“Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better.”- Maya Angelou
CROSSFIT GAMES
First Look at the Field: Stats on the 2023 CrossFit Games Qualifiers
What is the ideal body type or age to qualify to the CrossFit Games? The belief used to be that the shorter you are, the better, but it’s no longer that simple.
Although extremes on either end of the spectrum tend to be a disadvantage in overall performance, the 2023 roster of individuals has one of the most varied ranges of body demographics we’ve had in a while. Even more exciting is the wide age range present, with many individual athletes 30 years or older, which shows us that you can be in your fitness prime even as you exit your 20s.
Below we have gathered the listed height, weight, and age statistics of all 80 athletes (40 men, 40 women) at the 2023 CrossFit Games. Though listed heights and weights may not be an exact representation of where each athlete is at today, we have a general idea of where they stand. Here’s our 30,000-foot first look at the field:
Men
Age
Average: 27
Oldest: 39 (Jason Smith)
Youngest: 21(Dallin Pepper, James Sprague, Jack Farlow)
Athletes 30+: 14 of 40 (35%)
Height
Average: 6’0 / 184cm
Tallest: 6’2 / 190cm (Brent Fikowski, Jayson Hopper, James Sprague)
Shortest: 5’4 / 163cm (Colten Mertens)
Weight
Average: 207lb / 94kg
Heaviest: 227lb / 103kg (Roman Khrennikov)
Lightest: 180lb / 82kg (Colten Mertens)
Rookies
Michal Wesolowski
Morteza Sedaghat
Fabian Beneito
Jelle Hoste
Kalyan Souza
Bayley Martin
Jake Douglas
Kaique Cerveny
Jack Farlow
James Sprague
Luke Parker
Veterans
29 of the 40 men have previously competed at the CrossFit Games in the individual division
They have a cumulative 95 years of Games experience, with an average of 3.3 appearances/athlete
Of the 29 men, five are returning for their sophomore seasons: Cole Greashaber, Dallin Pepper, Moritz Fiebig, Nick Mathew, and Spencer Panchik.
The longest tenure, and longest consecutive qualifying streak in the field belongs to Cole Sager, Noah Ohlsen, and Bjorgvin Karl Gudmundsson from the Rookie Class of 2014, who have qualified for the last ten CrossFit Games in a row..
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Major Change to 2024 Wodapalooza Tickets: Described as the “biggest ticket change” in their 12-year history, Wodapalooza introduces three ticket options for 2024:
Festival Pass – General Access for All Non-Elite Competition
Festival Elite Pass – Festival Pass + Guaranteed Seating for Elite Competition Stages
VIP Pass – All of the Above + Premium Viewing Areas + Beach Lounge Access
👀 Annoucement: CrossFit Games Teen and Individual Semifinalist, Trista Smith, joins the Lab Management team.
Could your tattoos affect how much you sweat in a workout? 🤔
CROSSFIT GAMES
MEMBER EXCLUSIVE
Semifinals Linda: Comparing 2018 to 2023
Today we’re comparing this year’s Semifinals Linda to Regionals Linda from 2018. The format and rep scheme of the workout was the same from 2018 to 2023, with the only change being dumbbells replacing a barbell on the bench press. The bench loading in 2018 was 195 pounds for the men, 135 pounds for the women. This year, the men used a pair of 90 pound dumbbells and the women had a pair of 60 pound dumbbells.
So how did the results change since Linda was last tested 5 years ago? We’ve included the most notable stats below.
Competing to Win: How Henrik Haapalainen Quietly Qualified for the 2023 CrossFit Games
Throughout the European Semifinals, Lazar Djukic commanded headlines. The two-time Games athlete took first in the competition, dominating from start to finish.
But as Djukic dominated, another athlete quietly followed behind: Henrik Haapalainen.
Almost silently, the Finnish athlete sat in a qualifying position all weekend, fighting not for a spot at the Games — but to win.
Competing to win: After seven tests, Haapalainen finished the European Semifinal in second place. This is not Haapalainen’s first time on the podium at a Semifinal event — in 2022, he finished second at CrossFit Strength in Depth. But it is, he said, the first year he “really felt like [he] could win.”
And throughout the weekend — with his worst finish an 11th place in Semifinals Linda — Haapalainen proved just that.
“It was a shift in mindset. Training has been going really well, and I liked the events… I think it was more the mindset,” he said, noting he felt a shift in mentality before the competition. “I felt like I was going [to the European Semifinals] to win, not just get to the Games.”
“I’ve been competing a bit more in high-level competitions and been doing well in high-level events, it’s been building up a bit by bit. It somehow clicked before Semis that now, I could really make it.”
Puma and WIT Team Up with CrossFit Athletes and Community for London Takeover Event
Puma and WIT athletes recently used a unique method to promote the Puma Fuse 2.0 training shoe. They teamed up for a takeover at WIT’s flagship store in London St. Paul’s and brought the community and CrossFit Games athletes together.
The details: The event took place the week of June 12. Puma did a full takeover of the WIT store and CrossFit gym while opening up the opportunity for 70 fitness enthusiasts to attend. These lucky few took part in workouts, and watched some top-tier Puma and WIT athletes throw down in CrossFit Games-style competitions.
The list of participants included Puma athletes Chandler Smith, Emma McQuaid, Sam Stewart, and Claudia Gluck, and WIT athletes Josh Al-chamaa, Jennifer Muir, and Lucy McGonigle.
Smith and Al-chamaa broke out the big weights for their event. They competed in a five-round workout consisting of 10 calories on the rower, 10 deadlifts at 140kg (308.65 pounds), and 10 burpees over the bar.
The two Games athletes kept pace with each other throughout the entire event. Smith ultimately pulled ahead during the final round, and he took the event win.
McGonigle and Gluck also went head-to-head as they competed in Jackie Pro, an event from the 2022 CrossFit Games. Gluck took the win after completing the 1,000-meter Row, 50 Thrusters (95/65 lb), and 30 Bar Muscle-Ups
Stewart, Max Baggio, and Lewis Grimshaw rounded out the group as they competed in Jackie Pro. Stewart took the win in front of the 70 spectators.
Chandler Smith: “The reason I love being aligned with Puma is their focus on the community in our space, since I believe that CrossFit has always prioritized that aspect of fitness.”
“This is my second Puma x WIT event and, yet again, I’m just happy to be aligned with groups of genuinely awesome people who are able to put on a great event that legitimately gets the community involved.”
“Spreading knowledge and access to fitness at all levels is something I’m always about, and this weekend in London was all that and more.”
The head-to-head format was a highlight for Smith for two reasons, “It gave folks who might not get to travel to see high-level CrossFit a taste of how it goes.” He added, “secondly, any time I get to race Josh (Al-chamaa) in a row workout is always a humbling experience, and getting quality training at this point of the season is the main priority.”
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Maggie, one of our writers, was given the chance to experience Wild Health’s health optimization protocol firsthand, going through the entire process from start to finish. 30 days in, she’s here to give an update.
Patriotic with the Born Primitive Patriotic Collection
Get ready for the 4th of July with the new Patriotic Collection from Born Primitive. From swimwear to a new gym outfit, you’ll be showing your American pride. Rock some of their new collection at a BBQ near you!
Celebrating a PR, hosting a fundraiser, this, that, or otherwise. Send us a tip.
Happy 11-year affiliate anniversary to Subu CrossFit in Orlando, FL.
🏆 Congratulations to Jacqueline Dahlstrom and Matilde Garnes on their first place finish in iF3 Norwegian Partner Nationals, June 17-18 in Trondheim Norway.
Even in the midst of PA School, Steph Chung retested 15.4 and got a new PR from her score in 2015.
🤩 You get a PR! And you get a PR! And you, and you, and you! Check out these members crushing it at CrossFit Gaspar in Tampa, FL.
Congratulations to Mason and Derek from Carlsbad Crossfit in Carlsbad, CA on their first place finish in last week’s North County Throwdown.
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