Reduced from a 3rd place ai 2022 CrossFit® Games, Ricky Garard featured an annual schedule filled with off-season racing.
In fact, Garard just attended the Rogue Invitational 2022 where he had a disappointing performance, then he should have competed at the Down Under Championships, the Dubai Fitness Championship and Wodapalooza.
This was the program until a few days ago.
In fact, Ricky Garard together with his coach Jusntin Cotler has decided not to participate in Dubai to better prepare for the next season of the CrossFit® Games 2023.
With a post on social media, Ricky says he retired from Dubai forr “taking care of his body, but that everything is ready for 2023; the best of me is yet to come."
Effectively, Garard was supposed to compete every month from October to January. Then, in February, the Open begins… so perhaps his decision was purely a matter of concern.
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Who will replace Ricky Garard at the Dubai Championship?
Garard's place at Dubai will be filled by Nikita Yundov.
Yundov finished 22nd in the Dubai Online Qualifiers and is the second athlete outside the cut line to receive an invite. Last month, Sam Cournoyer declined and Moritz Fiebig, who finished 21st in qualifying, was therefore invited.
Yundov participated in the CrossFit® Games in 2019 and reached the semifinals in the last two seasons. He placed 14th in the semifinals of the CrossFit® Lowlands Throwdown in 2022.
What are Ricky Garard's next challenges?
Garard will participate in the Down Under Championship in Australia next weekend. He will compete in the Men's Team of 3 division alongside Khan Porter and Matt Dlugos.
After a short break in December, Garard will participate in Wodapalooza, always as a team. This time we will see him together with Tim Paulson and teammate of the Underdogs Athletics, Matt Dlugos.
Just to remind you…
Il Dubai Fitness Championship is no longer a CrossFit® affiliated competition. Indeed, last month we told you about the announcement of the organizers who stated that the “the visions of CrossFit® and DFC no longer coincide”.
The organization paid $75.000 annually to license the CrossFit® brand in a way that AlShamsi called “not fair, because he paid more than anyone else in the world,” but claims he still loves the sport and can plan a comeback “if we see that CrossFit® accepts our vision.”
Although some have speculated that the money DFC saves by not paying for the CrossFit® brand will go towards prize money to attract more athletes, AlShamsi has denied this possibility.
“No, the prizes will be the same. The DCC or DFC will always continue to be held and attract the biggest names in the sport of CrossFit® and fitness enthusiasts from around the world,” she said.
How to watch Dubai Championship 2022?
There will be a livestream in their official youtube channel, as announced on their profiles.