The Men’s side of the Games is ready to be a spectacle.
Because the age-old saying goes, heavy is the pinnacle that wears the crown. On this case, it’s in reference to Justin Medeiros, the two-time reigning Men’s Individual CrossFit Games champion. Within the event Medeiros does secure a 3rd straight title in Madison, WI, on August 1-6, 2023, he may have made history, becoming only the third-ever Individual competitor to triumph on at the very least three occasions. Nonetheless, like all great kings, Medeiros is just not without his competitive threats.
With the 2023 CrossFit Games inching ever closer, here’s a breakdown of Medeiros and 4 other potential Men’s contenders’ probabilities. At still just 24 years old, Medeiros would seemingly only be firstly of a dominant prolonged reign atop the CrossFit kingdom, joining the likes of four-time champion (2011-2014) Wealthy Froning Jr. and five-time Games winner (2016-2020) Mat Fraser. That’s, unless any of those athletes have something to say about it.
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Potential 2023 CrossFit Games Men’s Individual Contenders
It could likely be a shock to many within the CrossFit community if Medeiros fell wanting an iconic “three-peat.” That’s not even unpacking the potential for a recent Men’s champion for the primary time since 2020. On this event, each the Men and Women — who shall be looking for a recent CrossFit Individual queen within the absence of Tia-Clair Toomey — could have a recent champion soon enough.
Here’s a brief profile of CrossFit’s arguably biggest energetic star and 4 other Men’s Individual contenders in Madison.
Justin Medeiros (United States)
Best finish: Men’s Individual Champion (2021-2022)
Games debut: 2020
Medeiros wasted no time bursting onto the scene as a brilliant 21-year-old during his debut within the 2020 CrossFit Games. The athlete earned a podium result, ending just behind Samuel Kwant (second place) and the legendary Mat Fraser at the top of his CrossFit Games run. With Fraser and a definitive challenger out of the image the next 12 months in 2021, Medeiros stormed his approach to his first Games title, looking destined for greatness in the method. Such a prognostication ended up coming true.
Medeiros shall be tough to beat for anyone within the Men’s field. It might take a catastrophic finish in certainly one of the events and/or the champion being entirely off his game to fall wanting one other resounding victory.
Jeffrey Adler (Canada)
Best finish: Fifth place (2020, 2022)
Games debut: 2019
Adler might be certainly one of the more notable contenders on the Men’s side of the Games bracket. After a top-five finish in 2022 — his second in three years — it’s apparent the Canadian dynamo is establishing a consistent rhythm and luxury that serves him well in a tense, chaotic environment just like the Games.
Adler recently won the Men’s 2023 North America East Semifinal. If he can transfer over such a performance to Madison, he seems primed to make a legitimate run for the grand prize.
Lazar Đukić (Serbia)
Best finish: Eighth place (2022)
Games debut: 2021
To some, Đukić could have the looks of a “dark horse” — someone who isn’t an obvious contender but may deliver a surprise upset for putting near the highest. That line of pondering can be a mistake because, when all is claimed and done, consistency can win out within the endurance grind of the Games.
Đukić is coming off a victory within the Men’s Europe Semifinal and finished in twelfth place worldwide through the Quarterfinal. It could not be a stretch to see this Serbian competitor making a legitimate leap toward the highest of CrossFit.
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Roman Khrennikov (United States)
Best finish: Runner-up (2022)
Games debut: 2020
It’s easy to forget now, but Khrennikov actually already almost beat Medeiros in a CrossFit Games setting. In 2022, the man American athlete fell just 27 points wanting overcoming Medeiros and earning the vaunted title. The critical thing to recollect is that while some may need forgotten how close Khrennikov got here to glory, the athlete assuredly didn’t repress the memory of besting Medeiros in nine of the 18 workouts through the 2022 Games.
Khrennikov hasn’t been at absolutely the top of his game recently — he finished in only fourth place through the North America East Semifinal and was only in nineteenth worldwide through the Quarterfinal — but which may not matter on the Games. The athlete has shown he has the capability to rise to the occasion and perform in a giant moment.
Patrick Vellner (Canada)
Best finish: Runner-up (2018, 2021)
Games debut: 2016
A seasoned veteran, Vellner is entering his ninth CrossFit Games (including an appearance on the 2015 Games within the Teams division). Such a track record highlights Vellner as a model of dependability. At age 33, he’s undoubtedly certainly one of the older athletes within the Men’s Individual competition, because the Age Group division begins at 35, but that shouldn’t diminish his potential for a win. If anything, such prolonged experience could give Vellner a decisive edge over his peers.
It’s been two years since Vellner fell just wanting Medeiros himself through the 2021 Games. This was after Vellner was runner-up to Mat Fraser in 2018. After shining within the North America West Semifinal, Vellner might be one other athlete looking for a well-earned redemption. That one shining moment almost a decade into his elite CrossFit profession is perhaps across the corner.
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Medeiros seems well-positioned to make one other worthy addition to his trophy case. The Games, nevertheless, could be anything but predictable. It wouldn’t be a shock to see certainly one of these competitors give him an actual run for his money.
Featured image: @justinmedeiros34 on Instagram