2016 Reebok CrossFit Games RegionalsApr 28, 2016 by Armen Hammer
Way-Too-Early 2016 CrossFit Games Women's Top 10
Way-Too-Early 2016 CrossFit Games Women's Top 10
It’s way too early to predict who will stand on top of the podium at the 2016 Reebok CrossFit Games, but why would I let that stop me? Here are my picks for
It’s way too early to predict who will stand on top of the podium at the 2016 Reebok CrossFit Games, but why would I let that stop me? Here are my picks for the top 10 women heading into the 2016 CrossFit Games.
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She's been on the brink of winning the CrossFit Games two years in a row. In 2014, a neck injury pulled her out on the last day. In 2015, she suffered from severe heatstroke early on, and still finished fifth. This is Webb's year to put it all together, and her performance during the Open supports this theory.
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Young, fit, and disciplined, Sigmundsdottir had an incredible rookie year in 2015 when she finished third overall. If she could have tightened up her performance on the very last workout, she would have won the Games last year. Her strength and consistency will work to her advantage, but she'll have issues with any agility or sprint events.
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The 2011 and 2012 champion is a force to be reckoned with. She had to withdraw last year after getting wrecked by Murph, which clearly affected her performances across the rest of the weekend. With a year of recovery and fitness under her belt, the Queen of Smiles will be back for a podium spot in 2016.
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Abbott's strength has always been her strength, and this year, she's upped her game with longer, more gymnastic, and more engine-based workouts. Between that improvement and her already high-level power and work capacity, she'd poised for a top-five finish in 2016.
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Briggs has the best arms and engine in CrossFit, and even if she were to rely solely on those two gifts, she'd crush Regionals and the Games. She will consistently finish in the top three in multiple events at the Games, and has the work capacity to do well even in events that don't necessarily play to her favor (like Heavy DT in 2015). Unfortunately, the field of competitors is getting stronger each year, and her subpar showings in those few strength-based events will be difficult for her to overcome.
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Little Fish finished ninth in her rookie year at the 2014 Games. She didn't qualify last year after injuring her ankle the week before Regionals, but that could work in her favor since she did get a chance to compete on the Invictus Team and didn't get put through the wringer like many of these other athletes. She's hungry to return to the big show, and she's only gotten better.
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The reigning champion is awesome. She knows how to suffer, has a great team of coaches and support, and pulled off the greatest comeback in CrossFit history going from 24th in 2013, to not qualifying in 2014, to winning the 2015 CrossFit Games. Her biggest strength is her mental game, which is clearly demonstrated by the fact that her performances got better as the Games went on last year. But her margin of victory was just too close to mark her as the favorite going into 2016.
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Wells kicked 2016 off with a win at WZA, and has been putting in a ton of work to make 2016 her best year yet. She's improved significantly from her rookie debut all the way to this year's Open, and I expect that improvement to continue at the Games.
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Holte is my pick for biggest improvement. She's got the work capacity to win events, and she's been working on her strength a ton this offseason. Between that and her mental toughness, she's headed for a top-10 finish at the Games in 2016.
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Last year's second-place finisher Tia-Clair Toomey is young, strong, and ready to make 2016 her year. I think she's got the capacity and will to put herself in the top 10, but I think the different events in 2016 will work against her.
1. Kara Webb (AUS)
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She's been on the brink of winning the CrossFit Games two years in a row. In 2014, a neck injury pulled her out on the last day. In 2015, she suffered from severe heatstroke early on, and still finished fifth. This is Webb's year to put it all together, and her performance during the Open supports this theory.
2. Sara Sigmundsdottir (ISL)
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Young, fit, and disciplined, Sigmundsdottir had an incredible rookie year in 2015 when she finished third overall. If she could have tightened up her performance on the very last workout, she would have won the Games last year. Her strength and consistency will work to her advantage, but she'll have issues with any agility or sprint events.
3. Annie Thorisdottir (ISL)
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The 2011 and 2012 champion is a force to be reckoned with. She had to withdraw last year after getting wrecked by Murph, which clearly affected her performances across the rest of the weekend. With a year of recovery and fitness under her belt, the Queen of Smiles will be back for a podium spot in 2016.
4. Emily Abbott (CAN)
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Abbott's strength has always been her strength, and this year, she's upped her game with longer, more gymnastic, and more engine-based workouts. Between that improvement and her already high-level power and work capacity, she'd poised for a top-five finish in 2016.
5. Sam Briggs (GRB)
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Briggs has the best arms and engine in CrossFit, and even if she were to rely solely on those two gifts, she'd crush Regionals and the Games. She will consistently finish in the top three in multiple events at the Games, and has the work capacity to do well even in events that don't necessarily play to her favor (like Heavy DT in 2015). Unfortunately, the field of competitors is getting stronger each year, and her subpar showings in those few strength-based events will be difficult for her to overcome.
6. Lauren Fisher (USA)
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Little Fish finished ninth in her rookie year at the 2014 Games. She didn't qualify last year after injuring her ankle the week before Regionals, but that could work in her favor since she did get a chance to compete on the Invictus Team and didn't get put through the wringer like many of these other athletes. She's hungry to return to the big show, and she's only gotten better.
7. Katrin Tanja Davidsdottir (ISL)
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The reigning champion is awesome. She knows how to suffer, has a great team of coaches and support, and pulled off the greatest comeback in CrossFit history going from 24th in 2013, to not qualifying in 2014, to winning the 2015 CrossFit Games. Her biggest strength is her mental game, which is clearly demonstrated by the fact that her performances got better as the Games went on last year. But her margin of victory was just too close to mark her as the favorite going into 2016.
8. Brooke Wells (USA)
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Wells kicked 2016 off with a win at WZA, and has been putting in a ton of work to make 2016 her best year yet. She's improved significantly from her rookie debut all the way to this year's Open, and I expect that improvement to continue at the Games.
9. Kristin Holte (NOR)
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Holte is my pick for biggest improvement. She's got the work capacity to win events, and she's been working on her strength a ton this offseason. Between that and her mental toughness, she's headed for a top-10 finish at the Games in 2016.
10. Tia-Clair Toomey (AUS)
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Last year's second-place finisher Tia-Clair Toomey is young, strong, and ready to make 2016 her year. I think she's got the capacity and will to put herself in the top 10, but I think the different events in 2016 will work against her.