The CrossFit Games are just a week away, and for elite athletes like Tia-Clair Toomey, that means a shift in strategy from grinding workouts to sharpening precision.
In a recent video, Toomey shares her preparation routine, mindset, and insight into how she balances peak performance with recovery.
As the workouts are being announced and practiced, recovery becomes just as important as intensity.
From tapering techniques and team dynamics to electrolyte strategies and parental support, this behind-the-scenes glimpse shows the multidimensional commitment required to compete at the highest level.
Here’s what we learned from Tia’s Games Week prep—and how it can apply to anyone chasing big goals.
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One Week Out: Shifting Focus From Intensity to Precision
With just seven days until the CrossFit Games begin, the main focus for Toomey and her team isn’t volume—it’s priming the body.
“The work has been done,” she explains, before detailing their current plan: mobility sessions, recovery prioritization, and laser-focused readiness. “We’re trying to get the body feeling primed and ready to go.”
This is a classic tapering strategy used by elite athletes across sports. The final week is less about building fitness and more about sharpening performance while reducing fatigue.
What Tapering Really Means in Elite CrossFit
Tapering doesn’t mean taking it easy. As Toomey reminds her team while warming up, “The intensity still has to be there.”
They’re still training, still pushing—but in shorter, more deliberate sessions with an emphasis on movement quality and recovery. It’s about showing up every day with intent, not just clocking in hours.
Practicing Announced Events with Competitive Intent
As new Games events drop online, Toomey and her training group get to work simulating these challenges with intent to master transitions, pacing, and strategy.
On this day, they’re tackling Event 2 and Event 8 with an interval piece in between to simulate what’s often a long day of competition.
“I want to go unbroken on the toes-to-bar,” Toomey explains, reflecting on a previous run-through where she had to break in the second round. Movement standards, rep schemes, and pacing are all being refined—this is game-day visualization in action.
Precision Over Power in the Final Week
Toomey emphasizes efficient transitions and execution under pressure. Small tweaks—like saving chalk breaks for later rounds or adjusting dumbbell positioning—can make the difference between a win and second place at the Games level.
“If I could have just gotten that unbroken, I would have beaten him,” she says, analyzing a practice round. These micro-adjustments are how Games champions are made.
Recovery Is a Non-Negotiable
With the summer heat blazing and sweat pouring, recovery isn’t just foam rolling—it’s a comprehensive system of mobility, hydration, and mental decompression.
“As soon as you finish a workout, you’re just looking for a fan to go sit in front of,” she admits, laughing. The team leans heavily on hydration protocols—particularly electrolyte supplementation with Element—to deal with sweat loss and keep training quality high.
Why Electrolyte Balance Matters in Summer Training
- Sodium: Helps retain fluid and prevent cramps
- Magnesium: Aids muscle recovery and nerve function
- Potassium: Supports endurance and muscle contractions
“I’m constantly drinking Element salts… I really wouldn’t be able to get through Games training without it,” she says. Hydration is systematically built into her routine morning, noon, and night.
Team Culture: Professionalism and Maturity
This year, Toomey says she’s feeling more at peace with her prep—not because it’s easier, but because the people around her have leveled up.
“They get it now,” she says of her teammates and staff. “They’ve learned my expectations and adapted them for themselves.”
Years of working together have cultivated a professional, purpose-driven atmosphere—something that takes the edge off of leadership fatigue and allows her to focus more on performance.
Leading By Example
Toomey doesn’t just chase her own greatness—she wants to elevate everyone around her.
“You want everyone to live up to their own expectations… You want to help them achieve their dreams,” she shares. That emotional investment amplifies pressure, but also meaning.
The Heart Behind the Hustle: Strong Family Ties
Behind the record-setting performances and daily grind is a deep family bond that fuels her fire. Her relationship with her parents, especially her dad, carries heavy influence during this intense week.
“He has a certain expectation of me… and he just believes in me so much,” Toomey says tearfully. “The least I can do is go out in my training and work as hard as I possibly can to prove him right.”
It’s a powerful reminder that even elite athletes are driven by personal relationships and emotional anchors. Her example shows that the best performances often come from a place of deep love—not just physical preparation.
Final Thoughts: What We Can Learn from CrossFit Games Prep
Tia-Clair Toomey’s Games-week strategy sheds light on what separates elite athletes from the pack—and it’s not just reps or weights.
- Recovery is just as important as intensity.
- Precision and transitions can make or break a workout.
- Hydration and electrolytes are foundational, not optional.
- Team dynamics and environment elevate everyone’s potential.
- Emotional anchors like family can be your strongest motivators.
As the Games begin, Toomey is entering the arena not just physically ready—but mentally and emotionally aligned. For anyone chasing excellence—whether in sport, work, or life—there’s wisdom in following suit.
