The first workout of the 2022 NOBULL CrossFit Open brought back a movement introduced last year in 21.1: the wall walk. With the addition of dumbbell snatches and box jump-overs, 22.1 was a 15-minute, steady burner.
Last year, we saw an influx of teen athletes moving up into the individual division, and this year several of last year’s top teens have continued to make a statement on the leaderboard. Dallin Pepper and James Sprague both landed in the top 10 in the first workout of the season on the men’s side. On the women’s side, teens Leah Støren and Emma Cary both took a top-10 spot, while Mallory O’Brien added a first-place finish to her resume.
The top spot for the men went to Victor Ljungdal of Sweden, who put up an amazing 390-rep score in 22.1. That score was bested only by O’Brien, who posted 2 more reps for a total of 392.
Women: Mallory O’Brien
After skipping the 2020 season, 18-year-old O’Brien jumped directly from the 14-15 division into individual competition at the Games last year, and this year she’s proving she's ready to continue her rise to the top. Accumulating 392 reps — 13 rounds plus two wall walks — she put up the best score across the men’s and women’s leaderboards.
However, it wasn’t a surprise to see the 2021 Rookie of the Year on top in 22.1. O’Brien took fifth in the wall walk workout last year.
Last week’s performance was a warning shot to her fellow competitors signaling her gymnastics skills are just improving over time.
Men: Victor Ljungdal
First on the men’s leaderboard for 22.1 was 26-year-old Victor Ljungdal from Sweden, who logged an impressive score of 390 reps.
Ljungdal finished 21.1 in 68th worldwide last year and ended the 2021 CrossFit Open in 76th. But after a year of practice, Ljungdal managed to wall walk, jump, and snatch his way into first.
If he continues to perform at this caliber, 2022 may be the year we get to see him under the Coliseum lights at the CrossFit Games.
O’Brien and Ljungdal will each be awarded $2,022.00 for their performances in 21.1.
We are now on to the second week of the 2022 NOBULL CrossFit Open. Workout 22.2 was released on Thursday, March 3, and Laura Horvath and 2021 Fittest Man on Earth Justin Medeiros set the times to beat during the live announcement.
Keep an eye on the leaderboard to see who will rise to the top in week two, and stay tuned next week for the live announcement of Open Workout 22.3 at 12 p.m. (noon) PT on Thursday, March 11.
Cover photo sourced from @malobrien_ and @victorljungdal