Interview: Rich Froning Hints that 2022 Could be His Final CrossFit Games

We were able to sit down with the nine-time CrossFit Games Champion Rich Froning after the 22nd installment of “Train With Rich” and catch up with him and ask him about his future as an athlete and what else he has going on.

One big thing: Inevitably any discussions with Froning always leads to him being asked how much longer he plans on competing as a Games athlete. 

• “This might be the last one, it might not. I feel like right now, yeah probably the last one.”
• This non-committed admission is the closest Froning has gone public with the possibility of him retiring from the sport in which he has been one of the biggest stars.
• Froning has hinted at his desire to step away from Games competition throughout the last few years to spend more time with his family and to continue growing Mayhem.
• “Kids are getting older,” said Froning. “Once I feel like I’m taking time away from them and the sports they are wanting to do or whatever it is, it’ll be time for me to ride off into the sunset…from a competition standpoint.”
• After yet another dominant performance by him and the Mayhem Freedom team at the 2021 NOBULL CrossFit Games, Froning has now collected a record nine “Fittest on Earth” titles in 11 trips, four as an individual and five on a team.
• The 34-year old says currently and this past season was the healthiest he felt and that even if it is his final season he’s not going to disappear from the sport.

Mayhem Desert Heat: One way Froning plans to stay involved is helping organize and running more “athlete-friendly” competitions such as Mayhem Desert Heat in Ras Al Khaima in the United Arab Emirates this coming November 12-13.

• The two-day competition features a respectable prize purse as well as a modest registration fee that will go towards providing things like transportation inside of the UAE, lodging, food and (potentially) some excursions.