10 MAT FRASER
Mat was a junior national weightlifting Champion before he got into Crossfit. He finished second in 2014 and 2015, but was just ousted by Ben Smith in the latter competition at Carson. He is a strong competitor for the title this year, and if the events go in his favour, we could see him snatch that top podium position from the other athletes.
What we can learn from him:
- Building strong strength foundations is vital!
- Put the work in on the basics, Squat, Deadlift, Press and Olympics lifts. You will reap the rewards in all other areas of Crossfit.
9 NOAH OHLSEN
2nd on the CrossFit Open leaderboard at the time of press (after 2 workouts) Noah is a guy who is completely dedicated to his training, but never forgets to make it fun as well. He is a naturally gifted athlete who looks intelligently at his own performance, and trains accordingly in order to be the best Crossfitter that he can be.
What we can learn from him:
- Train hard but don’t forget to have fun, never lose that side of Crossfit, no matter what level you are at.
8 SHAWN RAMIREZ
He is the undisputed king of the masters division. Ramirez has won this division for the last two years in a row, and if this wasn’t enough, he took first place in every single stage of the CrossFit Games (Open, Masters Qualifier, and Games) as well. Tomorrow, on March 10th, he will face the teenage champ Nicholas Paladino at the live announcement of the 16.3 workout.
What we can learn from him:
- Age is never an excuse
7 BEN SMITH
The reigning Champ is a humble, quiet guy who lets his phenomenal performances do the talking. He has been a competitor in the CrossFit Games every year since 2009, placing third in 2011 and 2013, and eventually taking the top spot on the podium in 2015. There is no doubting his zen like commitment and Spartan work ethic, and he has already notched up a number 1 finish for Open workout 16.2.
What we can learn from him:
- Have the guts to keep your eyes on your long term goals
- Remove your ego
- Work, work, work.
6 BK GUDMUNDSSON
The Icelandic Athlete stormed his way to a third place finish in the 2015 CrossFit Games, and is a consistent all rounder. He has a strong background in Gymnastics, and works hard on his lifting in training. In the recent Open Workout we saw that he has a powerful engine and is able to lift well, even when completely exhausted, so he is an inspirational example of the well rounded Crossfit athlete. Oh and you know the saying that you are what you eat? – Well he eats Shark.
What we can learn from him:
- Cover all the bases and train all areas.
- It sounds obvious but we often stick to what we are good at and skip over the exercises we hate. Do them. They are the ones that will come up and bite you when you least expect it.
5 ROB FORTE
Rob was the coach of the Pacific team at the Madrid Invitationals, and has been living and breathing Crossfit since 2009. The Australian Crossfitter owns his own box, Crossfit Frankston, and is a 5x Games athlete. His whole family is involved with the enterprise, and he shows pure passion and determination every time he coaches and competes.
What we can learn from him: In his own words…
- ‘Eat plenty, go hard and recover well’
4 CROSSFIT GUYS: RICH FRONING
Now there’s no way this list could be complete without him is there? Fittest Man on earth 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. His record speaks for itself, but as well as being naturally gifted, Rich is an astute Athlete that listens to his body and trains intelligently. He also trains a lot with other top Crossfit athletes, and this competitive atmosphere is a great way for him to emulate the real competition feeling.
What we can learn from him:
- Program like a God
- Command like a King
- Work like a Slave
Rich Froning: An unstoppable force within Crossfit
Rich Froning Image © cdn2-b.examiner
3 DAN BAILEY
Dan Bailey is a Crossfit veteran. He won the ‘Spirit of the Games Award’ in 2015, and is an incredibly determined athlete. He combines heart with a powerful work ethic, strength and impressive speed. He is quick! Check him out on the sprint course!
What we can learn from him:
- Never give up. Competing can be about more than just the results.
- Work on your speed
Media © CrossFit.com
2 JOSH BRIDGES
Josh Bridges is a machine. A former Navy Seal, he is one of the best pound-for-pound athletes in Crossfit. He finished second in 2011 at the CrossFit Games, and made a great recovery after a serious knee injury knocked him out of most of the competitive 2012 competition season. At the moment he sits at the top of the Open Leaderboard.
In the style of the mythical hero Samson, he is also currently powered by incredible facial hair, which somehow seems to make him an even better athlete 🙂
What we can learn from him:
- Don’t get down heartened when you get injured, come back even stronger!
- Facial hair makes you a better Crossfitter
Words to live by! check out full video on http://www.xendurance.com
A video posted by bridgesj3 (@bridgesj3) on
1 ZACH RUHL
Zach had both of his legs amputated due to a rare bone condition when he was only 2 years old. Since then, he has become renowned for his incredible Crossfit feats of strength and athletic prowess. Freestanding wheelchair Handstand Pushups and Muscle Ups, winning professional arm wrestling competitions and tire flipping are no problem for this trainer. When asked to describe his coaching style, he replied:
‘I’m a pretty tough teacher; I just don’t like excuses at all’
Since then he has gone on to open his own affiliate ‘Crossfit Uncontested’, where he offers free classes to anyone with a disability. Oh and he can Bench 190 kg / 420 lb, in case you were wondering.
What we can learn from him:
- Don’t moan or be soft. Just get it done.
Zach crowdsurfing at a Dropkick Murphys gig
Featured Image: Rich Froning © i2.cdn.turner / Noah Ohlsen © Mattrice Photography
All media © of each athlete
