Hi everybody and welcome inside the CrossFit Update Studio!
Sean Woodland with Rory McKernan and Tommy Marquez as we contine to get you set
for the 2018 Reebok CrossFit Games season.
We are turning our attention to the Regionals across the Atlantic. We start with the Europe Regional.
Now this one of the new Regionals, but it basically includes the majority of the old Meridian Regional.
Two new regions will make it up: Central Europe and North Europe. Each region
sends 20 athletes to the Regional competition, and then this Regional will get 5 athletes to the CrossFit Games.
So five Men, Women, and Teams. What we've done with Europe kind of goes counter to what we've been doing
elsewhere is that we're trying to make it more competitive. All the other Regionals–this one
it looked like we opened it up a bit. -Yeah. The change in terms of breaking up Europe
just needed to happen, if you look at their registration numbers alone. 65,000+ athletes.
That's more than Southern California, Northern California, North West, Canada West, and
both Africa and Asia, combined!
All of those combined–bottom six regions–they had more registered athletes.
They added more athletes last year–35,000 than the next biggest region: Latin America
had around that total as well, 35,000. They were just a massive region and they are only getting bigger.
The growing sentiment that I got from the community, especially from people reaching out over there
is that it was getting too big and it was kind of–not to dash people's hopes, but
people were getting less than optimistic about their chances of not just making it passed the Open
but even making it to the Games. We want to foster inclusivity at the Open level, as well.
-This change was definitely needed. -I think in all these shows, the conversation
obviously there's multiple factors that go into it. One of them is the competitiveness of the region
but Tommy's point: The sheer participation numbers in that region meant that I think it's so appropriate
that we actually have three European regions that feed into two different Regionals.
In terms of that, I think between Latin America and Europe in terms of Regional participation in 2017
that comprises one-quarter of the entire world in the Open. So anyways, that just tells you that metric alone
and when you get into the competitiveness of the region as well, but that tells you,
"Of course this place needed to be opened up."
With that opportunity for some new faces, who should we be watching when the Open kicks off?
I love a young girl by the name of Laura Horvath that you put on my radar a few years back in 2016.
She finished 7th at the Meridian Regional at 18-19 years old. Last year as a 20 year old she took
a little bit of a step back, finishing 11th, but that was in large part due to her last place finish
on the very first workout. Then from there on out she's pretty solid to climb back, nearly into the top-10.
I think with fewer athletes and big names, like Jamie Greene out of the mix, going down to the other Regional
that we have built from this. The rumor mill that possibly a few other female athletes from Europe going that
direction as well. I think it's a great opportunity for a young athlete and maybe make the step up
and maybe make their first Games. -I'll go away from the top-5and actually
go to the bubble athletes. I think they're going to be the most affected by this, so keep your eyes
in the Open in general on the bubble, because of course we have a smaller field of great athletes.
You're punished less for your worst finish. The example I wrote down was
Laura Faulkner out of the U.K.
8:35 on 17.5 put her 98th in Europe last year. That would have been 60th or better than most of the
domestic U.S. regions. So you see the kind of impact that's going to have on those bubble athletes.
She was 32nd, just outside of qualifying. Eventually got in, but I think that's why I keep my eyes
on–I got to give one shoutout, though, to one of my Irish peeps: Emma McQuaid has been
knocking on the door for a long time. I think this will be her year to finally get to see her at the Games.
-Excited to see that. -Europe overall, from a power ranking standpoint,
taking into account all the different variables that would go into a region strong.
Last year Europe was 2nd behind only the North East that had both the champions.
Not only was Europe a big region, but they were a competitive region.
I think we got it right in terms of shifting things around here, power-wise.
Plus we get to go to Berlin!
Yes! That will be a lot of fun. I don't know if I'll be there, but someone's going to get to go.
It'll be a great experience over there in Europe. The Regionals over there are definitely always
a lot of fun. If you haven't already, sign up for the 2018 Reebok CrossFit Games Open!
Head to games.crossfit.com
For Tommy and Ro, I'm Sean. We'll see you guys next time.