2026 CrossFit Games Day 1 Recap – Who Leads After Brutal Return to The Ranch?

Twenty years after a small group of athletes gathered on a dusty ranch in Aromas, California, the CrossFit Games returned to where it all began. To celebrate the competition’s 20th anniversary, the opening day of the 2026 CrossFit Games paid tribute to its roots with the first two events at The Ranch, a revival of the original 2007 Hopper workout and a punishing trail run through the same rugged hills that helped define the early years of the sport.

With established champions, rising stars and a new generation of athletes battling on historic ground, Day 1 delivered a fitting start to this milestone edition of the CrossFit Games.

Event 1: 2007 Hopper

The 2026 CrossFit Games opened with a throwback to the very first Games event, the original 2007 Hopper. In keeping with the atmosphere of the inaugural competition, there was no music playing at The Ranch, a deliberate decision to recreate the feel of the 2007 Games.

The contrast between the men’s and women’s fields was striking. While the men featured four former CrossFit Games champions in Justin Medeiros, James Sprague, Jayson Hopper and Jeff Adler, there were no former champions in the women’s competition. In another reminder of how much the sport has grown, four of the current female athletes were not even born when the first CrossFit Games took place in 2007. Back then, only two women managed to finish the workout.

Ellie Turner, who is recently engaged to Justin Medeiros, led the opening stages of Heat 1. The women flew through the push jerks, with Mathilde Garnes also battling near the front. The fastest time in the opening heat was 8:16, remarkably a full minute faster than the fastest men’s performance when the workout returned at the 2013 CrossFit Games.

Heat 2 featured an exceptionally strong field. Lucy Campbell attacked the workout from the opening row, while Emma Lawson, still only 21 years old, once again showed why she has worn the leader’s jersey so often during her young career. Danielle Brandon, making the most individual CrossFit Games appearances of any woman in the field after finishing fourth overall in 2025, stayed in contention throughout. Arielle Loewen was one of the fastest athletes on the rower, Campbell completed her opening set of pull ups unbroken, and both Mirjam von Rohr, a two time CrossFit Open champion, and Britain’s Aimee Cringle spent time near the front.

Ultimately, it was Maddie Sturt who stole the show. The Australian, who became the youngest female individual athlete ever to compete at the CrossFit Games in 2016 and 2017 before finishing sixth overall in 2025, crossed the line in 7:58 to claim the first CrossFit Games event victory of her career. Lucy Campbell finished second.

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The men’s opening heat featured Pat Vellner, James Sprague, Nick Mathew, Henrik Haapalainen, who entered the Games carrying an Achilles injury, and 20 year old Ty Jenkins, the youngest athlete in the men’s field. Sprague controlled much of the early race before fellow Australian Jay Crouch stormed through the closing stages. Crouch went unbroken on every set of pull ups and sprinted home in 7:09 to win the heat. Calum Clements and Sprague also posted impressive times.

The second men’s heat brought together many of the biggest names in the sport, including Jeff Adler, who was not fully healthy during the 2025 CrossFit Games, Roman Khrennikov, Justin Medeiros, Victor Hoffer, Dallin Pepper, Ricky Garard and defending champion Jayson Hopper. The athletes remained tightly packed through the opening rounds before Garard began to separate himself. The Australian, who returned to the sport following a four year suspension after the 2017 CrossFit Games and has since finished second and third at the Games, looked in complete control for much of the workout.

However, the race changed dramatically in the closing moments. Colten Mertens steadily reeled Garard in, Saxon Panchik also moved into contention, and Garard slowed on the final pull up bar. Mertens took advantage to win the heat, with Justin Medeiros also finishing ahead of Garard.

Event 2: Ranch 7200

The second event shifted from high intensity gymnastics to a brutal endurance test. The Ranch 7200 challenged athletes with a 7,200 metre trail run consisting of two laps in one direction before turning around and completing the same course in reverse. With dusty trails, steep climbs and approximately 1,500 feet of elevation gain per lap, it quickly became one of the toughest running events in recent CrossFit Games history.

Maddie Sturt and Jay Crouch started the event wearing the leader’s jerseys after their victories in Event 1.

The men’s race began at a measured pace before Ricky Garard, Jayson Hopper and James Sprague broke away from the field. Justin Medeiros also looked comfortable early, having raced these same hills during the 2020 CrossFit Games. Behind the leaders, many athletes were already forced to walk sections of the steep climbs before the opening lap had even finished.

Garard completed the first lap in 8:15 and steadily increased his advantage. Jay Crouch, Jeff Adler, Ty Jenkins and Roman Khrennikov all made up ground on the chasing pack, while Sprague held onto second place. Even the leaders were forced to walk some of the steepest inclines during the second lap as the hot, dusty conditions took their toll.

One of the lighter moments of the race came after the turnaround point. Garard grabbed a cold towel and draped it across his shoulders before tossing it aside as he passed Sprague. The towel hit the American, prompting some good natured trash talking between the pair before they continued climbing the relentless hills.

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At the halfway point Adler had moved into fourth behind Crouch, while the sandy terrain continued to sap the athletes’ energy. Hopper gradually slipped backwards through the field, but Garard only became stronger. He extended his lead to more than a minute and even began lapping athletes, including Hannah Black and Paige Rogers, both of whom were dealing with ankle issues. Anika Greer had also entered the Games carrying an ankle injury.

Garard crossed the finish line comfortably to secure his sixth career CrossFit Games event victory.

The women’s race was led early by Haley Adams, with Aimee Cringle and Lucy Campbell close behind. Adams maintained her advantage through the second lap, but Cringle remained within striking distance throughout the race. As fatigue mounted and more athletes were forced to walk sections of the steep climbs, Cringle made her decisive move during the closing stages.

The British athlete pulled clear to claim the event win, while Haley Adams finished second and Ella Wilkinson completed the podium in third.

Event 3, 4 and 5 – The CrossFit Total

After opening the 2026 CrossFit Games with a classic Hopper workout and a brutal trail run, the competition shifted dramatically from endurance to pure strength.

The athletes faced The CrossFit Total, one of the most iconic tests in CrossFit history. Competitors had three attempts to establish a one rep max in the back squat, shoulder press and deadlift, with strict judging throughout. During every lift, athletes had to keep their feet completely planted, with any movement resulting in a failed attempt.

Unlike previous editions of the CrossFit Total, where the three lifts combined into a single event score, the 2026 Games treated each lift as its own event. The back squat, shoulder press and deadlift became Events 3, 4 and 5, with each event worth 50 points. Athletes completed one lift every three minutes as the competition progressed.

This was the fourth time the CrossFit Total had appeared at the CrossFit Games, and it produced record breaking performances from both divisions.

Event 3: Back Squat

The women’s competition was led by Kyra Milligan, who claimed the event win with a 370 pound (168 kg) back squat. Switzerland’s Mirjam von Rohr finished second with 350 pounds (159 kg), while Anikha Greer rounded out the podium with 335 pounds (152 kg).

The men’s field opened with massive numbers from the outset. CrossFit Games back squat record holder Colten Mertens began at 495 pounds (225 kg). Austin Hatfield opened with 485 pounds (220 kg), while Jay Crouch and Justin Medeiros both selected 465 pounds (211 kg). Nick Mathew started even heavier at 520 pounds (236 kg), with Bayley Martin opening on 500 pounds (227 kg).

As the barbell got heavier, the competition intensified. Gui Malheiros and Nick Mathew both successfully lifted 550 pounds (250 kg), but Mertens answered with an impressive 555 pound (252 kg) squat to secure another event victory. Hatfield finished with 525 pounds (238 kg), while Medeiros completed a 505 pound (229 kg) lift.

Event 4: Shoulder Press

The shoulder press produced another impressive display of raw strength.

Alex Gazan dominated the women’s event with a winning lift of 170 pounds (77 kg). Paige Rogers finished second with 155 pounds (70 kg), while Ellie Turner took third after successfully pressing 150 pounds (68 kg).

On the men’s side, Ekai and Dallin Pepper both opened at 215 pounds (98 kg), Roman Khrennikov at 225 pounds (102 kg), Ricky Garard at 230 pounds (104 kg) and Colten Mertens at 235 pounds (107 kg).

Mertens continued to separate himself from the field. He increased the bar to 255 pounds (116 kg) before successfully locking out 260 pounds (118 kg) on his final attempt to earn his second event win of the day. Garard also impressed, finishing with a 250 pound (113 kg) shoulder press.

Event 5: Deadlift

The final event of the CrossFit Total was the deadlift.

On the women’s side, Aimee Cringle built steadily to an event winning 425 pound (193 kg) deadlift. Alex Gazan lifted 420 pounds (191 kg), while Maddie Sturt completed 410 pounds (186 kg) to finish among the top performers.

Before the men’s competition began, spectators were reminded that Sam Dancer’s 655 pound (297 kg) deadlift remains the CrossFit Games record.

Nick Mathew opened at 565 pounds (256 kg), Justin Medeiros at 545 pounds (247 kg), while Pat Vellner and Dallin Pepper both successfully lifted 575 pounds (261 kg). Jayson Hopper also reached 565 pounds (256 kg) before the final attempts.

When the heaviest weights were loaded, Pat Vellner delivered once again. The Canadian pulled an enormous 605 pound (274 kg) deadlift to win the event and record the ninth CrossFit Games event victory of his career.

New CrossFit Total Records

The CrossFit Total once again proved why it remains one of the sport’s defining strength tests.

Alex Gazan rewrote the women’s record books by setting a new CrossFit Total record of 920 pounds (417 kg), built from the following lifts:

• Back Squat: 330 pounds (150 kg)
• Shoulder Press: 170 pounds (77 kg)
• Deadlift: 420 pounds (191 kg)

On the men’s side, Colten Mertens also established a new CrossFit Total record, capping a dominant display across all three lifts and further cementing his reputation as one of the strongest athletes in CrossFit history.

Event 6 – Grass Track Race

Women

In heat 1 Ella Wilkinson moved into the lead in the early stages. Olivia Kerstetter and Siria Meha battled throughout the final portion of the race. Siria Meha won heat 1 with a time of 21:21.

Aimee Cringle continued her outstanding start to the 2026 CrossFit Games by winning the Grass Track Race in 19:10.78. Behind her, the battle for the remaining podium spots was incredibly close. Emma Lawson claimed second in 19:17.29, edging Lucy Campbell by just one hundredth of a second after Campbell crossed the line in 19:17.30. Switzerland’s Aline Wirz was only fractions further back in fourth with 19:17.58, while Haley Adams rounded out the top five in 19:34.80. Maddie Sturt finished sixth in 19:51.28, followed by Ellie Turner (20:11.34), Holly Tynan (20:17.75), Matilde Garnes (20:18.48) and Elisa Fuliano (20:18.98).

Men

Moritz Fiebig produced a perfectly timed finish to win the men’s Grass Track Race in 18:15.77. The race developed into an incredible sprint, with the top six athletes separated by just 0.87 seconds at the finish. Dallin Pepper claimed second in 18:15.91, only 0.14 seconds behind Fiebig, while Jay Crouch finished third in 18:16.16. James Sprague crossed the line fourth in 18:16.21, followed by Jayson Hopper in 18:16.53 and Ricky Garard in 18:16.64. Roman Khrennikov finished seventh in 18:17.46, Justin Medeiros was eighth in 18:18.11, Bayley Martin took ninth in 18:21.63 and Luis Cuellar rounded out the top 10 with a time of 18:28.14.

The top six men were separated by just 0.87 seconds, making it one of the closest finishes in CrossFit Games history.

Event 7 – Swim Standard

Event 7 of The 2026 CrossFit Games saw the athletes return to the pool for the Swim Standard.

For time:

• 200-meter swim
• 40 burpees
• 150-meter swim
• 30 burpees
• 100-meter swim
• 20 burpees
• 50-meter swim
• 10 burpees

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Women

Lucy Campbell delivered a standout swim to win the Women’s Swim Standard in a blistering 10:55, making her the only athlete in the field to finish in under 11 minutes. Paige Rodgers secured second place in 12:04, while Danielle Brandon rounded out the podium with a time of 12:18. Arielle Loewen continued her impressive consistency by finishing fourth in 12:32, with Emma Lawson taking fifth in 12:40.

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Overall leader Aimee Cringle crossed the line sixth in 12:51, just ahead of Alex Gazan, who finished seventh in 12:53. Haley Adams claimed eighth in 13:01, Madeline Sturt was ninth in 13:04 and Matilde Garnes completed the top 10 in 13:07. Campbell’s victory earned her a valuable 100 points and significantly tightened the battle at the top of the overall leaderboard heading into the next event.

Men

Ty Jenkins produced one of the most impressive performances of the 2026 CrossFit Games so far, storming to victory in the Swim Standard with a winning time of 11:09. The 20 year old claimed the first CrossFit Games event win of his career, finishing 14 seconds ahead of two time Games champion Justin Medeiros, who placed second in 11:23.

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Dallin Pepper secured third in 11:49, followed by Saxon Panchik in fourth with an even 12:00. Luis Cuellar completed the top five in 12:04, while James Sprague (12:17), Roman Khrennikov (12:18), Jeffrey Adler (12:20), Victor Hoffer (12:34) and Ricky Garard (12:35) rounded out the top 10. Jenkins’ dominant swim earned him the full 100 points and capped an outstanding opening day at the Ranch.

Learn how to watch The 2026 CrossFit Games or find out which athletes are competing.

Final Leaderboard

Women

Men

As the Dust Settles

The opening day of the 2026 CrossFit Games delivered exactly what fans hoped for as the return to the Ranch tested athletes across a remarkably broad range of skills. From the nostalgic 2007 Hopper and demanding Ranch 7200 trail run to the raw strength of the CrossFit Total and the speed required in the Grass Track Race and Swim Standard, Day 1 rewarded versatility more than any single specialty.

In the women’s competition, Aimee Cringle emerged as the overnight leader thanks to her exceptional consistency, while Lucy Campbell’s dominant swim victory moved her firmly into title contention. The men’s leaderboard is even tighter, with just one point separating James Sprague and Dallin Pepper after seven events. Justin Medeiros, Jay Crouch and Ricky Garard also remain well within striking distance, setting up what promises to be an intensely competitive battle over the remaining events.

With the field now moving away from the Ranch and into the second day of competition, the margins are already razor thin. Every point will matter from here on, and with several athletes still capable of climbing the leaderboard, the race to be crowned the Fittest on Earth is only just beginning.