Changing of the Guard Within Elite Fitness
Changing of the Guard Within Elite Fitness

By Alex Gold
When we think of the Godfathers of our sport, we think of names like Froning, Spealler, Khalipa and Maddox. These are the athletes that have pioneered our sport and taken it from a backyard BBQ in Aromas, California, to an athletic spectacle in front of a sold out crowd at the Home Depot Center.
Elite fitness is based on evolution. Nothing stays that same. The events, the movements, the intensity, the weights are always evolving. These titans of our sport will always be the ones we remember, but as we enter 2015, the torch will be handed off to a handful of young, elite athletes who will be entrusted with elevating the sport to the next level.
Rich Froning has stood atop the podium for four straight years, but in 2015, one of these men will be crowned “Fittest on Earth.”
When we think of the Godfathers of our sport, we think of names like Froning, Spealler, Khalipa and Maddox. These are the athletes that have pioneered our sport and taken it from a backyard BBQ in Aromas, California, to an athletic spectacle in front of a sold out crowd at the Home Depot Center.
Elite fitness is based on evolution. Nothing stays that same. The events, the movements, the intensity, the weights are always evolving. These titans of our sport will always be the ones we remember, but as we enter 2015, the torch will be handed off to a handful of young, elite athletes who will be entrusted with elevating the sport to the next level.
Rich Froning has stood atop the podium for four straight years, but in 2015, one of these men will be crowned “Fittest on Earth.”
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Mat Fraser (Age 24) 2014 Games - 2nd Place If there were Vegas odds on who will win the CrossFit Games in 2015, Fraser’s would be the best. He’s a beast on the barbell, has an incredible engine, and his mental game is as sharp as it gets. He is coming off a first place finish at The Crush Games, and he will also compete at The Granite Games and The East Coast Championships. |
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Noah Ohlsen (Age 23) 2014 Games - 8th place For much of the 2014 Games, Noah sat atop the leaderboard shocking the elite fitness world. Don’t be fooled by the cool smile and the cute haircut. This Southeast competitor is a real threat to take the podium in 2015. Much of this year will be focused on getting stronger, and if he can get his lift numbers up with the top guys, Ohlsen could be the one to finish No. 1. |
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Ben Smith (Age 24) 2014 Games - 7th place There might not be a more consistent and unassuming athlete in the sport of elite fitness than Ben Smith. Smith has competed in every CrossFit Games since 2009, and he is only 24 years old. He’s twice finished third (’11 & ’13) and he always is at the top of every event. He continues to get stronger with staggering lifts, and he is as consistent as they come. Smith is the crowd favorite to take the crown in 2015. |
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Cole Sager (Age 24) 2014 Games - 17th place Sager doesn’t carry as much elite fitness clout as the men above him, but don’t be fooled. He is a former RB/FB at Washington, so he knows how to compete. He won the North West region and didn’t finish worse than 5th place in any event. He’s a larger athlete with huge lifts, but he also boasts agility and gymnastic skills that make him a true elite. He recently finished second to Mat Fraser at Crush Games. |
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Garret Fisher (Age 23) 2014 Games - Didn’t Qualify In 2013, Fisher burst onto the scene finishing 5th at the CrossFit Games as a 22 year old. Fisher has a rare combination of size, strength and endurance that makes him an elite well rounded athlete. He had a disappointing finish to the 2014 season when he missed qualifying for Carson by finishing 5th at the Nor Cal Regional. 2014 will only make Fisher hungrier and fuel his fire as he will claim a top 3 spot in next years Nor Cal Regional, and will be a threat at the 2015 Games. |