Despite a subpar performance during the second day of the 2014 CrossFit Games,聽favorite Rich Froning聽made his way back to claim the title of champion for the fourth year in a row.
On the women’s side, Camille Leblanc-Bazinet claimed the top spot for the first time after five years of competing in the games. They now have bragging rights as victors of what CrossFit calls the true test of fitness鈥攖his weekend’s games marked the final part of the three-stage process that started in early spring and featured challenges the athletes didn’t know about until right before the competition.
Froning, who says this year will be the last time he competes as an individual, along the way. He finished聽37th in the Triple 3 event, which involves rowing 3,000 meters, followed by 300 double-unders, and a three-mile run. During the run, Froning stopped to walk several times. He said he felt dizzy and had “turned into a wuss.” But that didn’t last, as he advanced to a five-point lead by the end of the day; he ended the games with a 50-point lead.
Leblanc-Bazinet聽racked up three top-10 finishes in the first five events. After finishing with a 40-point lead, she tearfully accepted her new title, crediting her success to five years of smarter training. “I attacked more of my weaknesses,” she said. “I worked my ass off.” Can’t argue with that approach.