Leading up to the 2024 CrossFit Games, fans worldwide were anticipating the comeback of fan-favorite Gui Malheiros.
- After missing out on qualifying for the Games in 2023 and then battling mental health challenges, Malheiros dominated the Copa Sur in the spring, solidifying his spot in Texas.
When the Games workouts were announced, that anticipation grew as many of us imagined him soaring through “Event 6: Clean Ladder” and putting on a show in “Event 4: Track and Field.” It simply wasn’t meant to be, though.
- Malheiros was initially one of the competitors who chose to remain in the competition after Lazar Ðukić died in the first event. However, it was apparent that, like so many of his fellow athletes, his heart was broken.
The Malheiros on the floor was unrecognizable from the athlete fans have come to know. He is usually an energetic competitor who interacts with fans, hypes up the crowd, and joyfully yells and flexes after he wins.
- When Malheiros competed in Events 2 and 3 (“Midline Climb” and “Firestorm”) on the second day of the Games, it was clear his heart just wasn’t in it.
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He ultimately pulled out of the competition after Event 3, ending his weekend and his 2024 CrossFit Games experience.
Like so many, Malheiros left Texas devastated and heavy. His motivation to do much fitness-wise was low, and he questioned his competitive future.
A Turning Point
Over the weekend of September 20-22, Malheiros was among the 16 athletes who headed to Huntington Beach, CA, to compete in the inaugural TYR Cup at TYR Wodapalooza SoCal.
Malheiros represented Team World, and while his squad lost to Team North America, he walked away refreshed, having experienced a competition that went above and beyond his expectations.
- “I came here, to be honest, very … bummed, down about working out and competing, but having the team that I had and competing, and feeling the energy of the crowd and feeling this moment, it was way beyond what I expected,” Malheiros told Morning Chalk Up in an interview.
He continued, expressing that while he wished they would have won, he felt like they still came away with a victory. It was just a different sort of victory.
- “A win is good, but we won as a team on the personal side because we got to know each other, we got to enjoy each other, we got to be present… I think that surpassed the expectations that I had and it was way more fun than I expected,” Malheiros said.
Malheiros shared that this competition came when he and the other athletes needed it most.
- “For sure, it was the best competition that I’ve ever competed in. I felt light, I was just enjoying being here, [and] I felt like I used to when I was 16. It was an amazing time,” Malheiros said.
He explained that despite his team coming out on the losing end, he was pleasantly surprised at a few things over the weekend.
- “I was not working out at all leading [up] to the competition. I was just, as Danielle (Brandon) said, eating sugar, drinking the Brazilian soda that I love, and trying to work out a little bit but being real lazy,” Malheiros said. “I didn’t want to let my team down, but I was surprised because I did OK. I was surprised because I thought it would be less difficult than it was, but… it was really hard.”
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Well, if eating sugar and drinking Brazilian soda is the key to winning Event 3 with a 305-pound snatch and a 380-pound clean and jerk, sign us all up.
What’s Next for Gui Malheiros?
Malheiros’ next step is the Rogue Invitational in November.
He qualified for the Rogue through the online qualifiers, which was another surprise to the young athlete. According to Malheiros, he went to bed in 13th place one night and woke up in third after video reviews the next morning.
- “The secret to qualifying for Rogue,” he explained, laughing, “is just going to sleep.”
Less than a month later, he will head to Hawaii to compete in the Honolulu Marathon.
He will train for Rogue and the marathon concurrently. Though he acknowledges it’s a challenge, he’s up for it and excited to document it through his social media channels.
He looks at the TYR Cup as the thing that kicked him back into gear as he plans out his competitions for the rest of the year.
- “I think it was the best timing to have this and to have this refreshment. It was washing my soul, and now I feel happy after everything that happened this year,” Malheiros said. “I had ups and downs, way more downs than ups, but I’m just thankful and grateful to be alive because we never know; compete like it’s your last time.”
For Malheiros, having deeper connections is the most important thing to him right now.
- “The real meaning of life is having connections… and enjoying the present because it’s all we have. I’m now refreshed and washed clean,” he said.
Malheiros’ partner, Luciana Dal Agnol, shared her sentiment coming out of the TYR Cup weekend:
- “The result never matters; I’m just worried about him — if he’s eating, hydrating, happy, I will be OK. This weekend, he was competing as I never saw him competing — happy, light. So for me, it was the best competition ever. If they do it every year, we’ll be here.”
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Featured image: @easmahcaptures / Instagram
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