Photograph Credit score: Born Primitive @bornprimitive | Sam Dancer @samdancing
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Like the ladies, seventy males throughout seven age-groups shall be readily available in Madison, WI on the 2023 NOBULL CrossFit Video games combating for the title of Fittest on Earth of their respective divisions.
And likewise like the ladies, the sector is jam-packed with new contenders, former champions, and previous particular person athletes who’ve aged into the masters division.
Listed here are a number of the key battles we anticipate.
Males’s 35-39 Division
Although the group breathed a collective sigh of disappointment when four-time Fittest Man on Earth Wealthy Froning declined his invite to compete this summer time, the division remains to be bustling with big-name athletes certain to attract a crowd.
Main the way in which is nine-time particular person Video games athlete Scott Panchik, who led all athletes on the Age Group Semifinals, and former crew and particular person athlete identified for his pure power, Sam Dancer, who shall be searching for revenge this season.
Remind me: Dancer was one of many favorites final season earlier than tearing his bicep just a few days earlier than the Video games, forcing him to withdraw. He underwent surgical procedure, has been on the mend, and has been vocal about his hope this season to “stand on high of the rostrum and (be) topped the fittest (35-39-year-old) athlete on the planet.”
Each Panchik and Dancer, nevertheless, are certain to be challenged by final yr’s champion Bryan Wong, who competed at three Regional competitions as a person (2016, 2017 and 2018) however by no means punched his ticket to the Video games, however has come into his personal as a masters athlete.
Two extra to observe: Former particular person athlete, Greece’s Ioannis Papadopoulos, who missed qualifying to the Video games as a person by one spot in 2021—and was fifth within the 35-39 division on the Video games final season—is one other to control, as is Australia’s Lars Kristensen, who was third on the Age Group Semifinals, ending simply forward of Dancer.
Males’s 40-44 Division
After an in depth battle final season, the highest two males from the 2022 Video games, Rudolph Berger and Caine Hayes, are again to battle it out as soon as once more (Berger topped Hayes by simply 20 factors final yr) this yr.
Price Noting: Lebanon’s Samer Zaarour, the winner of this yr’s Semifinals, won’t be competing in Madison as a result of he wasn’t in a position to safe a journey VISA. He additionally certified final yr after inserting second on the Age Group Semifinals and wasn’t in a position to journey to the US for the Video games.
Another to observe: Canadian Michael Laverriere—fourth on the Video games final yr and fifth at this yr’s Age Group Semifinals—is one other we count on to contend.
Males’s 45-49 Division
If the final three years are any indication of what’s to come back this summer time, then this division is prone to be all about Jason Grubb. Grubb, who lives and trains out of an RV, shall be going for his fourth consecutive title this yr. And though he’s now in the midst of the age group (he shall be 47 this yr), he simply received the Age Group Semifinals.
That being mentioned, one other man to control within the Males’s 45-49 division is Mike Kern, who has positioned second to Grubb the final two seasons on the Video games.
Two extra to observe: Christopher Anderson—second at Semifinals and in his first yr within the division—and Vlad Liashkevich—third on the Video games final yr—will even be seeking to make waves.
Males’s 50-54 Division
Like Grubb, Sean Patrick shall be seeking to defend his title this season, however one man who would possibly problem him embrace latest Semifinals winner, Italian Giulio Silvino, who simply aged up this yr. Although he has by no means been on the rostrum, Silvino is a five-time masters Video games athlete.
Two extra to observe: Eric Smith, third on the Video games final yr, is one other athlete to control, as is Bob Ruano, third on the Age Group Semifinals, who shall be competing at his sixth Video games and searching for his first podium end.
Males’s 55-59 Division
Not one of the podium finishers from final yr’s Video games—Mike Egan, Leonardo Wernersbach Lima and Antonio Boldrini—shall be competing in Madison this summer time, so the apparent favourite is three-time Video games champion Kevin Koester.
Koester has aged into the 55-59-year-old division this season, and already made a giant splash at Semifinals, profitable by 116 factors over Dion Walmsley.
Another to observe: Two-time Video games competitor Jody Hendrix, who simply aged into the division this season and was fourth on the Age Group Semifinals, is one other athlete we count on might problem for the rostrum.
Males’s 60-64 Division
In contrast to the 55-59 division, the highest three from the 60-64-year-olds from 2022—Shannon Aiken, Tony Turski and Tom Fameree—will all be competing once more this yr.
Aiken was second at Age Group Semifinals this season, whereas Fameree certified fourth and Turski, who returned to the Video games final yr after serving a four-year ban for testing optimistic for Anastrozole after inserting second on the 2017 Video games,was sixth.
Another to observe: Three-time Video games athlete Stuart Swanson, new to the division this season, beat all the podium finishers from final yr on the Age Group Semifinals and may’t be ignored as an apparent podium favourite.
Males’s 65-Plus Division
Just one podium finisher from the lads’s 65-plus division returns this summer time: John Mariotti.
Second final season, Mariotti will probably be challenged by the likes of eight-time Video games athlete and three-time champion David Hipensteel, who withdrew final yr after some controversy surrounding a few of his repetitions throughout Quarterfinals.
Two extra to observe: 4-time Video games veteran Tom Muhlbeier—second at Age Group Semifinals—and Daniel Miller—fourth on the Video games final season and this yr’s Age Group Semifinals’ winner—are two others with apparent podium potential.