Every year at the CrossFit Games, at least one rookie shows up and outperforms everyone’s expectations.
In 2015, that rookie was Tia-Clair Toomey-Orr, who finished second on the podium.
- Toomey-Orr isn’t the only rookie to reach the podium in their first Games: Rich Froning finished second in his rookie season in 2010, Pat Vellner placed third in 2016, and Laura Horvath was second at her first Games in 2018. The most recent rookie to make the podium was Justin Medeiros in 2020. He finished third.
While reaching the podium as a rookie is an achievement only a few athletes can claim, having a rookie in the top 10 at each CrossFit Games has become almost expected.
- In fact, since 2013, there has been at least one rookie in the top 10 every year, except in 2017.
This Year’s Line-Up
There are 17 rookies on this summer’s CrossFit Games roster.
| Men | Women |
| Henrique Moreira | Luiza Marques |
| Colin Bosshard | Lucy McGonigle |
| Toby Buckland | Siria Meha |
| Isaac Newman | Anikha Greer |
| Morteza Sedaghat | Mirjam von Rohr |
| Ty Jenkins | Jennifer Muir |
| Bill Leahy | Christina Livaditakis |
| Jorge Fernandez | Mariana Meza |
| Lydia Fish |
So, who has the best chance of cracking the top 10 in Albany, NY?
Our Predictions
Women
Our Pick: Siria Meha
Albania’s Siria Meha already surprised us once this season by topping the worldwide leaderboard in the In-Affiliate Semifinals.
- Although mostly an unknown athlete even to well-informed CrossFit fans, the 26-year-old competed at the Europe Semifinals last season and finished in 31st place.
She has improved significantly this season and is now a serious contender. Considering she won the In-Affiliate Semifinals, her videos received more scrutiny than those of other athletes, and they passed the test.
Honorable Mention: Lucy McGonigle
Although Ireland’s Lucy McGonigle is a rookie as an individual, she has previous Games experience as a teen, and that counts for a lot.
- Not only does she have experience, but McGonigle has never finished off the podium. She has two CrossFit Games titles, one as a 15-year-old and one as a 16-year-old, along with second- and third-place finishes.
McGonigle qualified for the Games this year through the French Throwdown In-Person Qualifying Event, and she also placed in a qualifying position in the In-Affiliate Semifinals, finishing 11th. (The French Throwdown took place before the In-Affiliate Semifinals leaderboard was official, so McGonigle technically qualified through the IPQE).
Men
Our Pick: Ty Jenkins
Like McGonigle, Ty Jenkins is only new to the Games as an individual, and he, too, knows what it’s like to stand on the podium.
- Jenkins is a three-time teen champion, a feat he achieved consecutively from 2021 to 2023.
Now 19, Jenkins qualified for this summer’s Games after winning the Syndicate Crown IPQE.
Heading into Albany next month, Jenkins not only brings experience beyond his years, but the Brute Strength athlete has also trained alongside last year’s second-place finisher, Dallin Pepper, over the past six months — an invaluable opportunity for a young athlete.
- “In the gym, I’m able to watch him train and learn things,” Jenkins told the Morning Chalk Up. “That’s one of the biggest things: just sitting back and watching someone as good as he is move – you learn a lot.”
Honorable Mention: Jorge Fernandez
Jorge Fernandez also has Games experience, specifically in the team competition.
- Fernandez has competed on a team at the Games three times and won the whole thing in 2023 with CrossFit Invictus.
This season, Fernandez qualified through the final IPQE, the Northern California Classic, and also performed well in the In-Affiliate Semifinals, finishing 21st.
The Big Picture
With 17 rookies set to make their CrossFit Games debut in Albany, history indicates that at least one will crack the top 10.
Will it be Meha, an athlete with less experience than most of the other rookies? Or will it be a former teen or team champion? Or is another rookie ready to surprise us and make a splash?
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Featured Image: Marc Costa
