The 2022 season has almost begun, and while there are three grading stages to go through before the next Games in August, we at CrossMAG have thought about creating our favorites list.
Here is our pre-season ranking of the top 10 men:
Index
Justin Medeiros
Best results:
1st place CrossFit® Games 2021
1st place Rogue Invitational 2021
3st place CrossFit® Games 2020
1st place Filthy 150 2018
After his victories at the 2021 Games and Rogue Invitational, Medeiros is currently the man to beat in every competition he participates in.
Until someone does, he will be number one in the rankings.
Patrick Vellner
Best results:
2nd place CrossFit® Games 2021 and 2018
3nd place CrossFit® Games 2017 and 2016
2nd place Rogue Invitational 2021 and 2019
1st place Rogue Invitational 2020
1st place Wodapalooza 2021, 2020, 2019
On paper, Patrick Vellner looks like the only one who can challenge Medeiros for the title of Fit Man on Earth.
Second place at the Games, second place at Rogue and winner at Wodapalooza 2022; some might say it's getting old, but it's one of the best we've ever seen!
There is no precedent for thinking that a man in his thirties, who has dominated regularly in most races, is too old to continue doing this.
Expect Vellner to win another podium this year!
Brent Fikowski
Best results:
3rd CrossFit® Games 2021
2rd CrossFit® Games 2017
1st Dubai 2019
Although it faded towards the end of last season's Games, there are many who argue that it may have been for an injury, even if it was never publicly admitted.
However, Fikowski has been focusing for the entire offseason on preparing for the upcoming games.
The only potential problem for him would be having to face another semifinal online. Apart from that, we could expect another podium for "The Professor ".
Bjorgvin Karl Gudmundsson
Best results:
4rd CrossFit® Games 2021
4th Rogue 2021
3rd CrossFit® Games 2019 and 2015
2st Dubai 2018
1st Reykjavik 2019
2th Rogue 2019
The "king of Europe" Bjorgvin Karl Gudmundsson is the perfect definition of coherence.
BKG is maintaining its position: it finished 4th at the Games and 4th at Rogue. It's not a mind-blowing achievement, but it's undeniable that this guy has great potential!
Roman Khrennikov
Best results:
1st Dubai 2021
13th CrossFit® Games 2020 (Stage 1 - online)
3st Dubai 2019
It currently boasts a five-game winning streak (LCQ, Butchers Classic, Madrid, Russia and Dubai).
It was, however, his performance in Dubai in 2019 that made him excel; together with Fikowski and Vellner, in fact, he fought to the end and all three had nearly 100 points ahead of BKG.
Jonne Koski
Best results:
6rd CrossFit® Games 2021
1st German Throwdown 2021
6st Dubai 2021
If you're wondering why there was no news of Koski in the offseason, it's because he underwent shoulder surgery in September and is undergoing rehab.
If you think it is too early for him to re-enter the race, you are wrong! Elite level athletes are known to have demonstrated a propensity for quick and impressive recoveries.
Saxon Panchik
Best results:
5rd CrossFit® Games 2021
1st Granite Games 2021
10th Rogue 2021
8th Wodapalooza 2022; 4th Wodapalooza 2020; 5th Wodapalooza 2019
He won the Granite Games and had a stellar performance at the CrossFit® Games by taking 5th place overall.
He has since finished 10th in Rogue and 8th in Wodapalooza. Overall, though, we're not too worried about these offseason results.
They are not that bad and the nature of these competitions is slightly different from the Games season. We will certainly see some good ones!
Lazar Dukic
Best results:
9rd CrossFit® Games 2021
12th Rogue 2021
2nd Dubai 2021; 5th Dubai 2019; 11th Dubai 2018
Lazar and his brother have both burst onto the global stage this year!
Although his performance at Rogue was disappointing, we weren't too surprised considering his WODs and points force and weakness.
She is a good athlete in almost any performance and, with an extra year available, she will surely reach higher in the rankings in the next competitions!
Ricky Garard
Best results:
3st Dubai 2021
A name that we weren't sure to include here, given that the only result we have is that of Dubai, where he found himself on the podium.
We believe that a victory in Dubai is, however, a great achievement for any athlete!
We will definitely all watch him this year and, if he finishes in the top ten, it will be a success for him in his first season back from doping disqualification.
Guilherme Malheiros
Best results:
7rd CrossFit® Games 2021
5th Rogue 2021
It's rare to win three events at the Games like Gui did last year. Don't believe it?
Look at Fikowski - he won four rookie events in 2016 and has only won three events in total at the Games since then.
Winning events at the Games is a huge milestone in terms of points and placings, and if Gui is able to replicate it he will secure his place in the top 10.
Now we want to know your opinion: who is your favorite athlete?