How Big Are CrossFit Games Athletes’ Legs? We Got Answers From Justin Medeiros, Arielle Loewen, and More
As CrossFit enthusiasts, we love numbers. One-rep maxes, three-rep maxes, personal best times, reps, and rounds.
And when we watch the top athletes in the world, it helps put our own numbers into perspective.
- Or, in other words, it’s a great way to humble us into the ground because it becomes evident that we’re very, very far off the mark.
But what about our bodies? How do they stack up? Specifically, our legs. How do our quads and hamstrings measure up compared to some of the best CrossFit athletes in the world?
We set out to gather the data, and here’s what we discovered:
- Although those competing at the CrossFit Games this summer are of different heights and bodyweights and have different overall physical builds, their thigh sizes are very close to one another (at least of our admittedly unscientific sample size of 11 women and seven men who diligently measured their thigh circumference at the widest part of the leg for us).
[Related: Best Weighted Vests]
The women’s sweet spot: Eight out of the 11 Games-bound women we spoke with measured in at 23 to 24 inches. They included:
- Bethany Flores: 23 inches
- Elisa Fuliano: 23.2 inches
- Maddie Sturt: 23.5 inches
- Hattie Kanyo: 23.5 inches
- Paige Semenza: 23.5 inches
- Claudia Gluck: 23.6 inches
- Emily Rolfe: 24 inches
- Arielle Loewen: 24 inches
The outliers included Grace Walton at 25 inches, Emma McQuaid at 21 inches, and Abigail Domit at 22 inches. (But don’t be fooled by Domit’s smaller thighs relative to the field, as her back squat is 305 pounds).
One more thing: 11-time Games athlete Annie Thorisdottir, who is sitting out this season as she just had her second baby two months ago, currently sits at 21.6 inches.
The men’s sweet spot: All six of the men competing at the Games this summer who gave us their measurements fell between 25 and 26.5 inches.
[Related: Best Leg Exercises]
Just for fun: In the competition between the veteran Canadian men Pat Vellner, Brent Fikowski, and Jeff Adler, it was Fikowski who took it down at 26.5 inches. Adler came in at 25.5 inches and Vellner 25 inches, although he added, “arguably 24.5.”
Fellow Canadian Sam Cournoyer joked, “My legs are not big enough for this article.”
The other measurements included:
- Cole Sager: 25 inches
- Luka Dukic: 26.4 inches
- Justin Medeiros: 26.5 inches
- James Sprague: 26.5 inches
Fun fact: Medeiros’ agent, Lab MGMT’s Daniel Robbins, managed to top the two-time champ’s thighs with a 27-inch circumference.
One last thing: OK, so we know the one person whose measurement everyone wants to know is Dani Speegle.
- From envy to pure awe to downright intimidation, it’s impossible not to feel something when you see Speegle’s legs.
[Related: Best Quad Exercises]
Sadly, she decided to leave her measurement a mystery, but she did confirm she has Fikowski, Sprague, and Medeiros all beat.
More From the Morning Chalk Up
- Aussie CrossFit Couple Jay Crouch and Maddie Sturt on Their PRVN Results This CrossFit Games Season
- CrossFit Games Rookie Spotlight: Austin Hatfield – Elite CrossFit Athlete by Day, Rabbit Farmer by Night
- Reps Ahead Pro 3 “Redemption” Results: Sydney Wells, James Sprague, and Kyra Milligan Deliver Knockouts
Featured image: @dellespeegle / Instagram