2016 Reebok CrossFit Games RegionalsMay 2, 2016 by Armen Hammer
Way-Too-Early 2016 CrossFit Games Men's Top 10
Way-Too-Early 2016 CrossFit Games Men's Top 10
You might think it’s way too early to pick the top 10 men’s finishers for the 2016 CrossFit Games, but I didn’t let that stop me from picking the top 10 wom
You might think it’s way too early to pick the top 10 men’s finishers for the 2016 CrossFit Games, but I didn’t let that stop me from picking the top 10 women. Here are the men:
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The phrase “man on a mission” applies to Fraser more than almost anyone in the sport of CrossFit. He’s placed second at the Games twice in a row, and made it abundantly clear how much he hates being runner-up. Twice, the win has been in his grasp, and twice, he’s lost. This year, his mental game will catch up with his consistency, strength, and work capacity. It’ll be a sight to see.
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The last time Bridges competed at the Games, he placed fourth. After barely missing the Games in 2015, he’s had time to harness that loss and turn it into fuel. Bridges has been a force at the Games in the past, and now that he’s training full-time, healthy, and even more motivated, he’s going to make a huge statement.
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Smith, the 2015 champ, is incredible. He’s had a long and successful career, he’s young, and he’s got an amazing work ethic. His performances last year were dominant, with only one finish outside of the top 10. He’s poised for another solid year at the Games in 2016, but I expect the different events this year will work against him. For example, Smith historically performs poorly in workouts with strict handstand push-ups, deficit or otherwise, and those didn’t show up at the Games in 2015.
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Ohlsen’s 2016 season is off to a great start. He won the Open, and is going to be tested at Regionals against the 2015 champ, Ben Smith. Last year, only a couple of slip-ups cost him a podium spot. This year he’s fitter, smarter, and has a better mental game, but his ability to podium in 2016 will rely on the types of strength events we see this year and whether he can adapt to the inevitable curve balls.
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Last year, Panchik and his busted-up foot finished sixth—his lowest finish ever at the Games. Much like Smith, he’s a perennial competitor who contended in the shadow of the colossus, Rich Froning. If he’s healthy, he’s got what it takes to win and if he can start the week strong, he’s got a top-five finish locked in.
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You may not have seen last year’s breakout athlete coming, but some of us did. He’s got capacity for days, and his athletic qualities are comparable to Panchik, Smith, and Bailey. Last year, his strength was his weakness, but he still landed solidly in third place. Gudmundsson improved dramatically from 2014 to 2015 (26th to 3rd), but I’m expecting the difference in events this year to work against him.
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Heppner trains a lot. The only comparison I can make to illustrate just how much he trains is Froning, circa 2011-2014, and that’s just plain crazy. He had a great year in 2015, when he finished 10th overall. I expect his training to carry him to an even better finish in 2016. His ability to handle volume will definitely work in his favor—last year, he had his best finishes near the end of the competition.
[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BEbrQgNBxnv/" hide_caption="0"]
Like Smith and Panchik, Bailey competed against Froning and always seemed to come up short. Each year, Bailey has been very good at classic CrossFit-style events, but his performances suffer when you throw odd objects his way.
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Sager got into CrossFit because he wanted to win the Games, and after finishing seventh last year, he made a real solid claim. Now working with coaching powerhouse Ben Bergeron, Sager has the support he needs to reach his goals. But he needs to work on his heavy barbell cycling as well as his adaptability to odd events in order to make it on the podium.
[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BETyNZgspIS/" hide_caption="0"]
Mikko Salo thinks Koski has the capacity to win the CrossFit Games this year, and I agree. Anyone who placed in the top 10 at last year's Games has a shot at winning the whole thing, and Koski finished ninth in 2015. His poorest finishes from 2015 were in the strength events (speed snatch ladder and max clean-and-jerk).
1. Mat Fraser (USA)
[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BD4SCJYE5ua" hide_caption="0"]
The phrase “man on a mission” applies to Fraser more than almost anyone in the sport of CrossFit. He’s placed second at the Games twice in a row, and made it abundantly clear how much he hates being runner-up. Twice, the win has been in his grasp, and twice, he’s lost. This year, his mental game will catch up with his consistency, strength, and work capacity. It’ll be a sight to see.
2. Josh Bridges (USA)
[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BEhV5QSHcUB" hide_caption="0"]
The last time Bridges competed at the Games, he placed fourth. After barely missing the Games in 2015, he’s had time to harness that loss and turn it into fuel. Bridges has been a force at the Games in the past, and now that he’s training full-time, healthy, and even more motivated, he’s going to make a huge statement.
3. Ben Smith (USA)
[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BEZLrZVtmke" hide_caption="0"]
Smith, the 2015 champ, is incredible. He’s had a long and successful career, he’s young, and he’s got an amazing work ethic. His performances last year were dominant, with only one finish outside of the top 10. He’s poised for another solid year at the Games in 2016, but I expect the different events this year will work against him. For example, Smith historically performs poorly in workouts with strict handstand push-ups, deficit or otherwise, and those didn’t show up at the Games in 2015.
4. Noah Ohlsen (USA)
[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BE4C1V6mkdS" hide_caption="0"]
Ohlsen’s 2016 season is off to a great start. He won the Open, and is going to be tested at Regionals against the 2015 champ, Ben Smith. Last year, only a couple of slip-ups cost him a podium spot. This year he’s fitter, smarter, and has a better mental game, but his ability to podium in 2016 will rely on the types of strength events we see this year and whether he can adapt to the inevitable curve balls.
5. Scott Panchik (USA)
[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BEhkFz4zOLJ/" hide_caption="0"]
Last year, Panchik and his busted-up foot finished sixth—his lowest finish ever at the Games. Much like Smith, he’s a perennial competitor who contended in the shadow of the colossus, Rich Froning. If he’s healthy, he’s got what it takes to win and if he can start the week strong, he’s got a top-five finish locked in.
6. Bjorgvin Karl Gudmundsson (ISL)
[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BEt3kTIBrvG" hide_caption="0"]
You may not have seen last year’s breakout athlete coming, but some of us did. He’s got capacity for days, and his athletic qualities are comparable to Panchik, Smith, and Bailey. Last year, his strength was his weakness, but he still landed solidly in third place. Gudmundsson improved dramatically from 2014 to 2015 (26th to 3rd), but I’m expecting the difference in events this year to work against him.
7. Jacob Heppner (USA)
[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BE1nVfPOnOQ/" hide_caption="0"]
Heppner trains a lot. The only comparison I can make to illustrate just how much he trains is Froning, circa 2011-2014, and that’s just plain crazy. He had a great year in 2015, when he finished 10th overall. I expect his training to carry him to an even better finish in 2016. His ability to handle volume will definitely work in his favor—last year, he had his best finishes near the end of the competition.
8. Dan Bailey (USA)
[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BEbrQgNBxnv/" hide_caption="0"]
Like Smith and Panchik, Bailey competed against Froning and always seemed to come up short. Each year, Bailey has been very good at classic CrossFit-style events, but his performances suffer when you throw odd objects his way.
9. Cole Sager (USA)
[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BE6UN_oDbAF/" hide_caption="0"]
Sager got into CrossFit because he wanted to win the Games, and after finishing seventh last year, he made a real solid claim. Now working with coaching powerhouse Ben Bergeron, Sager has the support he needs to reach his goals. But he needs to work on his heavy barbell cycling as well as his adaptability to odd events in order to make it on the podium.
10. Jonne Koski (FIN)
[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BETyNZgspIS/" hide_caption="0"]
Mikko Salo thinks Koski has the capacity to win the CrossFit Games this year, and I agree. Anyone who placed in the top 10 at last year's Games has a shot at winning the whole thing, and Koski finished ninth in 2015. His poorest finishes from 2015 were in the strength events (speed snatch ladder and max clean-and-jerk).