Your Guide to Who’s Competing in the 2016 CrossFit Games: Female Individuals

By Kaitlin Bitz Candelaria | June 21, 2016
The holy grail of CrossFit is upon us. The 2016 CrossFit Games are where 40 of the fittest men and women in the world will go head to head to compete for the ultimate title of the Fittest on Earth.

These athletes have poured their blood, sweat and tears into training over the past year. These women have traded manicures for torn hands, spent their weekends in the gym working on weaknesses, counting macros and pushing their bodies to the limit.

Beginning July 19, they’ll go head-to-head in the ultimate test — a weeklong competition filled to the brim with grueling events meant to test their mind, soul and body. Some are first-time Game competitors whereas others are old hats. All are thirsty for victory. Below, we’ve got the ultimate guide to athletes at the 2016 CrossFit Games female athletes.

2016 CrossFit Games Female Individuals

1. Camille LeBlanc-Bazinet

2016 CrossFit Games (c) CrossFit, Inc.

Strengths: Pull Ups/Gymnastic Movements | Weaknesses: Odd Objects
Heaviest Lift: 310-pound Back Squat | Social Media: @camillelbaz


Camille LeBlanc will be making her seventh appearance at the CrossFit Games. The 2014 Fittest Woman on Earth had a rough year at the Games last year — she finished 13th after taking first at South Regionals. Although most athletes would be stoked to finish in the top 15 among the fittest athletes in the world, LeBlanc was visibly distraught with her performance, bursting into tears at the culmination of Event 4 after multiple no-reps.

LeBlanc recently cinched another Regional victory at the South Regionals. She’s a smaller athlete — only 5’2″ and 130 pounds and an ex-gymnast, meaning she excels at most bodyweight-type movements. However, don’t let that full you — she posts an almost 200 pound snatch and can clean and jerk over 230 pounds.


2. Whitney Cappellucci

2016 CrossFit Games
(c) CrossFit, Inc.
Strengths: Heavy Cleans, Legless Rope Climbs  | Weaknesses: Unbroken Handstand Walks
Heaviest Lift: 400-pound Deadlift | Social Media: @whitcapp


Cappellucci is making her first appearance at the Games as an individual competitor after five years of failing to qualify at Regionals.

If her name sounds familiar, it’s because she’s competing on Team Albuquerque at the Games in 2010 and 2011.

Cappellucci is an ex-rugby player meaning she isn’t afraid to get gritty when competing. You’ll see her excelling in weights and struggling a little more with the gymnastic-type movements, but overall, she’s a very well-rounded athlete with a lot of experience under her belt. This will be her last year competing — next year, she’s trading her barbells in for a stethoscope as she just got accepted to medical school.

Check out our exclusive interview with Whitney here.


3. Alexis Johnson

Strengths: Pull Ups, Bar Muscle Ups  | Weaknesses: Squat Cleans
Heaviest Lift: 342-pound Deadlift | Social Media: @mf_mathlete


This will be Johnson’s rookie year in the CrossFit Games despite two relatively successful showings at Regionals in 2015 and 2014.

You’ll see this ex-gymnast excel at bodyweight movements — in case you couldn’t tell by here stellar performance during Regional Nate with the strict muscle-ups. Johnson has struggled mentally in the past — she faltered during last year’s Regional competition after a no-rep during handstand walks and struggled to regain her confidence — but has spent the past year training and preparing herself inwardly for this level of competition.


4. Tennil Reed

2016 CrossFit Games
(c) CrossFit, Inc.
Strengths: Wall Balls, Heavy Snatches | Weaknesses: Muscle Ups
Heaviest Lift: 330-pound Deadlift | Social Media: @tennil_reed


Tennil Reed is one of six rookie athletes out of the South Region headed to Carson this summer.

Reed is a lifelong athlete with a stellar natural ability — she competed at Regionals on a team within a year of starting CrossFit and started competing as an individual in 2014. Since then, she’s struggled for a coveted ticket to California, falling just short in 2014 and 2015 and capturing fourth after quite the dog fight at South Regionals this year.

Reed is a bigger athlete — she’s 5’6″ and weighs 157 pounds, so you’ll see her excelling at movements like wall balls and on the rower as well as landing some pretty intense lifts including a 185-pound snatch. Expect her to struggle a little bit more on bodyweight movements, but don’t count her out. Reed will fight and she will fight hard.


5. Candice Wagner

Candice Wagner
(c) CrossFit, Inc.
Strengths: Deadlifts | Weaknesses: Swimming and Chest to Bar Pull Ups
Social Media: @candicewagner21

Wagner is a two-time Games athlete who went into the 2016 season with the goal of just having fun.

That is, of course, until she found herself sitting in sixth place going into Event 7 at the South Regionals in May. She gave it her all and sealed her third trip to California with a fifth place finish.

Wagner took the 2015 competitive season off because she simply lost her love for competing. This year, she’s training hard but isn’t revolving her life around her performance at the Games. Don’t let that fool you though — Candice has made it to the Games twice before and is an ex-marine to boot, so come July, she’ll be ready to play.

Check out our exclusive interview with Candice here.


6. Carleen Matthews

2016 CrossFit Games
(c) CrossFit, Inc.
Strengths: Long Workouts | Weaknesses: Heavy Snatches
Heaviest Lift: 385-pound Deadlift | Social Media: @teamcarleen

Carleen Mathews has had a long road to the Games. She’s overcome addiction, an eating disorder, and losing her father and biggest cheerleader early in her CrossFit career.

This will be Mathew’s second trip to the Games after a 36th place finish last year. Mathews says she expects this year to be different because of her confidence levels — she knows she didn’t end up under the bright lights in Carson by accident. We’d say not, seeing as how she finished two Regional events in first place and all except for one event in the top 10.

Mathews is a smaller athlete at only 5’2″, but she’s mighty. Check out our exclusive interview with her here.


7. Emily Abbot

2016 CrossFit Games
(c) CrossFit, Inc.
Strengths: Clean and Jerk | Weaknesses: Gymnastic Movements
Heaviest Lift: 240-pound Clean and Jerk | Social Media: @abbot.the.red

Emily Abbot is relatively new in the CrossFit world compared to many older athletes. She’s a two-times Games athlete, appearing in 2014 and 2015 with and eighth place finish last year.

Abbot almost accidentally ended up in competitive CrossFit after surprising herself by qualifying for the 2014 Regionals. Since then, she’s been kicking ass and taking names, excelling at events that draw from her collegiate basketball experience.

Abbot is also a farm girl and often described as a workhorse. She isn’t afraid to dig deep and power through a nasty workout, exemplified by her excellent performance in the sandbag event at last year’s Games.


8. Margaux Alvarez

2016 CrossFit Games
(c) CrossFit, Inc.
Strengths: Pacing | Weaknesses: Heavy Snatches and Gymnastic Movements
Heaviest Lift: 375-pound Deadlift | Social Media: @321gaux

Margaux Alvarez has been a crowd-favorite since 2012 when she qualified for her first Regional a year after starting CrossFit. Before that, she spent the 2011 CrossFit Games working as a volunteer, soaking in the atmosphere and building hopes and dreams of competing under the big lights.

Now, five years later, Alvarez is a perennial power and is preparing for her fourth Games appearance. She’s long and strong, excelling at things like wall balls, rowing, rope climbs and long-grueling events where she can show off her engine. At 5’7″ and 150 pounds, Alvarez isn’t as strong with gymnastic and bodyweight movements but by that we mean she’s still light years ahead of the rest of us.


9. Katrin Davidsdottir

2016 CrossFit Games
(c) CrossFit, Inc.
Strengths: Handstand Walks, Consistency | Weaknesses: Legless Rope Climbs
Heaviest Lift: 315-pound Deadlift | Social Media: @katrintanja

Katrin moved from the Meridian Regional to the East Regional this year and still dominated. The returning 2015 Fittest Woman on Earth took first and is now returning to defend her title at her fourth Games appearance.

Like many CrossFitters before her, Davidsdottir has a heavy gymnastics background but can also throw around a good bit of weight. She made easy work of the heavy snatch ladder in Event 1 at Regionals and won the Games last year by powering through some ridiculously heavy kettlebell deadlifts.

Davidsdottir’s one weakness might be legless rope climbs. She failed to qualify for the Games in 2014 due to legless rope climbs and then struggled with them again in Event 7 in Regionals a few weeks ago. Other than that, good luck finding anything this Icelandic athlete is bad at.


10. Thuridur Erla Helgadottir

2016 CrossFit Games
(c) CrossFit, Inc.
Strengths: Strict Gymnastic Movements | Weaknesses: Consistency and Heavy Lifts |Heaviest Lift: 229-pound Clean and Jerk


Thuri surprised the world at Regionals in May by becoming the first and one of the only women to complete Regional Nate. This comes as no surprise to anyone who’s followed the two-time individual Games athlete — she cites Nate as one of her favorite WODs. Her slight frame — she’s less than 130 pounds — means she excels at bodyweight movements and gymnastics but struggles a bit more with throwing up heavy weight.

This is exemplified by last year’s performance at the CrossFit Games. Helgadottir found herself doing well in the running-style WODs and struggling more with the WODs where she had to move heavy weights like the event with the pig and heavy DT. However, she captured 5th in Meridian during the snatch ladder, so we’re excited to see how she’s improved since 2015.

For our exclusive interview with Thuri, click here.


11. Sara Sigmundsdottir

2016 CrossFit Games
(c) CrossFit, Inc.
Strengths: Strength | Weaknesses: Gymnastic Movements
Heaviest Lift: 342-pound Deadlift | Social Media: @sarasigmunds

Sigmundsdottir is a powerhouse, plain and simple. She missed the title of Fittest Woman in the world by a hair in 2015, which was also her rookie appearance. There isn’t much she can’t do, but she’s well-known for being incredibly strong.

Last year, she struggled at the Games with deficit handstand push ups which cost her the title, but her performance in 16.4 cleared up any doubt that HSPU may be a weakness. Although Sigmundsdottir is a bigger athlete — she weighs 150 pounds and stands at a little over 5’7″ — she’s said since then that her struggle was a mental one, not a physical one.

This year, she showed up to Regionals ready to make a statement. She finished every event inside the Top 5 and snagged two event wins. If she keeps going at this pace, she’ll make a formidable opponent at this year’s Games.


12. Annie Thorisdottir

2016 CrossFit Games
(c) CrossFit, Inc.
Strengths: Consistency  | Weaknesses: Health Issues
Heaviest Lift: 363-pound Deadlift | Social Media: @anniethorisdottir

The 2011 and 2012 Fittest Woman on Earth hasn’t stopped fighting to get back to the top of the podium. To this day, she is still the only woman to ever win back-to-back titles.

Iceland Annie had a devastating setback in 2015 when she had to withdraw from the Games due to having a heatstroke during Murph. This year, she said she’s been taking a little bit better care of herself and traveling less in order to prepare for the Games.

This will be her seventh appearance at the Games and if Regionals is any indication, Annie is gunning for the podium. She finished in second place at the Meridian Regionals with only one finish outside of the Top 5. It’s hard to point out a weakness with Thorisdottir. She’s such a solid, well-rounded athlete that in any given year when she’s healthy, she’s a contender for the title. That being said, she’s a larger athlete with almost an identical build to Sigmundsdottir, so her weightlifting numbers will blow even most normal men away. However, gymnastics aren’t a weakness for the ex-national team gymnast, ballerina and pole vaulter — she’s got plenty of experience throwing her bodyweight around.

Thorisdottir is also surprisingly young for someone who’s been competing for as long as she has. At only 26, she’s younger than other veterans like Sam Briggs (34), Camille LeBlanc-Bazinet (27) and Emily Bridgers (29).


13. Sam Briggs

2016 CrossFit Games
(c) CrossFit, Inc.
Strengths: Rowing | Weaknesses: Heavy Snatches
Heaviest Lift: 389-pound Deadlift | Social Media: @bicepslikebriggs

How do you even describe Sam Briggs? A machine? The engine? Probably the grittiest competitor on the planet? All would be accurate in describing the 2013 Fittest Woman on Earth.

Think of the nastiest workouts you can imagine — 14.5/16.5 for example — and those will be the ones where Briggs excels. She truly has a gift for living in the pain cave, as demonstrated when she competed last year despite having a broken ankle. Yeah, that’s the kind of tough we’re dealing with here.

The British powerhouse has already said that this will most likely be her last year competing as an individual. She struggles a little bit with the heavier side of lifting, having some of her worst finishes in the Snatch Ladder at last year’s Games and again at the snatch event at Regionals this year, but does well in the long, grueling workouts like Murph, where she took a first place win last July. Although she claims she’s just happy to going back to the Games one last time, we wouldn’t count her out for a podium spot. This will be her fifth appearance at the Games.


14. Carly Fuhrer

2016 CrossFit Games
(c) CrossFit, Inc.
Strengths: Short But Brutal Workouts | Weaknesses: Heavy Overhead Squats
Heaviest Lift: 285-pound Back Squat | Social Media: @carlyfuhrer

Known for her distinctive side ponytail, this will be Fuhrer’s first appearance at the Games after her rookie debut at Regionals in 2015.

Despite a minor injury at Regionals, Fuhrer finished in fourth place in the West. She’s pretty small — 5’3″and and 136 pounds — which is why you’ll see photos with captions like “I love bar muscle ups” and “chest to bar are my favorite” on her Instagram.

She’s still posting pretty intense numbers on her lifts, with a 175-pound snatch and a 335-pound deadlift, so we’re excited to see what she can do at the Games this year and if she’ll be able to mentally hang with the big dogs.

Check out our exclusive interview with Carly here.


15. Anna Tunnicliffe

2016 CrossFit Games
(c) CrossFit, Inc.
Strengths: Swimming and Rowing | Weaknesses: Strict Gymnastic Movements| Social Media: @atunnicliffe

Anna Tunnicliffe was an incredible athlete long before CrossFit came around. The three-time Games athlete also has an Olympic medal under her belt for sailing that she won in 2008 in Beijing.

Tunnicliffe is an intrepid competitor with a strong mental game developed from years of sailing competitively. Despite not being able to move the same sort of weights that you’ll find with some female Games athletes nor an outstanding gymnastic ability, Tunnicliffe is proof that hard work beats natural talent every single time. She’s a force to be reckoned with simply because she is doggedly determined and will fight through the pain to perform.


16. Emily Bridgers

2016 CrossFit Games
(c) CrossFit, Inc.
Strengths: Gymnastics | Weaknesses: Wall Balls and Heavy Deadlifts
Heaviest Lift: 275-pound Back Squat | Social Media: @emilybridgers

Bridgers is preparing for her third Games appearance after snagging the top spot at the Atlantic Regionals. This ex-collegiate gymnast stayed in the top spot throughout Regionals weekend, never finishing outside of the Top 10.

Bridgers is another extremely well-rounded athlete with very few weaknesses. However, she is one of the smallest athletes on the field at only 5’1″ putting her at only a slight disadvantage on movements like wall balls or last year’s Games’ sandbag event where athletes had to toss heavy bags over a wall. She more than makes up for it with her strength and her ability to throw her bodyweight around like a sack of potatoes.


17. Kari Pearce

2016 CrossFit Games
(c) CrossFit, Inc.
Strengths: Gymnastic Movements | Weaknesses: Chest to Bar Pull Ups
Heaviest Lift: 365-pound Deadlift | Social Media: @pumpedlikepearce

Kari Pearce is a wildcard that competed in the 2015 CrossFit Games after doing CrossFit for only eight months.

Pearce comes from an intensive gymnastic background and was a collegiate gymnast, meaning she shines in events like Regional Nate or anything that requires her to get upside down.

Despite her incredible ascent in the CrossFit world, she still struggles a little bit with consistency, which is to be expected of an athlete who has yet to hit her two-year CrossFit-aversary. Of course, she still managed a top 10 finish in every Regional event except one, showing just how much she’s grown as an athlete in the past year. We’re excited to see what she can do during her sophomore trip to the Games.


18. Michele Letendre

2016 CrossFit Games
(c) CrossFit, Inc.
Strengths: Swimming and Strategy | Weaknesses: Running
Heaviest Lift: 300-pound Back Squat | Social Media: @mich_letendre

Canada’s sweetheart is preparing for her sixth and last trip to the CrossFit Games in July.

Letendre has finished as high as fourth in the Games in 2014 and as low as 25th in 2011. She ended 2015 with a solid 18th place finish and came back to claim third at the East Regionals, behind only the reigning champ Katrin Davidsdottir and Carol-Ann Reason Thibault, who outpaced her by only four points.

Letendre is an extremely well-rounded athlete who excels in heavy weights. However, it’s hard to pick an event she wouldn’t do well in. Running seems to be the only thing Letendre struggles with and she’s a smart enough athlete not to expend a ton of energy in events where she knows she won’t excel — something she demonstrated at Regionals during the back-to-back Event 3 and Event 4.


19. Tia-Claire Toomey

2016 CrossFit Games
(c) CrossFit, Inc.
Strengths: Running and Brute Strength | Weaknesses: Handstand Walks

Heaviest Lift: 357-pound Deadlift | Social Media: @tiaclair1

Tia-Clair Toomey was the ultimate surprise during the Games last year. The rookie came out of left field to claim the silver. She had no event wins during the Games, but finished sixth or better in eight out of thirteen events.

This girl can lift some weights — she’ll be appearing in Rio two weeks after the Games to compete in the Summer Olympics for Australia. On the other hand, as a relatively new athlete, her mental capacity is still be tested as demonstrated in her lowest finish last year with Murph, despite her extensive background as a runner.

However, her determination is something to be feared. She competed last year through a foot injury during the sprint courses and still managed to claim fourth and third respectively. Her sophomore appearance is sure to be trademarked by more confidence and another year of training — and with that, there’s a good chance she could take the title.


20. Becca Voigt

2016 CrossFit Games
(c) CrossFit, Inc.
Strengths: Consistency 
Heaviest Lift: 375-pound Deadlift  | Social Media: @beccavoigt

Becca Voigt is the only CrossFit athlete preparing for her ninth trip to the CrossFit Games. When she started competing, the Games were an event athletes signed up for where people lifted some weights in a field. Now, they’re larger than life and she’s still along for the ride.

Because of her extensive experience, Voigt is an extremely well-rounded athlete with very few weaknesses. Some of her lifts aren’t as heavy as the likes of the Dottirs, but she’s still impressive enough to top ten finishes in every event at the California Regionals this year. What she lacks in physical skill she makes up for in a strong mental game. Her best performance at the Games thus far was in third in 2011 and last year, she placed 31st. We’re excited to see Becca back for another year and excited to see what she can do.


21. Alethea Boone

2016 CrossFit Games
(c) CrossFit, Inc.
Strengths: Gymnastics | Weaknesses: Swimming
Social Media: @alethea_boon

Boon, an ex-gymnast, will be making her second appearance as an individual at the CrossFit Games this summer. Expect her to excel at gymnastic and bodyweight anything — in case her first place finish in Regional Nate wasn’t enough.

Although she struggled with snatches at the 2015 Regionals, she redeemed herself this year, finishing 5th in the snatch ladder. Although she’s pretty tiny — Boon is only 5’3″ and 128 pounds — she can throw some heavy weight. In fact, she recently helped her home country New Zealand qualify for two Olympic weightlifting spots in Rio for the Olympics after her stellar performance at Regionals.

Check out our exclusive interview with Alethea here.


22. Alea Helmick

2016 CrossFit Games
(c) CrossFit, Inc.
Strengths: Wall Balls and Heavy Snatches | Weaknesses: Triple Unders
Heaviest Lift: 340-pound Deadlift | Social Media: @aleahelmick

After struggling for several years to qualify for the CrossFit Games, Helmick almost gave up. Luckily, she buckled down and kept fighting — this year, she earned her first appearance at the CrossFit Games. The best part? Her husband, Gary, will be joining her.

Helmick is a busy lady — she’s a full-time gym owner, a full-time teacher and now a Games athlete. She’s a taller athlete at 5’8″ and she’s strong — she finished fourth in the snatch ladder at this year’s Regionals and 6th in last year’s one-rep max snatch event.


23. Christina Verhagen Seeley

Beyond excited to be #GAMESBOUND ! Thanks you so much to my amazing husband @notmaxseeley and family for all their support and for believing in me more then I do myself at times:) Gord and @lmacd1 my tactician duo! I would not be where I am today without your guys support and hard work! Thanks to the one and only @nutrition168inc nutrition guru for keeping me fuelled like a rocket all weekend, months leading up, and months to come;) Lastly but not least all the @crossfitcalgary members and coaches, you support has been overwhelming and I could have not done it without all your kind words and encouragement behind me. #Repost @kc.yyc with @repostapp. ・・・ Does this count as a victory lap @cverhagen ?? Congratulations on an amazing finish and qualifying for the #2016crossfitgames!! #canadawest #westregional #crossfitcalgary #yyc #yyccrossfit

A video posted by Christina Seeley (@seeley.christina) on

Strengths: Snatches | Weaknesses: Strict Muscle Ups and Gymanastic Moves
Heaviest Lift: 370-pound Deadlift | Social Media: @seeley.christina

Christina Verhagen, also known as Christina Seeley, will be making her first appearance at the CrossFit Games this summer.

Seeley competed as an individual at Regionals in 2013 and 2014 and swapped to teams for last year’s Regionals. After failing to qualify for the Games, she was back at it this year as an individual competitor.

Seeley excelled in the snatch ladder and with the pistol/power clean combo this year at Regionals but struggled more with Regional Nate.


24. Meg Reardon

Strengths: Box Jump Overs | Weaknesses: Strict Muscle Ups
Heaviest Lift: 355-pound Deadlift | Social Media: @megg_a_tron

After missing Regionals last year, Meg came back to claim third in the Atlantic Regional in May.

The ex-field hockey player will do well in events at the Games that involve running as well as quick, nasty sprints like Event 7 at Regionals, where she took first.

Reardon is also the co-founder of Wags and Weights, a clothing line that celebrates all the fitness-addicted dog lovers out there.


25. Christy Adkins

2016 CrossFit Games
(c) CrossFit, Inc.
Strengths: Experience, Bodyweight Movements | Weaknesses: Heavy Snatches and Strength | Heaviest Lift: 330-pound Deadlift | Social Media: @christycrossfit

Adkins is another long-time Games athlete. She missed qualifying last year but came back this year to claim fourth in the Atlantic Region. She is now preparing for her seventh trip to California.

Christy said that her near-miss last year actually increased her confidence. Despite entering her eighth season, she’s still hanging with the top competitors.


26. Lauren Fisher

2016 CrossFit Games
(c) CrossFit, Inc.
Strengths: Heavy Lifts and Pull Ups 
Heaviest Lift: 293-pound Back Squat | Social Media: @laurenfisher

At 22 years old, Fisher is one of the younger athletes headed to Carson this summer. However, as someone who’s been doing CrossFit since before she hit puberty, she has the same amount of experience that many of the Games veterans posses.

Fisher made her first Games appearance on Team CrossFit Invictus in 2013. She competed as an individual in 2014 and nailed 9th place but missed qualifying in 2015 at the California Regional. She came back on the hunt for blood this year and took first place at Regionals, with only one finish out of the top 15 — and to be fair, that was in Event 4, minutes after taking first in Event 3.


27. Alessandra Pichelli

2016 CrossFit Games
(c) CrossFit, Inc.
Strengths: Heavy Snatches | Weaknesses: Strict Movements
Social Media: @alessandrapichelli

This will be Pichelli’s fourth CrossFit Games experience. After a fourth place finish in her 2013 rookie season, Pichelli has struggled to break out of the bottom half, finishing 32nd in 2015 and 23rd in 2014.

Pichelli is originally out of Diable CrossFit in California and at one time, competed at Regionals on their team. The ex-collegiate rower is sure to excel on the Concept 2 as demonstrated by her highest finish in 2015 — 13th on Pedal to the Metal 1.

After a little bit more consistency this year at Regionals, we’re excited to see what Pichelli is going to do in 2016.


28. Chyna Cho

2016 CrossFit Games
(c) CrossFit, Inc.
Strengths: Mental Toughness | Weaknesses: Olympic Lifts
Heaviest Lift: | Social Media: @chynacho

Who doesn’t love Chyna Cho? This will be her fourth trip to Carson after a sixth place finish last year.

Cho is one of the taller female athletes at 5’8″, but has a motor to rival that of athletes like Sam Briggs and Margaux Alvarez. She has a lot of fun with competing and after missing qualifying for the Games for three years between 2011 and 2013, her mental toughness and consistency are two of her strongest attributes.


29. Jamie Hagiya

2016 CrossFit Games
(c) CrossFit, Inc.
Strengths: Consistency | Weaknesses: Gymnastic Movements and Injuries
Heaviest Lift: 315-pound Back Squat | Social Media: @jamiejoyce2

Jamie will be making her first appearance at the Games after four years of trying — including a debilitating injury in 2014 á la Julie Foucher.

Hagiya cinched the final spot at the hyper-competitive California Regional, outpacing Games veterans like Brooke Ence and Kristan Clever. Hagiya is an ex-college basketball player who’s spent years training with the likes of Clever and Becca Voigt. However, she did just get her first bar muscle up during this year’s Open, so let’s pray for her sake that those don’t show up at the Games.


30. Kara Webb

2016 CrossFit Games
(c) CrossFit, Inc.
Strengths: Speed, Well-Rounded Athlete | Weaknesses: Injuries
Heaviest Lift: 341-pound Back Squat | Social Media: @karawebb1

Kara Webb is gunning for a podium spot after a fifth place finish last year at the Games…and this is after she suffered a heatstroke during Murph.

She dominated the Pacific Regional with four first place finishes and nothing out of the top 5. Webb has battled with injuries for the past two years. If she has a healthy season this year, there’s a good chance she could take the title.


31. Justine Beath

2016 CrossFit Games
(c) CrossFit, Inc.
Strengths: Strategy | Weaknesses: Handstand Walks
Heaviest Lift: 320-pound Deadlift | Social Media: @justinebeath

Beath will be making her rookie appearance at the Games, but it’s been a long time coming.

The 25-year-old has competed at Regionals since 2011 and has finished top ten for the past four years before finally claiming fourth place at this year’s Pacific Regionals. The Aussie athlete kept up with Regionals champ Kara Webb and will most certainly make a splash next month in Carson.


32. Madeline Sturt

2016 CrossFit Games
(c) CrossFit, Inc.
Strengths: Can Move Weight Quickly | Weaknesses: Heavy Snatches
Heaviest Lift: 308-pound Deadlift | Social Media: @maddiesturt

At only 19, Maddie Sturt is the youngest athlete going to Carson next month. She’s been doing CrossFit for five years now and this was her second year at Regionals.

Although she started off on a rough foot at Regionals, finishing the snatch ladder in almost last place, she redeemed herself in event 5 where she dominated the GHDs and deadlifts and finished only behind big names like Kara Webb and Tia Clair Toomey.

However, Sturt has admitted to struggling sometimes with mentally believing in herself, so it’ll be interesting to see her first Games performance.


33. Kristin Holte

2016 CrossFit Games
(c) CrossFit, Inc.
Strengths: Running | Weaknesses: Heavy Weights
Heaviest Lift: 297-pound Deadlift | Social Media: @holtekristin

After a 17th place finish in 2015, Holte is preparing for her third go round at the CrossFit Games.

Before finding CrossFit, Holte was a decathlete, so things like running, obstacle courses and sprints are all in her wheelhouse. Her conditioning is excellent and her pace is often blistering.

Holte is a smaller athlete with a deadlift max of less than 300 pounds, so she does tend to struggle with lifting-centric workouts. However, after claiming third in the Meridian Regional this year, it’s safe to say Holte is the real deal and could possibly be standing on the podium when all is said and done.


34. Carol-Ann Reason Thibault

2016 CrossFit Games
(c) CrossFit, Inc.
Strengths: Consistency, Deadlifts | Weaknesses: Legless Rope Climbs
Heaviest Lift: 397-pound Deadlift  | Social Media: @rison.thiboult_car0

Reason-Thiboult is another athlete known for her superb engine. She emerged in 2015 as a top-tier athlete in the East Region, earning fourth place before going on to secure 27th place at the Games. This year, she finished second to only Katrin Davidsdottir and stayed consistently in the top ten in every event except seven.

Reason-Thiboult is not a flashy athlete — she doesn’t get the attention she deserves. Make no mistake, she’s a powerhouse, she can move weight and she’s coming for Carson.


35. Tasia Percevecz

2016 CrossFit Games
(c) CrossFit, Inc.
Strengths: Heavy Snatches | Weaknesses: Wall Balls
Heaviest Lift: 308-pound Deadlift  | Social Media: @tasiapercevecz

Tasia Percevecz is an ex-gymnast. You might remember her endearing interview after she set the event record at East Regionals for event 7 — we’re not sure we’ve ever seen someone so excited about making it to the Games!

Percevecz is a great athlete — she qualified for the Games with only three years of CrossFit under her belt — but her awesome attitude is what separates her from many other athletes. She has a true love and excitement for CrossFit that makes her endearing. But don’t underestimate her physical abilities — she finished third at the East Coast Kill Cliff Championship in January ahead of Brooke Ence and Katrin Davidsdottir, 6th at Wodapalooza ahead of Emily Abbott and Tennil Reed, and 5th at the Granite Games last year.


36. Sheila Barden

2016 CrossFit Games
(c) CrossFit, Inc.
Strengths: Bodyweight Movements | Weaknesses: Clean and Jerks
Heaviest Lift: 315-pound Deadlift | Social Media: @sheila_sue

Sheila Barden missed out on qualifying for the 2015 CrossFit Games by the skin of her teeth. And although she did spend 2016 buckling down and training hard, she had a completely different approach this year — one that landed her in first place at the culmination of the Central Regional last month.

Barden decided that she was taking all of it too seriously. This year, she said she indulged in treats and even wore two different shoes throughout the competition to remind herself to lighten up.

The tiny athlete excelled at pistols and bodyweight movements at Regionals although she did struggle with wall balls and putting up heavy weight.

This will be Barden’s second trip to the Games after a 25th place finish in 2014.


37. Brooke Wells

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(c) CrossFit, Inc.
Strengths: Heavy Lifts | Weaknesses: Strict Muscle Ups  
Heaviest Lift:  405-pound Deadlift | Social Media: @brookewellss

Brooke Wells is a young dynamo that shocked the Central Regional in 2015 when she took first place. After a 19th place finish at the Games, she came back this year and visibly struggled with Regional Nate, finishing in tears at 32nd place. She fought her way back to claim third overall for the weekend.

Wells turned down a track and field scholarship to pursue CrossFit and now at 20 is fighting for her shot at the podium. The midwestern 20-year-old is proficient at extremely heavy lifts with a front squat one rep max of almost 300 pounds, a 270-pound clean and more.


38. Jennifer Smith

2016 CrossFit Games
(c) CrossFit, Inc.
Weaknesses: Strict Muscle Ups
Heaviest Lift: 370-pound Deadlift  | Social Media: @jensmith008

Smith is back and ready for action after failing to qualify for the Games in 2014 and 2015.

The self-proclaimed lifelong athlete has a background in track and field events, so it makes sense that her highest finish at Regionals was in Event 5 — the one with the TrueForm runner, GHDs and deadlifts.

Smith has a super positive outlook and credits it for keeping her sane when she failed to qualify for two consecutive years.


39. Kristi Eramo

2016 CrossFit Games
(c) CrossFit, Inc.
Strengths: Swimming and Endurance | Weaknesses: Heavy Lifts
Heaviest Lift: 310-pound Deadlift  | Social Media: @kristi_eramo29

Kristi Eramo will be making her rookie appearance at the CrossFit Games after competing at the Regional level for the past two years

Eramo has a background in swimming and running, so she will specialize in some of the Games events that other athletes struggle with. On the other hand, she’s only been lifting weights for a few years, so that may put her at a little bit of a disadvantage against some of the stronger athletes.

At only 5’2″, Eramo is a slight athlete meaning things like rope climbs and bodyweight movements are also in her wheelhouse. All in all, she’s proving to be a dynamic athlete and we’re excited to see how she performs come July.


40. Stacie Tovar

2016 CrossFit Games
(c) CrossFit, Inc.
Strengths: Barbell Work | Weaknesses: Consistency
Heaviest Lift: 335-pound Deadlift | Social Media: @stacietovar

Stacie Tovar is a Games veteran preparing for her seventh appearance. She finished in 11th place last year and went on to claim the second spot at Central Regionals in May.

Because she’s been around for so long, Tovar is an extremely well-rounded athlete who’s taken the time to iron out most of her athletic wrinkles. Last year was her best career finish to date — can she do even better in 2016?

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