making OUR weekend the best run Regional competition in my 10 year career. THANK YOU!! ?”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BjDOIucHeWI/?hl=en&taken-by=anniethorisdottir
THE CROSSFIT COWBOY SEAN SWEENEY HAS FUN WINNING THE SOUTH REGIONAL
https://www.instagram.com/p/BjDmBU_A2PA/?taken-by=crossfitcowboy45
“Yeah…. I love this sport.”
“This was event 5, I got on @bluckett123#assaultbike on accident and donated him some cals before I realized I was on the wrong bike. After his judge came up and told me I was on his bike I started laughing and hollering at him then promptly after this picture started beating him with my #cowboyhat .
I perform so much better when I am being my, goofy, fun, obnoxious self out there on the floor. If you find yourself competing next to me hopefully it doesn’t throw you off your game if I try and spark up a convo or start hollering at you… cuz it’s most definitely gonna happen.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BjBMYgJgx_I/?taken-by=crossfitcowboy45
ROGELIO GAMBOA WORKS HIS NIGHT SHIFT BEFORE THE START OF THE SOUTH REGIONAL
Last year CrossFit Games athlete Rogelio Gamboa chose not to compete in order to take a year off in order to focus on his career as a firefighter. This year he is back! In the South Regional he finished in second place and won event 4. What is extraordinary is that he still completed his shift on thursday before he started the competition on friday. For this comitted individual, taking time off was no issue, and he still managed to smash the weekend in style. Awesome job Rogelio!
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bi-X6WFgVgP/?hl=en&taken-by=crossfitgames
