Every year at the CrossFit Games, we tend to spotlight the rookies who turned heads with breakout performances and the veterans vying for the podium.
- But what about the sophomores? The second-year athletes who return, not just to participate this time around, but with expectations.
At the 2025 CrossFit Games in Albany, NY, the sophomores didn’t just show up; they proved they belong.
Remind me: Seventeen sophomores took the floor at the 2025 CrossFit Games, and 14 of them improved on their rookie finishes.
- Two sophomores — Lucy Campbell and Olivia Kerstetter — stood on the podium, while Austin Hatfield, Aimee Cringle, and Tudor Magda logged top 10 finishes.
Sophomore Athlete Performances at the 2025 CrossFit Games
| Athlete | Rookie Finish (Year) | Sophomore Finish (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Lucy Campbell | 16th (2022) | 2nd |
| Olivia Kerstetter | 16th (2023) | 3rd |
| Austin Hatfield | 10th (2024) | 5th |
| Aimee Cringle | 13th (2024) | 8th |
| Tudor Magda | 34th (2022) | 10th |
| Harry Lightfoot | 21st (2024) | 11th |
| Chris Ibarra | 19th (2024) | 13th |
| Calum Clements | 20th (2024) | 16th |
| Jack Rozema | 25th (2024) | 18th |
| Lexi Neely | 26th (2024) | 18th |
| Enrico Zenoni | 29th (2022) | 22nd |
| Peter Ellis | 31st (2024) | 28th |
| Mariana Camila Quintero | 60th (2019) | 28th |
| Emily de Rooy | 40th (2023) | 29th |
| Claudia Gluck | 12th (2024) | 14th |
| Grace Walton | 14th (2024) | 15th |
| Hattie Kanyo | 18th (2024) | 23rd |
How This Stacks Up to Past Years
There have been several occasions where sophomores have performed exceptionally well at the Games and even podiumed. Justin Medeiros, for example, won in his sophomore season, as did James Sprague in 2024.
- On the whole, the 2025 sophomores were a standout class with five athletes inside the top 10. This rivaled the 2023 class, which had six competitors in the top 10.
In comparison: In 2024, Sprague was the only sophomore, male or female, to finish in the top 10. In 2022, there were three second-year athletes — Mal O’Brien, Jayson Hopper, and Lazar Đukić — inside the top 10.
- Furthermore, in 2021, Medeiros and Gui Malheiros were the only two second-year athletes, male or female, to achieve a top-10 finish.
The Big Picture
In some ways, an athlete’s second year at the Games can be a make-or-break moment.
- No longer a rookie just happy to be there, expectations and pressure increase for second-year Games competitors eager to prove they can hang with the best.
This year’s sophomore class as a whole managed the pressure and proved they not only belong but are also among the world’s very best.
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Featured Image: Scott Freymond
