2023 CrossFit Games Preview: Adaptive Divisions
The season for most adaptive athletes ended after the Open, however three divisions and 30 athletes will compete at the 2023 NOBULL CrossFit Games in Madison, WI.
Similar to last year, there will be three adaptive categories, with the top five men and women from each division competing. The divisions include Upper Multi-Extremity (previously Neuromuscular), Lower Extremity, and Upper Extremity.
The adaptive athletes will compete from Tuesday, August 1 through Thursday, August 3. Below is a list of the top 3 athletes from each division.
Multi-Extremity
Men: This will be Chris Rhyme’s first year competing at the Games and in this division. He came in first place for Open workouts 23.1, 23.2B, and 23.3. James Brown will also be making his first appearance at the Games after placing 22nd in 2022. Uruguayan athlete Mijail Pedrini is making a return to the Games after missing out last year. He last went in 2021 and placed fourth.
Top 3 in the Open:
- Chris Rhyme
- James Brown
- Mijail Pedrini
Women: Noelle Henderson will be making her first run at the Games after placing seventh at Semifinals in 2022. Jordan Ingalsbe will also be going to the Games for her first time. Shannon Ogar is making her second appearance at the Games this year after missing the cut by just a few spots in 2022.
Top 3 in the Open:
1. Noelle Henderson
2. Jordan Ingalsbe
3. Shannon Ogar
Lower Extremity
Men: Rogan Dean is making another run at the podium this year after taking second place in 2022. He had two first place finishes in the Open and will be a contender to watch. This will be French athlete Seraphine Perier’s second Games appearance after making it back in 2021, where he placed second in his division. Charles Pienaar took home the division win in 2022, now he’ll be back to hopefully do the same.
Top 3 in the Open:
- Rogan Dean
- Seraphin Perier
- Charles Pienaar
Women: Valerie Cohen, who has won her division two years in a row, is back again to attempt a three-peat. The athlete injured her achilles and never fully recovered, but through her rehabilitation she found CrossFit and hasn’t looked back. Bayleigh Hooper will make her first Games appearance after placing second in her division during the Open. This year will be Amy Bream’s third time competing at the Games. Her best finish in the Open was workout 23.2A with a second place finish.
Top 3 in the Open:
- Valerie Cohen
- Bayleigh Hooper
- Amy Bream
Upper Extremity
Men: Casey Acree, likely one of the most seasoned CrossFit adaptive athletes, is making his third trip to the Games after winning the Upper Extremity division two years in a row. Athlete Xabier Osa Mendes from northern Spain is also an athlete to watch as he makes a run for the podium for the third year in a row. He placed fifth in 2021 and 2022. Alexis Fiorucci was one spot out of a podium position in 2022, so there’s no doubt he’s coming back to Madison wanting more this year.
Top 3 in the Open:
- Casey Acree
- Xabier Osa Mendes
- Alexis Fiorucci
Women: After taking third place in 2021 and 2022 Anne-Laure Coutenceau is coming back once more to make a run at the podium. She had two first-place finishes in the Open and is coming into the Games in a strong position. Tied for first coming out of the Open is gym-owner Christina Mazzullo, who took second place in the division last year. Genevieve Tidwell will make her first Games appearance this year, after sitting right outside of the top five in 2022.
Top 3 in the Open:
- Anne-Laure Coutenceau
- (Tied for 1st) Christina Mazzullo
- Genevieve Tidwell
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