CrossFit Games announcer Pat Sherwood breaks down the athletes who figure to have the best shot at winning the “Fittest Man Alive” title in 2016 and otherwise making noise in the Open division. SEE ALSO:The Ultimate Beginner’s 28-Day CrossFit Workout
BEN SMITH (DEFENDING CHAMPION)
AGE: 26 HEIGHT: 5’11” WEIGHT: 195 lbs AFFILIATE: CrossFit Krypton (Virginia)
“Smith has been to the Games seven times, which is ridiculous,” says Sherwood. “He’s been on the podium multiple times, he’s still very young, and, quite frankly, he can do anything. I struggle to think of somebody who would be a monkey wrench for him. That’s why he won last year. He’s one of the most well-rounded people out there. He’s just a little android.”
MAT FRASER
AGE: 26HEIGHT: 5’7″WEIGHT: 190 lbsAFFILIATE: Champlain Valley CrossFit (Vermont)“He’s been to the Games only twice, but both times he’s been on the podium. He’s a former Olympic lifter and one of the biggest threats to win at any time. He can win the whole thing.”SEE ALSO:7 CrossFit Moves For a Better Physique
SCOTT PANCHIK
AGE: 28HEIGHT: 5’9″WEIGHT: 187 lbsAFFILIATE: CrossFit Mentality (Ohio)“He injured himself on the first event last year and could barely walk and literally limped through the rest of the Games and was still able to take sixth place. He’s an absolute animal.”
NOAH OHLSEN
AGE: 25 HEIGHT: 5’7″ WEIGHT: 188 lbs AFFILIATE: Peak 360 CrossFit (Florida)
“There’s a lot of hype and chatter about this being a young kid who could stand on the podium. He won his regional in 2014 and 2015. If somebody is on a hot streak, it’s Ohlsen.” SEE ALSO:CrossFit Workouts: The Murph
DAN BAILEY
AGE: 32 HEIGHT: 5’7″ WEIGHT: 180 lbs AFFILIATE: CrossFit Faith (California)
“He’s been to the Games five times and has been in the top 10 every time. He finished fourth in 2015 and also won his region, which is a hell of an accomplishment. He’s been so consistent.”
CrossFit Games announcer Pat Sherwood breaks down the athletes who figure to have the best shot at winning the “Fittest Man Alive” title in 2016 and otherwise making noise in the Open division.
“Smith has been to the Games seven times, which is ridiculous,” says Sherwood. “He’s been on the podium multiple times, he’s still very young, and, quite frankly, he can do anything. I struggle to think of somebody who would be a monkey wrench for him. That’s why he won last year. He’s one of the most well-rounded people out there. He’s just a little android.”
MAT FRASER
AGE: 26
HEIGHT: 5’7″
WEIGHT: 190 lbs
AFFILIATE: Champlain Valley CrossFit (Vermont)
“He’s been to the Games only twice, but both times he’s been on the podium. He’s a former Olympic lifter and one of the biggest threats to win at any time. He can win the whole thing.”
“He injured himself on the first event last year and could barely walk and literally limped through the rest of the Games and was still able to take sixth place. He’s an absolute animal.”
NOAH OHLSEN
AGE: 25
HEIGHT: 5’7″
WEIGHT: 188 lbs
AFFILIATE: Peak 360 CrossFit (Florida)
“There’s a lot of hype and chatter about this being a young kid who could stand on the podium. He won his regional in 2014 and 2015. If somebody is on a hot streak, it’s Ohlsen.”
“He’s been to the Games five times and has been in the top 10 every time. He finished fourth in 2015 and also won his region, which is a hell of an accomplishment. He’s been so consistent.”