July 15, 2012

Froning crowned World's Fittest....again; Dan Bailey taps Top 10 spot


It’s a repeat for former Tennessee Tech Strength & Conditioning assistant coach Rich Froning, and sixth place finish for current TTU assistant coach Dan Bailey.

Like Annie Thorisdottir on the women’s side of the competition, Froning came out on top again to win the 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games. No athlete had repeated as champion until this year, when both 2011 champions topped the Leaderboad for the second time. 

After learning of his victory, Froning hugged Bailey, his training partner, and then raised his arms to cheers from a full stadium, the largest audience in CrossFit Games history.

View Rich Froning's personal CrossFit bio page
View Dan Bailey's personal CrossFit bio page
 
The last event of this year’s Games consisted of three classic CrossFit workouts: Elizabeth, Isabel and Fran — each worth 100 points. Fifteen athletes advanced after Elizabeth and 12 after Isabel. 
 
Rich Froning Dan Bailey
Once the cuts were made, the surviving athletes remained on the competition floor throughout all three workouts. Athletes used a variety of techniques to stay cool under the unforgiving California sun, including large-brimmed sun hats, towels draped over their heads and strategically placed ice packs.
 
Although the first-place spot was essentially in Froning’s pocket going into the final event, there were no guarantees for second and third. 
 
Matt Chan entered the stadium floor knowing he had to fight Kyle Kasperbauer for the silver medal. Jason Khalipa, the “California Bear,” spent most of the competition in 20th place, but steadily fought his way into fourth going into the final event. Khalipa would have to do everything he could to take the third place spot from Kasperbauer, who competed as an individual in 2009.
 
Going into the last three workouts, Kasperbauer said, “It's just another day, another workout.”
 
Showing little fatigue after 12 events and four days of competition, Froning won Elizabeth with a record-setting time of 2:33.0. Chan, desperate for a spot on the podium, was close behind Froning with a time of 2:42.0.
 
The last event of this year’s Games consisted of three classic CrossFit workouts: Elizabeth, Isabel and Fran — each worth 100 points. Fifteen athletes advanced after Elizabeth and 12 after Isabel. 
 
Once the cuts were made, the surviving athletes remained on the competition floor throughout all three workouts. Athletes used a variety of techniques to stay cool under the unforgiving California sun, including large-brimmed sun hats, towels draped over their heads and strategically placed ice packs.
 
Although the first-place spot was essentially in Froning’s pocket going into the final event, there were no guarantees for second and third. 
 
Matt Chan entered the stadium floor knowing he had to fight Kyle Kasperbauer for the silver medal. Jason Khalipa, the “California Bear,” spent most of the competition in 20th place, but steadily fought his way into fourth going into the final event. Khalipa would have to do everything he could to take the third place spot from Kasperbauer, who competed as an individual in 2009.
 
Going into the last three workouts, Kasperbauer said, “It's just another day, another workout.”
 
Showing little fatigue after 12 events and four days of competition, Froning won Elizabeth with a record-setting time of 2:33.0. Chan, desperate for a spot on the podium, was close behind Froning with a time of 2:42.0.
 
After Elizabeth, three men were cut: Gabe Subry, Kenneth Leverich, and Patrick Burke. 
 
The next girl up was Isabel. Spencer Hendel showed off his Olympic-weightlifting skills by completing his 30 snatches in 1:25.0, beating Chan’s time of 1:27.9. Froning moved smoothly and methodically, displaying almost superhuman strength and endurance to win Isabel with a time of 1:20.7. 
 
Three more cuts were made after Isabel: Lucas Parker, Daniel Tyminski and Hendel. 
 
Then came Fran, the notorious, nasty couplet familiar to almost every CrossFitter. 
 
Froning earned the right to hang back a bit on this final event. All he had to do was finish and he would hold onto his first place spot.