Brothers in Arms

For brothers Jason and Rick smith, sibling rivalry isn't a petty squabble-it's an all-out war in a high-intensity sport. But the pair have found a way to leave the fight in the crossfit box and build an unbreakable bond.

Whether you have a brother or sister, sibling rivalry comes with the territory. Observational studies have shown that under most circumstances, conflict between young siblings can bubble over up to eight times every hour. Sure, this feud mellows with age, but it never truly goes away-not when you and your siblings are all vying for preferential treatment from your parents. Mom and dad could probably do without it, especially when it turns into a screaming match, but psychologists say sibling rivalry might be an essential part of a child's development.

It helps children figure out what is unique and special about themselves, Jeanine Vivona, a professor of psychology at the College of New Jersey, tells the New York Times.

For brothers Jason and Rick Smith, rivalry isn't an argument at the dinner table. It's not violent, it's not petty. Rivalry takes place in a gym, and it's measured in reps and solved under a bar. The two CrossFit athletes are the co-owners of CrossFit Kyalami and fierce athletes in the sport. While Rick achieves impressive results, Jason was born to thrive in the box. This year he was once again crowned number one in Africa and now, once again, has his sights set on glory at the CrossFit Games. In 2017, Jason finished 10th in the world, but has yet to match that feat of strength, finishing 29th and 26th in 2019 and 2021 respectively. It was his most recent performance that had some hopeful competitors thinking he was set to retire. “Jason had a pretty bad back injury, says Rick, who had joined his brother as a coach for the competition. “I don't think people realise how bad it actually was. There were many points where he had decided he wasn't going to go.”