It’s that time of year again. The 2018 CrossFit Games are just around the corner and what better way to celebrate than trying to predict what the podium will look come Sunday? Once again, the women’s side of the competition is where all the excitement will be. Who could forget the epic finish to last year’s Games between Tia-Clair Toomey and Kara Webb (now Kara Saunders)?
I wish the same could be said about the men’s side of the competition, but the reality is everyone is competing for second place. If the result is anything short of Mat Fraser standing atop the podium, that would be one of the biggest upsets in Games history.
Finally, the team competition will be second fiddle to the individual competition no more. Since the format has changed, teams were reduced from six members to four for this year, so expect the unexpected with an all-new series of tests and challenges.
Yep, there is a lot to look forward to in the coming weeks. Here are our predictions for all the podium finishes in the men’s, women’s, and team competitions.
The Men’s Competition
1st Place: Mat Fraser
What can I say that hasn’t already been said? Mat is the overwhelming favorite to take home the title of Fittest on Earth for the third consecutive year. He is far and away the most well rounded, dominant athlete in our sport. Really, he is in a league all his own. Whatever you think you are good at, Mat is better. Good at barbell cycling? Mat is better. Good at endurance runs? Mat is better. Even if you do somehow manage to beat Mat in a workout, he is still only finishing a few strides behind you, which makes it nearly impossible to close the points gap against him.
If he stays healthy, there is no doubt he will be standing atop the podium come Sunday.
2nd Place: Patrick Vellner
I think Pat Vellner would be the first person to tell you that his Games last year did not go exactly according to plan, yet he still managed a third-place finish. He took a lot of chances — some paid off, others not so much (like the Run-Swim-Run, a 36th place finish).
Hopefully, this year, he can strike a better balance between when to push the pace and when to pull back. Maybe he has already learned his lesson. Looking at the overall Regional leaderboard, Pat actually edged out Mat for the top spot. Perhaps the men’s competition is not as black and white as we all think.
3rd Place: Brent Fikowski
People underestimate Fikowski (who is half Australian!), and we don’t know why. With a fourth-place finish in 2016 and second place in 2017, he’s no novice. He dominates his region year after year, he had a win for Event 5 at Regionals, and his dedication in the gym is unquestionable.
Not much is standing between him and a spot on the podium. If he can maintain his consistency, he will do some serious damage. In fact, Vellner and Fraser might want to sleep with one eye open. Fikowski is hungry for a win.
The Women’s Competition
1st Place: Kara Saunders
New name, same Kara. This is finally the year of Kara Saunders. Last year, after making some serious life changes, a happy, more relaxed Kara showed up in Madison and finished second overall — a measly two points out of first place.
If last year was tumultuous at times, this year, the ship has been steadied. Lifestyle and training all seem to be dialed in and ready to peak for the Games this year. In fact, this was the first time in three years Kara did not win the Pacific Regional. The reason is that her sole focus is taking the crown in 2018.
2nd Place: Tia-Clair Toomey
This was the hardest decision of this article, because honestly? We know Toomey could walk away with the crown just like Saunders could.
Tia dominated her regional this year like she never has, and she’s undoubtedly hungry to maintain her title as reigning champ. Plus, we know she’s mentally in the best place she’s ever been and has truly found the joy in the sport — and that right there is a recipe for success.
We can totally see her finishing near the top because of the confidence boost that finally is breaking through and how much having already won the crown can light a fire in you. We won’t be the least bit surprised if she has a Mat Fraser-like dominant performance against the field.
Look for her to be competing for the top spot come Sunday. The race between her and Saunders is going to be a tight one.
3rd Place: Katrin Davidsdottir
Only an athlete like Katrin can call a fifth-place finish at the CrossFit Games a down year. But when you stood atop the podium the two prior years, it makes a little more sense.
Katrin seems reinvigorated, more focused than she has ever been. Honestly, she seems even more determined than the years she actually won the Games. If Regionals were any indication — five first-place finishes in six events — Katrin is ready to kick butt and take names.
The Team Competition
1st Place: CrossFit Mayhem Freedom
What do you get when you take the second place overall finishers at the Games last year and add another Games veteran to the team? Simply put, another championship. I don’t think anyone in the functional fitness world would be shocked to see Rich Froning-led Team CrossFit Mayhem Freedom standing atop the podium when everything has been said and done.
An already stacked team made themselves even better after adding 2016 Individual Games Competitor Tasia Percevecz to the mix. Expect nothing short of dominance all weekend long.
2nd Place: Don’t Stop
Definitely not the best team name out there but by far one of the best teams overall, Team Don’t Stop boasts three individual Games competitors on their roster. The biggest strength of this team — trash talking. They called their shot in the South Regional and dammit did they deliver. I have no problem with trash talking as long as you have the legs to back it up.
Team Don’t Stop seems like the type of team that rises to the occasion. That will find another gear to inch just ahead of the nearest competition. We may not have seen the best of this team just yet.
3rd Place: Invictus X
Team Invictus X ran away with the West Regional — five top-three finishes in six events — and managed a second place finish overall in the cumulative standings across all regions, second only to Team CrossFit Mayhem Freedom.
Team Invictus X, just like every team on this list, boasts some incredible athletes, but what separates them from the pack are the wildcard athletes on their roster. Take Sam Dancer, undoubtedly one of the strongest athletes in the game. If the programming goes their way, do not be surprised to see them competing for a top spot come Sunday.
Main image: Katrin Davidsdottir/Instagram
