🏋️ early chaos at the crossfit games

Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche once wrote, "What does not kill me, makes me stronger." Now, we can't prove it for sure, but he was probably talking about making gains.

It's that time of year, folks! We'll be keeping our eyes glued to this weekend's CrossFit Games in Madison, WI, and you can follow our running coverage of all the tense action as we find out which athletes will be crowned the Fittest on Earth®. And there's already some early, chaotic action to recap, including weather delays and one exercise that tripped up 10 of the fittest people on Earth (more on that below).

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In other news about some extremely strong people, the Giants Live World Open roster saw a major shakeup just days before it kicks off on August 6. Here's the latest on the new strongmen lifting hard and heavy in Wales this Saturday.

CrossFit

Chaos at the 2022 CrossFit Games

The 2022 CrossFit Games are well underway in Madison, WI, and there has been plenty of drama and fascinating storylines already. Here's a quick rundown:

WARNING: May induce goosebumps and feelings of excitement.

• Day One started with confusion on the first event, with several athletes skipping an entire mile loop at the end of their bike workout. This mishap was accompanied by a three-hour weather delay, resulting in Individual Event Two and Team Events Two and Three being rescheduled to Thursday.

• The reigning five-time Fittest Woman on Earth®, Tia-Clair Toomey, did not finish Day One atop the leaderboard. Nor did she finish Day 2 there! In fact, she also logged her worst Games event finish since 2015. Instead, it's 18-year-old Mallory O'Brien, a second-year star, who is leading the women.

• Only three of the athletes in the Men’s division were able to complete the 25 double-under crossovers before the time cap — Nick Mathew, Guilherme Malheiros, and reigning Fittest Man on Earth® Justin Medeiros. (We also have some tips on improving your own double-under crossover.)

• After serving a four-year suspension, Ricky Garard is among the early headliners. Can Medeiros rebound through the weekend and topple the contender?

By Sunday night, we'll have the definitive answer to that pressing question. Until then, keep up with all the latest news, drama, and event scores by heading to our running leaderboard.

Note: The leaderboard is subject to change at any time as event results roll in.

Strongman

Two Strongmen Book Tickets to Wales

You're in luck if you want something that includes some good old-fashioned Atlas stones! Twelve of the world's finest strongmen will battle in the annual Giants Live World Open and World Deadlift Championships on Saturday, August 6, in Cardiff, Wales. And there will be a few fresh faces at this event for some added excitement.

After Gabriel Peña and Asko Karu withdrew recently because of injuries, Giants Live announced that Andy Black and Shane Flowers would take their respective roster spots. The two UK-based strongmen are looking for the first wins of their early careers, and that healthy mix of hunger and strength makes them both intriguing last-minute entries.

Here's what you can expect from Black and Flowers as they get ready for liftoff.

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Training

Building a Six-Pack in Bursts

Thinking about the rock-hard abs you've always wanted and actually getting them are two completely different things. And that's understandable — not everyone has the time to dedicate themselves to something so meticulous, after all.

Fun fact: You don't have to spend hours on your abs every week to get those ripped results. Carving out a tiny portion of your schedule with a focused routine might be an even better path to that chiseled six-pack.

From beginners just getting started to those who are more on the advanced side, this exhaustive list of 10-minute ab workouts will be your lifesaver.

Everything Else

Lucy Underdown's Casual Jaw-Dropping Deadlift

• She's already the strongwoman deadlift world record holder, but Lucy Underdown might have outdone herself with her latest pull.

• Few people know the merits of quality nutrition like Jay Cutler. The four-time Mr. Olympia thoughtfully broke down the difference between "dirty" and "lean" bulking.

• Powerlifter Andrew Hause might be built like an actual house. A new world record for the 24-year-old phenom is the best evidence of his unique strength.

• Meanwhile, with a new powerlifting world record of her own, Tamara Walcott put an emphatic bow on an incredible four-year journey.