Crossfit Games Competitors

[Brian Patrick]

I'm sure this question has been asked before but...

Are there any crossfitters who have competed at the games who have only ever done crossfit?

Like no other athletic background, no sports, no lifting experience just pure crossfit. You only ever hear about people who have either come from a background of sports or are in the military.

I'm just curious, I have never met or heard of anyone who started at 0 and made it to a games level competition.

[Koa Meador-Levy]

Doubtful, nobody who strictly only did CrossFit would be strong enough to even make top three at regionals.

[Sean Dunston]

Originally Posted by Koa Meador-Levy

Doubtful, nobody who strictly only did CrossFit would be strong enough to even make top three at regionals.

Ben Smith qualified from Mid-Atlantic at 18 years old "out of nowhere."
made it through to the games every year after that.
he took the podium (3rd place) in 2013.

[Spencer Pearlman]

Originally Posted by Sean Dunston

Ben Smith qualified from Mid-Atlantic at 18 years old "out of nowhere."
made it through to the games every year after that.
he took the podium (3rd place) in 2013.

Didn't he play baseball though? I think the question meant only doing Crossfit -- could be wrong, though.

Smith is a ridiculous athlete...as is Fisher, who also came out of nowhere (I think -- started Crossfit ~1 year ago, so I'm still new).

[Sean Dunston]

Originally Posted by Spencer Pearlman

Didn't he play baseball though? I think the question meant only doing Crossfit -- could be wrong, though.

Smith is a ridiculous athlete...as is Fisher, who also came out of nowhere (I think -- started Crossfit ~1 year ago, so I'm still new).

professionally? I doubt it.
I was judging in Virginia Beach in 2009 when Ben came on the scene at 18. that doesn't leave much time for a pro or even collegiate career.
Not to take anything away from him, because he's an amazing athlete, but if Ben was a baseball prospect of high caliber, don't you think he'd be on a team now? even at the league minimums, he'd be putting CF winnings and endorsements to shame if he was in MLB

[Russ Kelley]

If you want to disregard Ben Smith, who was "athletic" in high school but didn't play any sports on a highly competitive level and placed 3rd at the Games twice (2011 and 2013) then I would say Valerie Voboril. She has placed 3rd at the Games twice (2010 and 2013 as well as 5th in 2012) and has no athletic background, is a teacher, and has stated in repeated interviews that she only trains one hour a day from warm up to cool down. She also breaks the general mold as she is a school teacher and does not own/coach at a gym.

[Spencer Pearlman]

Originally Posted by Sean Dunston

professionally? I doubt it.
I was judging in Virginia Beach in 2009 when Ben came on the scene at 18. that doesn't leave much time for a pro or even collegiate career.
Not to take anything away from him, because he's an amazing athlete, but if Ben was a baseball prospect of high caliber, don't you think he'd be on a team now? even at the league minimums, he'd be putting CF winnings and endorsements to shame if he was in MLB

Not professional -- his bio on the Crossfit site says he played sports in college (and high school, but I would bet every Crossfitter did...at least the games / regional athletes).

I didn't imply that he was an elite baseball player (if you took it that I did, my bad). Just that he played in college.

The original post calls for games athletes that have only done Crossfit -- Ben Smith wouldn't fit the criteria because of his college career.

Edit -- after a bit of googling, I'm not so sure he played in college...it says on his games page he played college sports, but nothing about playing on the team (maybe intramural?). Also found out he started Crossfit at 16...so I take back Smith not qualifying for the OP. My bad.

[Chuck Golden]

What did Khalipa do before CF? I don't think I've ever heard of him playing college level sports?

[David Meverden]

Originally Posted by Chuck Golden

What did Khalipa do before CF? I don't think I've ever heard of him playing college level sports?

He did bodybuilding routines. Don't know if he pursued it competitively. He came into CF stronger than almost everyone else at the time.

[Blair Robert Lowe]

Khalipa played football in HS if I remember.

Most baseball players coming out of college go to "High" or "Low" single A. Hardly elite.