An impressive 29 individual rookies will be competing at the Reebok CrossFit Games this year. Despite this number being lower than the amount of rookies at the 2014 CrossFit Games (38) the standard of this years rookies are considered better.
If you take into account the new qualification system, super-regionals and the spots available then compare this to the ratio of Games rookies to Games veterans within the regions; the favour lies with veterans to take the top 5 Games spots.
9. Alex Anderson
Central Region – 3rd
The Andersons are legends within CrossFit and athleticism clearly runs in their family. With Alex’s father winning the Masters category at the Games in 2011, his brother ZA in the top 10 at regionals 2013; Alex is breaking away from the shadows of his family successes and forging his own within the sport.
A talented high-school athlete, competing in wrestling, baseball and football, Anderson was a collegiate Football player at the University of Michigan from 2008-2012. Now, Anderson can be seen casually snatching 127kg (280lb) and probably eating heavy weights for breakfast.
Anderson was the only male rookie to come out of Central Regional. His best finish was third in Tommy V (8:01:0).
Insta: Alexanderson29
8. Aaron Hanna
Atlantic Region – 2nd
Hanna’s 2015 season kicked off with a storm, placing third at the Wodpalooza in Miami earlier this year, ahead of many games veterans.
On day 1 of Regionals, Hanna won Tommy V (7:17.2) and came 17th in Randy (2.53.9), which was his lowest finish of the entire weekend. His strengths include weightlifting, gymnastics and being insanely photogenic whilst training.
Comparing his scores across all other Regionals, Hanna falls in the top 10 male athletes heading to the games.
Insta: aaron_hanna
7. Benny Garard
Pacific Region – 5th
@alphafit_aus
Garard has a passion for competition that is a force to be reckoned with. The ex-Army Personal Trainer made it his goal to qualify for the Games when he finished his service back in 2012.
His regional performance was nothing short of a fight. Clawing his way back from 27th place, Garard went into the final workout in 10th place. His record-breaking win in the final event got him 5th place overall.
Garard could of won the Pacific region if it where not for a mistake in Randy. If you follow anyone on Instagram today, make sure it is Benny Garard. Chainsaws and 5.8km sled drags feature in his posts. Need we say more?
Intsa: Bennygarard
6. Alethea Boon
Pacific Region – 2nd
Alethea competing on the uneven bars at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
At the age of 31, Boon is one of the older rookies heading to the games this year. She brings with her years of gymnastics experience, competing at an international level; including the Commonwealth games in 2002.
Boon finished six of the seven Regional events within the top eight. She dominated the gymnastic based workouts, winning the handstand walk (1:45.8) and the triplet with strict deficit handstand push ups (14:47.9).
No, she isn’t weak with a barbell either. She finished second in Randy (2:45.7) and third in the finale clean ladder (2:01.6). We’re sure her years of international competing will help her at the Games.
Insta: Alethea_boon
5. Elijah Muhammad
Atlantic Region – 3rd
Muhammad’s ‘rope flies’ during event 5 at the 2014 Regionals. His performance has only excelled since last year.
Muhammad has been competing at Regionals since 2012. He spent a few years training with Rich Froning and his crew; last year he was the only one out of that group to not qualify for the Games, just missing out with a 4th place finish.
The ex-collegiate Basketball player set the 2015 Atlantic Regional floor on fire. Destroying the max snatch (second, 127kg/270lb) and the final sprint-clean ladder (first, 1:18.3).
We’re excited to see Muhammad at the games, but be warned, his rope-climbs will make you jealous. Muhammad doesn’t rope climb. He rope flies.
Insta: Elijahezmuhammad
4. Brooke Wells
Central Region – 1st
Wells introduced Crossfit to supplement her track and field training in 2013. One year later, she competed with her team Crossfit ‘Beefy 540’ at the North Central Regional.
Fast forward two years, the 19 year old turned down a track scholarship to the University of Arkansas to pursue Crossfit, winning the Central Region this year.
Wells had five finishes in the top 5 and set an event record in Randy (2:21.6). Wells can afford to use the 2015 Games as a learning process; she is just beginning her Crossfit journey. She will flourish with maturity and will be an athlete to watch for years to come. Don’t say we didn’t tell you.
3. Steven Fawcett
Meridian Regional – 3rd
Fawcett is the poster boy for British Crossfitters and has been tackling his way up the European Regional leaderboard since 2012.
Fawcett not only addressed his weaknesses from last years Regionals (handstands and rope climbs) but crushed them, taking fifth in Tommy V and making the 250-foot handstand walk look like a light sprint in the park.
Under the technical guidance of Coach Erik Lau Kelner (Weightlifting 101), Fawcett is part of the European super-camp (Fawcett, Hesketh, Sigmundsdottir and Gudmundsson) that is prepping for the Games and causing a frenzy hype amongst European Crossfitters.
Insta: Steveyf22
2. Brooke Ence
California Regional – 1st
You may know her from demo videos of the Open or from that picture at Californian super-regional, but Ence is much more than just a pretty face.
The former dancer and figure competitor dominated the Californian Regional (considered to be one of the toughest), with top 10 finishes in six out of seven events.
Ence lives and breathes the sport, competing with her Team Ute CrossFit at the games in 2011, then following her husband to California for his media job at CrossFit HQ a year later.
Combine her athletic history, her performance at regionals and her previous Games team experience, her presence as an individual rookie this year can not be missed. She’ll be the one in the white shorts.
Insta: Brookeence
1. Ragnheiður Sara Sigmundsdottir
Meridian Regional – 1st
If you don’t know Sara yet, you probably don’t lift.
What does the Italian Throwdown, The East Coast Championships, The Athlete Games, The French Throwdown and the Meridian Regionals 2015 all have in common? Sara won them all.
In 2013, Sara finished in 39th at the European Regional. Her rising success since has caused a unnerving stir amongst her competitors as she has, quite literally, jumped from podium to podium across Europe and overseas.
Sara finished the 2015 Open third worldwide, earning nothing lower than a ninth place finish at the Meridian Regional 2015.
Sara has a serious shot at being on if not taking the podium this year at the Games, her consistency and abilities are unquestionable. That, and she’s Icelandic.
Insta: Sarasigmunds
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