Raptis trains GHD sit-ups with her mother as a weight

Alexis Raptis, a five-time CrossFit Games competitor (plus two appearances as a teenager), has found a creative solution to the absence of professional training equipment. She performs slow GHD sit-ups on a wooden box fitted with a rubber yoga mat and an ABMAT.

The missing component of a real GHD bench is filled in by her mother Susan, who holds her legs in place so the movement can still be performed correctly. The result is a homemade setup that has drawn plenty of reactions from the CrossFit community.

Although the situation is presented lightheartedly, it also raises questions about access to proper equipment for athletes outside the competition season. It is a feeling many CrossFitters will recognise: improvising is sometimes the only option.