There is a reason why CrossFit calls the winner of the Games the Fittest on Earth and not the strongest on Earth. Being fit is more than just having strong muscles – it is a combination of gymnastic skills, strength and speed. But can we find out who were the strongest masters athletes from previous Games competitions? And what does that information tells us for the Games coming ahead?
2020 was an abnormal year as there was almost no CrossFit Games at all. In the end, only individual athletes were able to compete for the title of Fittest on Earth, leaving masters athletes, teenagers and teams training for the following year.
From 2015 to 2019, every CrossFit Games for masters athletes involved some kind of test to understand who is the strongest one among their peers. And there is only one way to find that out: with a “rep-max” kind of event.
Source: Courtesy of CrossFit Inc.The public wants to know who is the strongest one, be it a teenager or a masters athlete, and Dave Castro knows that as he has always slipped in some kind of workout that would showcase it. Here are the “rep-max” kind of events we have seen in CrossFit Games for masters athletes:
- 2015 – 1-rep-max thruster
- 2016 – 1-rep-max squat clean
- 2017 – 1-rep-max snatch (35-49 years old only)
- 2017 – 2-rep-max front-squat (50+ masters athletes)
- 2018 – 1-rep-max shoulder-to-overhead
- 2019 – 2-rep-max overhead squat
BOXROX has cross-referenced the winners of those events, from each category, and came up with the name of the strongest male and strongest female masters athletes in the past.
Strongest Masters Athletes of Past CrossFit Games
Check out who were the athletes who lifted the heaviest weight in the events mentioned above.
2015 – 1-rep-max thruster – Men
| Age Division | Name | Weight Lifted | Placement at the end of the Games |
| 40-44 | Shawn Ramirez | 276lb | 1st |
| 45-49 | Ron Ortiz | 285lb | 7th |
| 50-54 | Christ Podesto | 245lb | 9th |
| 55-59 | Steve Marino | 230lb | 2nd |
| 60+ | Robert Caslin | 230lb | 3rd |
2015 – 1-rep-max thruster – Women
| Age Division | Name | Weight Lifted | Placement at the end of the Games |
| 40-44 | Jolaine Undershute | 185lb | 7th |
| 45-49 | Francine Pehi | 180lb | 3rd |
| 50-54 | Laurie Meschishnick Shelie Edington Jacqueline Jane’t | 157lb | 3rd 5th 9th |
| 55-59 | Michelle Barnes | 133lb | 3rd |
| 60+ | Bernadette Eliott | 112lb | 2nd |
2016 – 1-rep-max squat clean – Men
| Age Division | Name | Weight Lifted | Placement at the end of the Games |
| 40-44 | Steven Swistak | 317lb | 12th |
| 45-49 | Ron Mathews | 307lb | 1st |
| 50-54 | Ron Ortiz | 287lb | 1st |
| 55-59 | Dewayne Sapp Mike Heikens | 237lb | 6th 5th |
| 60+ | Stephen Angove | 242lb | 2nd |
2016 – 1-rep-max squat clean – Women
| Age Division | Name | Weight Lifted | Placement at the end of the Games |
| 40-44 | Janet Black | 222lb | 3rd |
| 45-49 | Cheryl Brost Tonia Osborne | 206lb | 1st 3rd |
| 50-54 | Jacqueline Janet | 182lb | 6th |
| 55-59 | Mary Beth Prodromides | 185lb | 1st |
| 60+ | Shaun Havard | 142lb | 1st |
Source: Courtesy of CrossFit Inc.In 2017, CrossFit classified athletes from 35 years and over as Masters athletes, creating a new division within the sport.
That same year was the only time that CrossFit designed a different “rep-max” workout for athletes of different age divisions. Those from 35 years up to 49 years old would perform a 1-rep-max snatch, while older athletes would do 2-rep-max front-squat instead.
2017 – 1-rep-max snatch – Men
| Age Division | Name | Weight Lifted | Placement at the end of the Games |
| 35-39 | Neal Maddox | 293lb | 2nd |
| 40-44 | Steven Swistak | 259lb | 13th |
| 45-49 | Brent Maier | 235lb | 2nd |
2017 – 2-rep-max front-squat – Men
| Age Division | Name | Weight Lifted | Placement at the end of the Games |
| 50-54 | Patrick Murray | 347lb | 7th |
| 55-59 | Robert Boshoven | 302lb | 2nd |
| 60+ | Michael Bridges | 320lb | 11th |
2017 – 1-rep-max snatch – Women
| Age Division | Name | Weight Lifted | Placement at the end of the Games |
| 35-39 | Teresa Trojanowski | 202lb | 12th |
| 40-44 | Jen Hauser | 175lb | 5th |
| 45-49 | Cheryl Brost | 163lb | 1st |
2017 – 2-rep-max front-squat – Women
| Age Division | Name | Weight Lifted | Placement at the end of the Games |
| 50-54 | Diane Stuart | 222lb | 3rd |
| 55-59 | Mary Beth Prodromides | 205lb | 2nd |
| 60+ | Patty Failla | 180lb | 1st |
2018 – 1-rep-max shoulder-to-overhead – Men
| Age Division | Name | Weight Lifted | Placement at the end of the Games |
| 35-39 | Joel Bran | 400lb | 11th |
| 40-44 | Neal Maddox | 350lb | 1st |
| 45-49 | Giulio Silvino | 350lb | 6th |
| 50-54 | Ron Ortiz | 305lb | 3rd |
| 55-59 | Gus Vandervoort | 255lb | 10th |
| 60+ | Stephen Angove | 240lb | 7th |
2018 – 1-rep-max shoulder-to-overhead – Women
| Age Division | Name | Weight Lifted | Placement at the end of the Games |
| 35-39 | Teresa Trojanowski | 240lb | 8th |
| 40-44 | Ana C. Caldas | 265lb | 8th |
| 45-49 | Tonia Osborne Jolaine Undershute Shannon Schleifer | 210lb | 2nd 3rd 9th |
| 50-54 | Kerrie Napoli | 190lb | 10th |
| 55-59 | Jacqueline Jane’t | 185lb | 5th |
| 60+ | Patty Failla Dolores Jones Linda Hardy | 145lb | 2nd 3rd 9th |
2019 – 2-rep-max overhead squat – Men
| Age Division | Name | Weight Lifted | Placement at the end of the Games |
| 35-39 | Nicholas Urankar | 305lb | 1st |
| 40-44 | David Levey | 310lb | 5th |
| 45-49 | Justin Lasala | 280lb | 2nd |
| 50-54 | Ryan Joe Hamby | 200lb | 3rd |
| 55-59 | Alen Duarte | 200lb | 3rd |
| 60+ | Gord Mackinnon | 165lb | 1st |
2019 – 2-rep-max overhead squat – Women
| Age Division | Name | Weight Lifted | Placement at the end of the Games |
| 35-39 | Anna Tobia Rebecca Voigt Miller | 220lb | 1st 3rd |
| 40-44 | Michelle Suozzi | 215lb | 6th |
| 45-49 | Jolaine Undershute | 195lb | 3rd |
| 50-54 | Jana Slyder Tia Vesser | 160lb | 1st 2nd |
| 55-59 | Mary Beth Prodromides | 160lb | 8th |
| 60+ | Susan Clarke Patricia McGill | 120lb | 1st 2nd |
Conclusion from Strongest Masters Athletes of Past CrossFit Games
In those five years of CrossFit Games competition among Masters athletes, one can deduct a few things.
- 6 male athletes who were the strongest in their division ended up winning the CrossFit Games in their category.
- The same happened to female athletes, as 6 of the strongest masters athletes also finished the CrossFit Games in the 1st position.
Who is The Strongest Masters Athletes?
Among men athletes, Ron Ortiz is a force to be reckoned with. He won 1-rep-max in 2015, 1-rep-max squat clean in 2016, 1-rep-max shoulder-to-overhead in 2018, making him the strongest male athlete.
On top of that, he has won the title of Fittest on Earth in 2013 (45-49 years) and 2016 (50-54). This year he has qualified for the Games again, competing in the 55-59 division.
Source: Courtesy of CrossFit Inc.For the women, we have a tie. Both Jacqueline Jane’t and Mary Beth Prodromides have won three “rep-max” events in past CrossFit Games while competing as masters athletes.
Jacqueline won the 1-rep-max thruster in 2015, 1-rep max squat clean in 2016, 1-rep-max shoulder-to-overhead in 2018.
Mary Beth won 1-rep max squat clean in 2016, 2-rep-max front-squat in 2017, 2-rep-max overhead squat in 2019.
Neither of them is participating in the CrossFit Games this year.
How Important is Being Strong for Masters Athletes?
As stated before, CrossFit crowns the Fittest on Earth, rather than the strongest. But is being strong a guaranteed success to finish on the podium at the end of the Games? Not exactly, but it surely helps, especially for women.
From the list of the strongest masters athletes above, here is the number of people that finished in the podium (1st, 2nd, or 3rd).
Men
- 2015 – 3 people who won a rep-max event finished in the podium
- 2016 – 3 people who won a rep-max event finished in the podium
- 2017 – 3 people who won a rep-max event finished in the podium
- 2018 – 2 people who won a rep-max event finished in the podium
- 2019 – 4 people who won a rep-max event finished in the podium
Women
- 2015 – 4 people who won a rep-max event finished in the podium
- 2016 – 5 people who won a rep-max event finished in the podium
- 2017 – 4 people who won a rep-max event finished in the podium
- 2018 – 4 people who won a rep-max event finished in the podium
- 2019 – 6 people who won a rep-max event finished in the podium
Which of the Strongest Masters Athletes Are Participating in 2021 CrossFit Games?
From the list above of all participants who won a “rep-max” event in the past during the CrossFit Games, a total of 12 athletes will be in Madison this year competing for the title of Fittest on Earth in their respective category.
Men
- Justin Lasala – 45-49
- Giulio Silvino – 45-49
- Brent Maier – 50-54
- Ron Ortiz – 55-59
- Gus Vandervoort – 60-64
Women
- Ana C. Caldas – 40-44
- Janet Black – 45-49
- Laurie Meschishnick – 55-59
- Patty Failla – 60-64
- Susan Clarke – 60-64
- Patricia McGill – 60-64
CrossFit Games Schedule
The CrossFit Games will run from 27th July to August 1st. Most of the events will be streamed online for fans who are not able to travel to Madison, Wisconsin, due to the travel restrictions.
Watch the Livestream of the CrossFit Games here.
Here is the rough schedule of when each division will compete.
Source: Courtesy of CrossFit Inc.Find out how much money athletes and teams will earn at the end of the CrossFit Games.
Image Sources
- crossfit-games-age-groups: Courtesy of CrossFit Inc.
- Shelie Edington: Courtesy of CrossFit Inc.
- Ron Ortiz: Courtesy of CrossFit Inc.
- CrossFit Games schedule: Courtesy of CrossFit Inc.
- Ron Ortiz and Cheryl Brost: Courtesy of CrossFit Inc.