2026 CrossFit Games Day 2 Recap: Snails, Throws and Workouts Designed By Tia-Clair Toomey

James Sprague was the leader going into day 2, closely followed by Dallin Pepper. On the women’s side, Aimee Cringle had a fantastic first day and was wearing the leader’s jersey going into the first event of day 2. Also from the UK, Lucy Campbell was in second place. She beat everyone in the swimming event.

Aussie veteran Maddie Sturt won the first event and rounded out the top three. Day 2 kicked off with The Climbing Snail ‘26.

Event 8: Climbing Snail ’26

For time:

• Snail push
• 2/3 legless rope climbs
• 30 toes-to-bars
• 4/5 rope climbs
• Snail push

One of the CrossFit Games’ most recognizable implements returned in Event 8 as athletes once again took on the infamous Snail. Competitors had to push the 400 lb (181 kg) sled for 100 yards while wearing a 22 lb (10 kg) weighted vest, with legless rope climbs and toes to bar ensuring grip endurance became one of the biggest limiting factors.

Success depended on balancing speed with recovery. Athletes who attacked the rope climbs too aggressively risked blowing up before reaching the final Snail push, making pacing and grip management just as important as raw strength.

The Men

In heat 1 Pat Vellner looked comfortable from the outset, with his gymnastics background clearly paying off on the legless rope climbs. He moved efficiently through the technical sections and stayed composed as fatigue mounted.

The closing stages turned into an exciting duel between Vellner and Finland’s Henrik Haapalainen. The pair traded the lead before Vellner found just enough on the final Snail push to edge across the line first in 6:23.29. Spain’s Calum Clements also produced an impressive performance, staying competitive throughout the workout.

Going into heat 2 Gui Malheiros wasted no time taking control of the race, leading from the front through the opening half of the event. He managed his grip by breaking the toes to bar into smaller sets, although the repeated rope climbs gradually began to slow his pace. Behind him, Victor Hoffer and Jeff Adler steadily gained ground as the workout unfolded.

Malheiros refused to surrender the lead, driving the Snail over the finish line in 6:22.52 after one final, all-out effort in the closing metres. The reactions of the athletes after finishing showed just how punishing the implement was. Adler secured second in the heat, while Maisuradze crossed the line in third.

The final heat exploded into life with Moritz Fiebig, Jayson Hopper, and Roman Khrennikov all pushing the early pace.

Knowing several legless rope climbs still lay ahead, athletes had to carefully judge how much to rest between efforts. Every transition became increasingly tactical as grip fatigue accumulated.

Khrennikov executed flawlessly. After completing his toes to bar, he attacked the rope immediately, climbed with remarkable efficiency, and reached the Snail ahead of the rest of the field.

From there, he was never threatened. Khrennikov powered to victory in 5:27.60, earning the sixth CrossFit Games event win of his career. James Sprague finished second, Dallin Pepper claimed third, followed by Jayson Hopper in fourth and Ricky Garard in fifth.

The Women

The women wore a 16 lb (7.3 kg) weighted vest, pushed the Snail for 60 feet, and completed one fewer legless rope climb and one fewer standard rope climb. While the distance was shorter, the event still punished grip endurance and upper body strength from start to finish.

With so much pulling volume packed into a relatively short workout, athletes carefully managed their effort on the toes to bar, often breaking the movement into small sets to avoid burning out their grip before the final Snail push.

The opening heat featured Domit, Raptis, Fish, Wade, Noel, McGonigle, Greer, Black, and Folo.

Domit impressed on the legless rope climbs, moving confidently through the technical portions of the workout. Across the field, athletes opted for conservative sets on the toes to bar, prioritizing steady movement and fatigue management over speed.

Noel, coached by CrossFit Games team champion Adrian Conway, executed the smartest race of the heat. Fish continued despite appearing to carry an ankle injury, while Hannah Black ultimately reached the event’s time cap. Noel crossed the line first in 5:55.60, pacing the workout effectively and never allowing grip fatigue to slow her down significantly.

The second heat brought together Wilkinson, Siria Meha, Danielle Brandon, Paige Rodgers, Mathilde Garnes, Bjornsdottir, Cheverie, and Mirjam von Rohr.

Danielle Brandon, competing just days after being knocked over and run into during Wednesday’s bike event, wasted no time attacking the workout. She was the first athlete to complete the opening Snail push and looked determined to stay in front.

Paige Rodgers, competing at her third individual CrossFit Games despite managing an ankle injury, gradually reeled Brandon back in. The two battled through the second round of rope climbs before Rodgers reached the final Snail push first, already well ahead of the pace set by Heat 1 winner Olivia Noel. Rodgers powered across the finish line in 5:08.73 to take the heat victory. Brandon held on for second, while Kyra Milligan finished third.

The final heat featured Lucy Campbell, Aimee Cringle, Madeline Sturt, Arielle Loewen, Alex Gazan, Haley Adams, Elisa Fuliano, Ellie Turner, and Emma Lawson.

Alex Gazan quickly demonstrated why she is one of the strongest athletes in the field. She reached the Snail ahead of everyone else and looked composed throughout the entire workout. Her impressive upper body strength, highlighted by a reported 270 lb (122.5 kg) bench press, was on full display.

Sturt and Cringle stayed close during the middle stages, particularly through the toes to bar, but Gazan never looked under real pressure. She maintained a relentless pace through every transition and continued to extend her lead.

Gazan stopped the clock in 4:55.22, the fastest women’s time of the day, earning her second event victory of the 2026 CrossFit Games, further strengthening an already outstanding overall performance.

Event 9: 3D Throw

Event 9 introduced one of the most unusual tests of the weekend, challenging athletes to generate as much power as possible in three different throwing patterns.

For total distance:

• 1 throw, right
• 1 throw, left
• 1 throw, backward

Each competitor completed three sandbag throws. The first was with the left foot forward, the second with the right foot forward, and the third required athletes to launch the bag backwards over their head, similar to a classic strongman throw. The final score was the combined distance of all three attempts.

The men threw a 30 lb (13.6 kg) sandbag, while the women used a lighter bag. With 50 points on offer, every extra foot could make a significant difference on the overall leaderboard.

Before the event began, athletes were allowed to rehearse and refine their technique. While strength was an obvious advantage, success also depended on timing, coordination, and finding the right release angle. There was little room for error, as any throw that landed outside the athlete’s lane resulted in a 10 yard penalty.

The event rewarded explosive rotational power, athleticism, technical execution, and pure brute force.

Men

The early heats quickly showed that technique would be just as important as strength. Hamming put together a series of consistent throws, while Pat Vellner impressed once again with his all around athleticism. Gui Malheiros generated huge power throughout the event but initially sat just behind Vellner. Bayley Martin also looked explosive, and Jeff Adler consistently produced powerful efforts as well.

Vellner became the first athlete to break the 122 foot barrier, establishing the distance everyone else had to chase. Malheiros answered almost immediately, surpassing 123 feet to move into first place.

The final heat featured Roman Khrennikov, Jayson Hopper, James Sprague, Jay Crouch, and Dallin Pepper. Hopper and Khrennikov both unleashed massive throws, while Sprague’s height and long levers appeared to give him an advantage in generating extra distance. Crouch and Pepper also produced several powerful attempts as the leaderboard tightened.

When all three throws had been measured, Malheiros remained on top to claim the event victory and the sixth CrossFit Games event win of his career.

Women

The women’s competition showed again just how much technique mattered, especially on the overhead backward throw. Finding the correct release angle proved crucial. Athletes who threw the sandbag too low or too high lost valuable distance, while those who found the optimal trajectory consistently gained ground.

Hannah Black displayed impressive power in the opening heat, while Raptis and Greer also threw well across all three attempts.

Abbie Domit made an immediate statement. Unlike many of the other athletes, she skipped the practice swings and simply stepped up and launched the bag. The confident approach worked perfectly, as she posted a combined distance of 108 feet to set the standard for the rest of the field.

The second heat featured Wilkinson, Siria Meha, Mathilde Garnes, Bjornsdottir, and others. Garnes combined strength with excellent mechanics, while Bjornsdottir repeatedly found an efficient lower release angle that carried the bag well down the field. The three time Teenage CrossFit Games athlete won her heat with an outstanding display of consistency.

The third heat saw Alex Gazan and Ellie Turner open with impressive first throws. Gazan topped her heat but fell just short of Domit’s leading mark.

The final heat featured Haley Adams, Lucy Campbell, Aimee Cringle, Maddie Sturt, and Emma Lawson. Their opening throws were separated by only small margins, creating one of the closest contests of the event. Campbell produced a huge effort on her final attempt, but Cringle responded with an even longer throw to take the heat. Even so, Domit’s score remained untouched.

She secured the first CrossFit Games event win of her career, delivering an outstanding performance in one of the most unusual events of the 2026 Games.

Event 10: Run Hang Squat Clean

4 rounds for time of:

• 660-meter run
• 10 hang squat cleans 

♀ 155-lb short barbell

♂ 225-lb / 102.5kg short barbell

Men

Athletes faced four rounds for time of a 660-meter run followed by 10 hang squat cleans using a 225 lb (102.5 kg) short barbell. The workout rewarded smart pacing as much as raw fitness. Competitors had to decide where to spend their energy. Some chose to push the runs, others relied on fast barbell cycling, while the best performers found the right balance between the two without blowing up before the finish.

Heat 1

Dylan Hamming immediately established himself at the front of the field. He looked composed on the opening set of hang squat cleans, cycling the heavy barbell with ease while most of the athletes around him needed one or two breaks to complete their reps. Robinson also settled into a strong rhythm, and the pair quickly opened up a gap over the rest of the heat.

Hamming continued to increase his advantage with every round, making the 225 lb barbell look surprisingly comfortable despite the mounting fatigue from the repeated runs. His pace was so dominant that he eventually lapped Henrik Haapalainen, the five-time CrossFit Games veteran, before charging to the finish.

Behind the leader, Fowler, Souza, and Ty Jenkins fought an entertaining battle for the remaining positions, trading places over the closing rounds. Hamming stopped the clock in 15:03.30 to take a convincing heat victory.

Heat 2

The second heat started at a blistering pace, with Jeff Adler leading the charge out of the gate. Ricky Garard tucked in just behind him, while Jay Crouch and Roman Khrennikov also positioned themselves near the front from the opening run.

Crouch looked exceptionally efficient on the hang squat cleans, moving the heavy barbell with impressive speed and control. Adler also opted to break his sets strategically, while Garard chose to attack the opening round unbroken in an effort to maintain the lead.

As the workout progressed, fatigue began to take its toll. Crouch, Adler, and Garard all started splitting their squat clean sets, allowing Khrennikov and Justin Medeiros to steadily work their way back into contention.

Crouch consistently arrived at the barbell first after each run, but Adler remained close, while Medeiros gradually increased his pace and overtook the Canadian. Garard’s aggressive opening strategy eventually caught up with him as he slipped back into the chasing group. The race came down to the final round. Crouch, Medeiros, and Adler entered the last set of hang squat cleans virtually together, setting up one of the closest finishes of the weekend. With the crowd roaring them on, all three athletes raced through the final reps.

Crouch proved strongest when it mattered most, cycling the last cleans smoothly to cross the line first in 14:15.05. Medeiros finished just behind in second, while Adler completed the podium after a thrilling battle that went right down to the final lift.

Women

Emma Lawson claimed the event victory in 14:56.52, becoming the only woman to finish the workout in under 15 minutes.

Her winning margin over Lucy Campbell (14:58.20) was just 1.68 seconds, making it one of the closest races of the weekend. Ellie Turner secured third in 15:22.34, while overall leader Aimee Cringle continued her consistent Games by finishing fourth and conceding only a small number of points to Lawson.

Behind the leaders, the competition was remarkably tight. Only 19.29 seconds separated fifth-place Siria Meha (15:51.76) from tenth-place Madeline Sturt (16:11.05), illustrating how every transition, every break on the hang squat cleans, and every stride on the run influenced the final standings.

The event also showcased the international depth of the women’s field, with athletes from Canada, Great Britain, Australia, Albania, and the United States occupying the top six positions. Lawson’s victory earned her the maximum 100 points and further strengthened her position among the leading contenders heading into the final stages of the competition.

Event 11: Handstand Sprint

Event 11 placed the spotlight on one of CrossFit’s most demanding gymnastic skills, requiring athletes to race through a technical handstand walk course where balance, body control, and precision were just as important as speed.

For time:

Handstand walk course

Women

Paige Rodgers delivered a dominant performance, completing the course in 1:56.58, more than six seconds faster than runner-up Elisa Fuliano (2:03.55). After the top two, the gap widened significantly, with Lydia Fish finishing third in 2:36.49, over 32 seconds behind Fuliano and almost 40 seconds behind Rodgers.

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The event also highlighted several athletes with exceptional gymnastics ability. Alexis Raptis and Anikha Greer, who were sitting outside the overall top 15 after Event 10, finished fourth and fifth respectively, producing two of the best handstand performances in the field. Meanwhile, overall contenders Emma Lawson (6th), Alex Gazan (7th), and overall leader Aimee Cringle (8th) all finished inside the top 10, minimizing the number of points lost to Rodgers.

Abbie Domit backed up her victory in the 3D Throw with another top-10 finish in ninth, while Kyra Milligan rounded out the top 10. The results demonstrated how a highly technical gymnastics event could dramatically reshuffle the event standings, while the overall title contenders largely succeeded in limiting the damage.

The Men

Victor Hoffer delivered a standout performance, storming to victory in 1:05.62 and finishing 24.64 seconds ahead of Guilherme Malheiros (1:30.26). Ben Fowler also impressed, securing third place in 1:50.18.

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Behind the podium, the margins became incredibly tight. Henrik Haapalainen finished fourth in 2:03.19, while Jay Crouch (2:05.48), Justin Medeiros (2:05.49), and Colten Mertens (2:05.66) were separated by just 0.18 seconds, illustrating how even the slightest loss of balance or hesitation could cost several places. The overall contenders minimized the damage, with Crouch, Medeiros, Ricky Garard, and Mertens all finishing inside the top eight to preserve valuable points in the title race.

Hoffer’s commanding victory earned him the maximum 100 points, while Malheiros backed up his Event 9 victory with another podium finish.

Event 12: The Hopper 2026

The workout was programed by Tia-Clair Toomey and chosen by the fans.

The workout combined high-volume gymnastics with technical barbell cycling in a race where every second counted. Athletes faced three rounds of 21 toes-to-bars, followed by seven unbroken power snatches, seven unbroken hang snatches, and seven unbroken snatches. The unbroken requirement left little room for error, placing a premium on grip endurance, barbell control, and smooth transitions.

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3 rounds for time of:

• 21 toes-to-bars
• 7 unbroken power snatches
• 7 unbroken hang snatches
• 7 unbroken snatches

Time cap: 6 minutes

Women: 65 lb (29.5 kg)
Men: 95 lb (43 kg)

Men

Colten Mertens rose to the challenge with a commanding performance, winning the event in 4:55.57 and becoming the only athlete to break the five-minute barrier. Jay Crouch finished just 3.70 seconds behind in 4:59.27, while Jayson Hopper, James Sprague, and Justin Medeiros completed the top five after consistently efficient performances throughout the workout.

The competition remained exceptionally close beyond the podium. Just 21.04 seconds separated third-place Hopper (5:08.23) from eighth-place Patrick Vellner (5:29.27), underlining how a single pause on the barbell or an extra break on the toes-to-bars could cost several positions. Mertens’ victory secured him the maximum 100 points to close out the event in style.

Women

Event 12 served as a fitting conclusion to the Hopper, combining high-volume gymnastics with technical barbell work in a workout where speed alone was not enough. Athletes completed three rounds of 21 toes-to-bars before tackling seven unbroken power snatches, seven unbroken hang snatches, and seven unbroken snatches, making grip endurance, movement efficiency, and flawless barbell execution critical to success.

Lucy Campbell delivered the fastest performance of the field, crossing the finish line in 5:02.48 to secure the full 100 points. The race behind her was incredibly close. Abbie Domit finished second in 5:04.36, Danielle Brandon claimed third in 5:04.93, Aimee Cringle placed fourth in 5:05.00, and Emma Lawson rounded out the top five in 5:06.45. Remarkably, fewer than four seconds separated the top five athletes, underlining just how competitive the event proved to be.

The close margins extended throughout the leaderboard. Only 22.47 seconds separated Campbell from tenth-place finisher Siria Meha (5:24.95), illustrating that every transition and every unbroken barbell sequence carried significant weight. The event rewarded athletes who combined fast gymnastics with efficient, unbroken barbell cycling from start to finish, and Campbell’s composed performance earned her a well-deserved event victory in one of the tightest races of the weekend.

CrossFit Day 2 Final Leaderboards

Let’s see how everything looked after the dust had settled.

Women

Men

After 12 events and two demanding days of competition, the race for the title of Fittest on Earth is beginning to take shape, but it remains far from decided.

James Sprague and Aimee Cringle lead the men’s and women’s fields respectively after producing consistently strong performances across a wide range of tests, from swimming and endurance to technical gymnastics, heavy lifting, and high-skill barbell work.

Even so, the margins at the top remain tight. Just 34 points separate the top four men, while Emma Lawson sits only five points behind Lucy Campbell in the battle for second on the women’s side. With several demanding events still to come, every workout has the potential to reshape the leaderboard.

Learn how to watch The 2026 CrossFit Games on day 3.