Samantha Briggs Withdraws From the 2012 CrossFit Open

The 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games Open has lost another big name this week with last years 4th place-getter Samantha Briggs confirming she has withdrawn from the event.

The 29 year old from England was in 20th position on the overall leaderboard after week one, but failed to post a score for workout 12.2.

In an interview with Crossfit.com Briggs reveals she’s been struggling with a lingering knee injury for the past few months, and has been advised to take a break form competing.

“I’ve had a weakness in my right knee for a couple of years now, unfortunately this November I was taking part in an Olympic lifting competition, and the final jerk I felt a bit of a twinge and that evening I could hardly walk, and it’s the worst that the knees ever been,” Briggs said.

“I’ve not been able to run since November, so I’d be going into the Games with what is one of my strengths as a weakness and potentially doing my knee further damage. So I could, if I qualify, get to the Games, not do as well as I did last year, and not being able to compete again.”

The news comes just one week after last years runner-up Josh Bridges confirmed he won’t be competing in this years Open due to obligations with the US Navy, and is another blow for the Europe region, with 2009 men’s winner Mikko Salo also ruled out of this year’s competition with a knee injury.

Briggs, a former professional football player, was regarded as a serious contender for this years title, and one of the few competitors who could beat last years champ Annie Thorisdottir. Watch her going head to head with Thorisdottir in last years regionals: