CrossFit Games champions: 2007: James Fitzgerald, 5'9", 175lbs. 2008: Jason Khalipa, 5'9", 210lbs. 2009: Mikko Salo, 5'9", 190lbs. 2010: Graham Holmberg, 5'10, 195lbs. 2011-2014: Rich Froning, 5'9", 195lbs. 2015: Ben Smith, 5'11", 195lbs. 2016-2020: Mat Fraser: 5'7", 195lbs. Looks like the prototypical winner is 5'9", 195lbs.
It's pure geometry and numbers. Do 50 thrusters for time and fikowski needs to move the bar prob 30% more distance than Fraser. Same with HSPU, and countless other movements. Just think how far down Fik needs to reach, and therefore in a more compromised position to pull the bar from the ground. To be "fair" he should be putting a 45lbs bumper under the plates 😂. Cardio machines (Inc running) , box jumps, ropeclimbs and maybe wallballs are the only things tall athletes have an advantage on I think.
These are great clips. Matt has such a winners attitude and doesn't even entertain excuses. It explains how he won the Games over the last 5 years with that mentality. BTW- I overheard an interview with James Franco recently and he his voice sounds just like Matt. He could play him in a bio movie some day (if he could gain 40 pounds of muscle)
I think the ideal body type to win the CF games for men is the 185-190 lbs build. It seems to be the consistent champion body type amongst the men's field. Jason Khalipa has been the only podium athlete with a real big body type to defy the demands of CF. For the women, I think the Tia and Katrin body type is what's going to win it. I don't know what their weights are but it seems to be the type that is versatile in strength and endurance. Brooke Wells had a body type that seemed to be tailored for strength but she's changed it to fit more of a Tia and Katrin build.
Being short is a big help. A lot of crossfit is exercising for time, and being short helps you squat, thruster, deadlift, pullup, lunge, handstand pushup, etc faster. I like to watch the crossfit games, but I've never understood why lifting faster was an important metric. Lift more weight, run faster, sure. But not lift faster.
‚Levers and physics…‘ come on. Tall people just do more distance in all vertical movements. They just can shine in all horizontal ones. Therefore small dudes win the open but tall ones can excel at the games (a lot more horizontal movements).
The perfect height in the NBA was never 6’4, come on. Also, no, women’s and men’s CrossFit will never have the best athletes in the world. CrossFit has an access issue, where other sports are cheaper to start.
I don’t agree with the access. You could start practicing in almost any gym, or by yourself. The same way running was for a long time an mid-upper class sport even tho it requires only a pair of shoes to start. It’s more about the chance to because millionaire in NFL seems higher than in Crossfit, due to volume of sponsorship money invested in it. Curious to hear what you think about it
@@adriengoux It's much easier to go outside and play basketball, baseball, soccer with friends than it is to have access to a barbell, plates, kettlebell, rope climb, row machine, etc etc. You literally can play these other sports with 1 ball. This is another big reason why the best athletes in the world aren't in Crossfit. The play those sports at their local parks/streets/gyms....Access.
Josh nailed it. It's all in between the ears man. Basically, how much pain are you willing to endure in order to accomplish the goal and acquire the target? Many want it...few get it!
It’s all between the ears when you have people who are physically equal and at the top of their game. There is clearly an “optimal” body type for CrossFit. Just like there is an optimal body type for every position at every sport. C If you take two people with equal strength and equal endurance, but one is 6’4” and the other is 5’6” and you put them both on a rowing machine, the 6’4” is going to bury the 5’6” guy because he’s moving further with every pull. Handstand push-ups, a taller guy has to move maybe an extra inch or two for every rep. On something like Mary where there’s 600 reps those inches add up.
@@MC473428 Hard to say there is an optimal body type for CrossFit. It depends on the programing. Some programming is going to benefit power, some benefits endurance, and some benefits technical skill. Hard to say what the ideal body comp is when you have to do a max clean for event 1 and then a 3 mile hill run for event 2.
@@orbbb24 Obviously certain movement benefit certain archetypes, but in a standard crossfit competition someone who fits the mould will do better overall. Assuming a standard level of fitness, if the Games were exclusively max lifts, runs, swim or rows a 6’4” guy would dominate. If it was exclusively gymnastics, a 5’2” guy would have an edge. But no competition is like that, things spread evenly as they typically are, will always benefit a guy (or girl) who fits that optimal body type because they won’t get destroyed in a heavy lift by a bigger guy, or by a smaller guy in a a workout where being light is beneficial.
I could see, one day, a 6’4” stallion come in and dominate for a few years and then never see someone like that again for a long time. It will not be the norm, however.
CrossFit Games champions: 2007: James Fitzgerald, 5'9", 175lbs. 2008: Jason Khalipa, 5'9", 210lbs. 2009: Mikko Salo, 5'9", 190lbs. 2010: Graham Holmberg, 5'10, 195lbs. 2011-2014: Rich Froning, 5'9", 195lbs. 2015: Ben Smith, 5'11", 195lbs. 2016-2020: Mat Fraser: 5'7", 195lbs. Looks like the prototypical winner is 5'9", 195lbs.
Absolutely agree
It's pure geometry and numbers. Do 50 thrusters for time and fikowski needs to move the bar prob 30% more distance than Fraser. Same with HSPU, and countless other movements. Just think how far down Fik needs to reach, and therefore in a more compromised position to pull the bar from the ground. To be "fair" he should be putting a 45lbs bumper under the plates 😂. Cardio machines (Inc running) , box jumps, ropeclimbs and maybe wallballs are the only things tall athletes have an advantage on I think.
These are great clips. Matt has such a winners attitude and doesn't even entertain excuses. It explains how he won the Games over the last 5 years with that mentality. BTW- I overheard an interview with James Franco recently and he his voice sounds just like Matt. He could play him in a bio movie some day (if he could gain 40 pounds of muscle)
Matt would you help Craig richey prep for his competition
Craig has to help himself with changing his mindset.
I’m 5’9” and avg 193-201 throughout the year. I think it’s a good place to be. Can do everything pretty well.
I think Mat has blinders on to the fact that his build is absolutely perfect for the sport. Fikowski is an outlier and we’ll never see it again.
Jason Hopper
I think the ideal body type to win the CF games for men is the 185-190 lbs build. It seems to be the consistent champion body type amongst the men's field. Jason Khalipa has been the only podium athlete with a real big body type to defy the demands of CF. For the women, I think the Tia and Katrin body type is what's going to win it. I don't know what their weights are but it seems to be the type that is versatile in strength and endurance. Brooke Wells had a body type that seemed to be tailored for strength but she's changed it to fit more of a Tia and Katrin build.
Most of the winners have been 195lb+ at the competition
Boxing is the hardest sport in the world. Boxing and cycling hands down.
Lol he lowkey try to answer his own question before he finishes asking it. 🤣🤣🤣
Interesting conversation. Thanks.
Being short is a big help. A lot of crossfit is exercising for time, and being short helps you squat, thruster, deadlift, pullup, lunge, handstand pushup, etc faster.
I like to watch the crossfit games, but I've never understood why lifting faster was an important metric. Lift more weight, run faster, sure. But not lift faster.
‚Levers and physics…‘ come on.
Tall people just do more distance in all vertical movements.
They just can shine in all horizontal ones.
Therefore small dudes win the open but tall ones can excel at the games (a lot more horizontal movements).
CrossFit needs more black athletes I think that if CrossFit was exposed to a more diverse socially then we would see a big shift
At some point, no matter the work ethic, you reach a true mechanical disadvantage to where you will not win
The perfect height in the NBA was never 6’4, come on. Also, no, women’s and men’s CrossFit will never have the best athletes in the world. CrossFit has an access issue, where other sports are cheaper to start.
It's a bit like golf. Look at the average income for crossfitters.
I don’t agree with the access. You could start practicing in almost any gym, or by yourself.
The same way running was for a long time an mid-upper class sport even tho it requires only a pair of shoes to start.
It’s more about the chance to because millionaire in NFL seems higher than in Crossfit, due to volume of sponsorship money invested in it. Curious to hear what you think about it
@@adriengoux It's much easier to go outside and play basketball, baseball, soccer with friends than it is to have access to a barbell, plates, kettlebell, rope climb, row machine, etc etc. You literally can play these other sports with 1 ball. This is another big reason why the best athletes in the world aren't in Crossfit. The play those sports at their local parks/streets/gyms....Access.
Must be talking about the commentator Chase Ingram he say that all the time and he is usually wrong.
Spud Webb and Muggsy Bogues are examples of someone who didn’t fit the norm for the NBA.
dude please leave this sport for short guys
Josh nailed it. It's all in between the ears man. Basically, how much pain are you willing to endure in order to accomplish the goal and acquire the target? Many want it...few get it!
This is so inaccurate, but makes people think they have a chance. So much of this is genetic haha.
It’s all between the ears when you have people who are physically equal and at the top of their game. There is clearly an “optimal” body type for CrossFit. Just like there is an optimal body type for every position at every sport. C
If you take two people with equal strength and equal endurance, but one is 6’4” and the other is 5’6” and you put them both on a rowing machine, the 6’4” is going to bury the 5’6” guy because he’s moving further with every pull. Handstand push-ups, a taller guy has to move maybe an extra inch or two for every rep. On something like Mary where there’s 600 reps those inches add up.
@@MC473428 Hard to say there is an optimal body type for CrossFit. It depends on the programing. Some programming is going to benefit power, some benefits endurance, and some benefits technical skill. Hard to say what the ideal body comp is when you have to do a max clean for event 1 and then a 3 mile hill run for event 2.
@@orbbb24 Obviously certain movement benefit certain archetypes, but in a standard crossfit competition someone who fits the mould will do better overall. Assuming a standard level of fitness, if the Games were exclusively max lifts, runs, swim or rows a 6’4” guy would dominate. If it was exclusively gymnastics, a 5’2” guy would have an edge. But no competition is like that, things spread evenly as they typically are, will always benefit a guy (or girl) who fits that optimal body type because they won’t get destroyed in a heavy lift by a bigger guy, or by a smaller guy in a a workout where being light is beneficial.
Manlet
I could see, one day, a 6’4” stallion come in and dominate for a few years and then never see someone like that again for a long time. It will not be the norm, however.
A russel westbrook type
THese are epic man!!! @pmpiron16