Tenth CrossFit World Games Crown Matt Fraser & Katrin Davidsdottir Fittest On Earth

The CrossFit Games’ men’s champion Matt Fraser won his first Games title and Iceland native Katrin Davidsdottir won her second consecutive title.

Third time’s a charm for Fraser as he placed second at the CrossFit Games in 2014 and 2015. Last year Fraser was the favorite to win but was edged out by Ben Smith in the final event. This year the first and second place finishers swapped places. Fraser won the event with the biggest lead in the Games history with 197 points over Smith.

In the 15 individual events over the course of five days Fraser placed second in seven and first in one event.

Davidsdottir had three first place finishes and two second place finishes at the 2016 CrossFit Games. She is the first repeat female champion since Annie Thorisdottir in 2011 and 2012.

With the inclusion of the Murph and pegboard events in the 2016 CrossFit Games it was a little like déjà vu, but this time competitors were ready.

‘Murph’ was the first of three events on Friday, and the fifth event overall. At last year’s Games athletes weren’t prepared for the heat and some of the top female athletes had to withdraw from the event.

Tommy Marquez, Caity Matter Henniger and Pat Sherwood talk about the Murph and day three events at the Games.

Last year also saw a pegboard event that surprised competitors and spectators alike. This year the last event called Redemption involved pegboard ascents and thrusters, a gritty combination involving full-body strength. Three women out of the field of 40 were able to complete the pegboard accents, Margaux Alvarez, Amanda Goodman and Kari Pearce. On the men’s side 17 of the 40 competitors were able to complete it.

CrossFit Founder and CEO Greg Glassman had conceived the 2016 Games final event before the 2015 were even completed.

According to CrossFit.com in preparation for the Games Pearce practiced not only vertical pegboard, but horizontal pegboard movements. “I feel good about that one,” she said.

Team Mayhem won the Affiliate Cup for the second year in a row and became the second team to win back-to-back Cups. The first team to win to Cups back-to-back was Hack’s Pack Ute in 2012 and 2013. Team Mayhem finished with the largest margin of victory in the team division, finishing 119 points over 12 Labours CrossFit.

Australian Kara Webb won the Spirit of the Games award that is earned by the athlete who embodies the spirit of the CrossFit Community.

Article by Lindsey Horsting