The first Day of the 2025 CrossFit Games is over. Veterans asserted dominance, rookies announced their arrival, and familiar names reignited rivalries. The Aussies have established dominance, and the incredible depth of high caliber athletes have set the tone for a fiercely competitive weekend ahead.
With high-stakes performances across all divisions and standout stories already emerging, the road to the podium is anything but predictable.
Here’s how the action unfolded on opening day.
Event 1 – Run/Row/Run
For time:
- 4-mile run
- 3,000-meter row
- 2-mile run
The 2025 CrossFit Games opened with a bang, featuring the earliest event announcement in Games history—revealed on May 20th. This head start gave athletes and fans alike more time than ever to anticipate the opening test of fitness.
As the event got underway, the men’s competition saw Jeff Adler and Ricky Garard charge to the front early, setting the pace from the first lap. They were closely shadowed by Roman Khrennikov, Austin Hatfield, and Colin Bosshard.
In the women’s division, Tia-Clair Toomey showed her dominance right out of the gate, with Amy Cringle and Haley Adams in close pursuit. PRVN Training’s Jay Crouch kept pace with Tia-Clair on the first running section.
Tia-Clair was the first woman to reach the rower. The 7 times champ rowed confidently but was closely followed by a determined Amy Cringle, who exited the rower almost the same time as Tia.
Roman Khrennikov—well-known for his prowess on the erg—took full advantage. He became the first male athlete off the rower.
Jeff Adler crossed the finish line first, establishing a solid win in the men’s field, with Khrennikov finishing second and Garard rounding out the podium in third.
On the women’s side, Tia-Clair Toomey claimed a familiar top spot, while Amy Cringle’s excellent performance earned her second place. Lucy Campbell battled through to secure third, marking a solid start to her 2025 campaign.
Event 2 – All Crossed Up
For time:
- 20 wall walks
- 10 DB shoulder-to-overheads
- 20 double-under cross-overs
- 30 toes-to-bars
- 20 double-under cross-overs
- 10 DB shoulder-to-overheads
- 20 double-under cross-overs
- 30 toes-to-bars
- 20 double-under cross-overs
- 10 DB shoulder-to-overheads
Women: 70-lb dumbbell
Men: 100-lb dumbbell
Double Under Crossover Returns with High Drama Across All Heats
The Double Under Crossover made its much-anticipated return to the CrossFit Games after debuting in 2022, delivering a thrilling showcase of agility and endurance across all heats.
In the opening heat, Olivia Kerstetter, Paige Greer, and Abigail Gluck stood out with confident and composed performances, setting an early standard for the field. Heat two saw Lydia Fish and Alexis Raptis come out strong, but it was Lucy McGonigle who applied steady pressure throughout, eventually overtaking the field to claim a decisive heat win.
The final heat featured a high-octane showdown between Tia-Clair Toomey and Danielle Brandon, both charging out of the gate with intensity. Amy Cringle remained close behind, maintaining her pace throughout the entire workout and never letting the leaders out of her sight.
Ultimately, Tia-Clair secured the overall win, with Danielle Brandon just a few reps behind. Amy Cringle continued her impressive Games performance by locking in a third-place finish—her second consecutive third place of the day, underscoring her consistency and competitiveness.
Mertens Battles Back, Ricky Seals the Win in Thrilling Men’s Showdown
The men’s heats brought drama, grit, and power as athletes tackled the challenge with intensity. In the opening heat, Colten Mertens and Poland’s Bronislaw Olenkowicz set a strong early pace. However, disaster struck for Mertens when his rope snapped mid-event, forcing him to sprint to the sideline for a replacement. The mishap opened the door for Olenkowicz, who capitalized on the opportunity with a commanding performance—making the 100 lb dumbbell look effortless, nearly strict pressing the weight with ease.
Despite the equipment failure, Mertens mounted an impressive comeback, clawing his way back up the leaderboard. Olenkowicz—nicknamed “Big Bron”—blazed across the finish line with a time of 6:59.25. Meanwhile, veteran Jonne Koski, now in his tenth Games appearance, powered through to secure third in the heat with a characteristically gritty performance.
Heat two featured a high-stakes clash from the start, with Justin Medeiros, Dallin Pepper, Fabian Bosshard, and Kalyan Magda locked in a tight battle. The two-time champion Medeiros, sporting his signature mullet, looked calm and calculated as he surged ahead, ultimately crossing the finish in 6:06.81. In a thrilling sprint finish, Pepper edged out Bosshard by just a tenth of a second to take second place.
The final heat delivered peak intensity. Jason Hopper grabbed an early lead, closely pursued by James Sprague and Ricky Garard. Hopper appeared relaxed and in full control, but Jay Crouch soon moved up to challenge him, setting up a dramatic duel between the two Australians. In the closing moments, it was Ricky Garard who edged ahead, claiming the overall event win with a blazing time of 6:06.46.
Individual Event 3 – Climbing Couplet
4-3-2-1 reps for time of:
- Pegboard
- Squat clean + front squat
Women: 145, 165, 185, 205 lb
Men: 235, 265, 285, 305 lb
Fish, Saghafi, and Meha Shine in Pegboard & Barbell Gauntlet
The women’s division delivered a mix of grit, grace, and comebacks in a demanding event that tested climbing precision and barbell stamina.
In the opening heat, Albania’s engineer-turned-athlete, Erisa Meha, and Colombia’s 2019 national champion, Omar Quintero, went head-to-head on the pegboard and barbell complex. Meha maintained a steady pace throughout and clinched the heat win with a time of 9:41. Close behind was Neely at 10:01, while Quintero rounded out the top three. Mexico’s Brenda Meza and veteran Caroline Prevost were both time-capped in this heat.
Heat two saw a composed and calculated performance from Andrea Saghafi, who climbed with consistency and transitioned smoothly onto the barbell. Her lifts looked effortless, and her quick descents from the pegboard helped reduce fatigue. Sitting 17th overall after the first two events, Saghafi smiled through her final front squat before charging over the finish line to take the heat win—an inspiring display of both efficiency and joy under pressure. Alexis Raptis and Elisa Domit also delivered solid showings.
As heat three got underway, cameras panned to an emotional moment in the crowd—Tia-Clair Toomey-Orr’s young daughter, Willow, cheering passionately for her mother. On the floor, rookie Lydia Fish set the pace with rapid pegboard ascents. Lucy Campbell, returning to the Games after a two-year recovery from a wrist injury, showed impressive skill on the climbs, though she had to adapt dramatically on the barbell. Unable to catch the bar with both hands, Campbell executed a challenging “zombie” front squat with one arm fully extended.
Fish powered to an event-winning time of 9:30, with Campbell securing second and Australia’s Maddie Sturt grabbing third. However, none of the athletes in the final heat were able to surpass the time set by Saghafi in the previous round, highlighting just how tactical and efficient her performance truly was.
Rozema Dominates Early, While Top Men Jockey for Position in a Tight Race
Heat one kicked off with a blistering pace set by Jelle Rozema, who was nearly flawless on the pegboard—often skipping the need to reset his feet between climbs. The event featured a subtle but impactful twist: shortened barbells, which posed a challenge for some athletes but seemed to have little effect on Rozema. He powered through the barbell complexes and crossed the finish line in 6:09.10, securing a commanding heat win. Colten Mertens, staying close behind throughout, claimed second, while Elijah Ellis rounded out the top three.
In heat two, James Sprague put on a clinic with lightning-fast pegboard ascents and smooth transitions. Chased by Kalyan Magda, Jack Clements, and Ibarra, Sprague looked both composed and powerful. His final set on the barbell was a statement—clear evidence of his improved lifting strength since last year’s Games.
Heading into the third event, the men’s leaderboard saw a historic moment: Jay Crouch and Ricky Garard held the top two spots, marking the first time two Australian men led the CrossFit Games standings.
The final heat was stacked and electric. Jason Hopper, Ethan Lightfoot, Jay Crouch, Jeff Adler, Roman Khrennikov, and Justin Medeiros all launched into the workout with urgency. Hopper and Khrennikov battled for the front position, with Adler stumbling slightly after missing a lift, which allowed Medeiros to edge past him. The heat was a thrilling demonstration of just how evenly matched the men’s field is this year.
With so much talent vying for the top, the men’s division promises an unforgettable weekend of competition.
Final Day 1 Final Leaderboards
Firstly for the women.
And for the men.
Check out the workouts for day 2.
