Fittest on Earth: A Decade of Fitness

Fittest on Earth: A Decade of Fitness is a riveting 2017 documentary all about the world of CrossFit, the high-intensity fitness program that reportedly draws more than four million participants worldwide. This powerful documentary takes viewers on a journey across ten years of the CrossFit Games, an annual fitness competition that crowns the fittest man and woman on Earth. The film features athletes like Justin Bergh, Josh Bridges, and Samantha Briggs, amongst others, who constantly push their limits to stake a claim to this prestigious title.

Produced and directed by Heber Cannon, Mariah Moore, Marston Sawyers, and Ian Wittenber, the documentary delves into the evolution of the Games, tracking its transformation from a small gathering of athletes in 2007 into the worldwide phenomenon it is today. As it progresses, viewers are introduced to previously untold stories, behind-the-scenes moments, and intimate insights into the lives, hopes, and dreams of these elite athletes.

The film places at its center the fierce competition of the CrossFit Games, providing a thrilling and edge-of-the-seat experience as it showcases grueling tests of fitness, consisting of various challenging workouts. The workouts, often kept secret until shortly before each event, test competitors' agility, strength, speed, endurance as well as their mental grit, something that the film captures brilliantly.

Athletes like Justin Bergh, Josh Bridges, and Samantha Briggs are featured, explaining their training regimens and strategies, their motivations and aspirations, their successes and failures. The gym is their playground, their battlefield, and the film captures their journeys with unflinching honesty and potent intensity. Their personal stories tracing their path to the Games are relayed with sincerity, engrossing the viewer, while skillfully humanizing these exceptional athletes who often seem superhuman in their physical exploits.

Josh Bridges, a former U.S. Navy Seal, uses his military experience to fuel his physical drive and mental focus in this intense sport. The formidable Samantha Briggs, the British powerhouse popularly known as "The Engine", is another focal character, famous for her near-superhuman endurance and resilience. Justin Bergh, the General Manager of the CrossFit Games, also provides an interesting perspective into the functioning and organization of the Games.

The production quality is superb, with cinematography capturing the punishing trials these athletes put themselves through in stunning detail. Fast-paced editing and an energetic score further enhance the sense of exhilaration and tension experienced during the Games. The directors handle the narrative with skill, balancing the spectacle of the Games with the human stories behind them.

Fittest on Earth: A Decade of Fitness also showcases the community aspect of CrossFit, an essential element that makes this fitness regime more than just a sport. It highlights how CrossFit fosters a sense of camaraderie, creating a worldwide network of individuals bound by their love for this intense fitness discipline. It showcases how this community motivates each other, transforming individual endeavors into a shared journey of self-discovery and exceptional achievements.

The film isn't just a tribute to the athletes at the top of their game but is also a testament to the human spirit, the power of determination to push past perceived limits. It illustrates how CrossFit is not merely a sport but a lifestyle, a philosophy that challenges individuals to continuously strive for self-improvement and resilience.

Intense, inspiring, and incredibly engrossing, Fittest on Earth: A Decade of Fitness serves as a love letter to CrossFit and its athletes. It lifts the veil on this extreme fitness regime, revealing the sweat, the pain, the strength, and the sheer determination that fuels these extraordinary athletes. Whether you're an avid CrossFit follower or a fitness novice, this film is sure to inspire and motivate, leaving you amazed at the incredible limits to which human beings can push their bodies and minds.