For the second year in a row, Jacob Heppner will not be competing at the CrossFit Games.
Due to the new handstand push-up standard CrossFit Games Director Dave Castro introduced to the world during the Open 18.4 announcment, Heppner’s score of 104 reps — 14 deadlifts at 315 lbs. at the nine-minute time cap — will likely keep him from advancing to Regionals this year. As we’ve seen this year, one bad workout can hold you back.
Heppner — who withdrew from the 2017 CrossFit Games due to knee bursitis — posted a long, emotional Instagram video of him struggling to reach the new handstand push-up standard.
The new standard caused an uproar within the CrossFit community, and Heppner was not the only CrossFitter who struggled with the new standard.
Although it is unfortunate that this new standard kept Heppner, a four-time Games veteran, from returning to Madison, it does make us mere mortals understand a little more of what these elite athletes go through year in and year out. To train year-round for one competition and not qualify due to a movement standard is a tough pill to swallow for any athlete, elite or not.
Heppner is taking it in stride and believes he’ll work on getting the new standard ready for future competition.
