Brent Fikowski has compiled numerous accolades in his illustrious CrossFit career.
Over a decade, he has competed throughout the world, inspiring athletes far and wide with not only his athletic performances but his poise and his role as a leader.
- He is known as the ultimate strategist and a student of the game, traits that earned him the nickname “The Professor.”
In light of his recent retirement announcement, let’s take a look at some highlights of Fikowski’s CrossFit Games career by the numbers.
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3 – Podium Finishes
In only his second appearance at the Games, Fikowski earned the title of Second Fittest Man on Earth in 2017.
- One spot behind in third place was friend and rival Pat Vellner, who had edged him out by two points the year prior.
Fikowski battled his way to a third-place finish in 2021, sharing the podium with Vellner once again.
This year, which proved to be his last Games appearance, he wore the leader’s jersey going into the two-part final event.
In a year marred by tragedy, he closed out his CrossFit Games career with another hard-earned bronze medal.
5 – Years a “Chipper King”
Fikowski established himself early as the “Chipper King.”
- He racked up event wins in this format at Regionals five years in a row, from 2014 to 2018.
He claimed the worldwide record in 2014, 2017, and 2018. Two of his event wins at the Games were the “Ranch Mini Chipper” and “Rope Chipper.”
When a workout is about pacing and chipping away at a mountain of reps, he has been the one to watch.
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6 – Top-Five Finishes
In addition to his Games podium finishes, Fikowski has three fourth-place finishes to his name.
The first was in his rookie year, just two points behind Vellner.
- It was an even smaller margin in 2018.
In fact, there was no margin at all.
Fikowski and Lukas Högberg ended the grueling weekend tied with 886 points. The tiebreaker went to Högberg based on his single event win, in which Fikowski placed second. It doesn’t get closer than that.
He finished fourth once more in 2023, almost making it an all-Canadian podium with Vellner and Jeff Adler.
8 – Career CrossFit Games Event Wins
Talk about nail-biting finishes…
The “Rope Chipper” in 2016 came down to the final implement, a 310-pound sled that had to be dragged across the competition floor with a rope.
- When Fikowski reached the sled pull, he was well behind one of his idols, Josh Bridges.
While most of the athletes in the field struggled to inch the sled along, Fikowski used giant pulls to get the win, making it look like a bag of maple leaves.
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In 2017, “Strongman’s Fear” provided another dramatic comeback.
- He raced across the North Park field in Madison with a 500-pound yoke on his back, chasing Mat Fraser, who was pulling a 400-pound sled.
In this unique format, athletes could choose in which order they moved three heavy odd objects across the field, with plenty of handstand walking in between.
Fikowski edged out Fraser in a photo finish by just nine-hundredths of a second.
You can binge-watch all of The Professor’s event wins here (each link starts at the beginning of Brent’s heat):
2016
2017
2021
2023
9 – Games Appearances
After two misses by the narrowest of margins in 2014 (one point) and 2015 (two points), Fikowski has made the Games every year since 2016.
Only a handful of athletes have as many appearances, and even fewer have been perennial podium contenders their entire career.
12-Year Career
Fikowski’s first CrossFit Open came in 2013 at the age of 22.
He was pleasantly surprised by his performance, finishing seventh in Australia (where he was continuing his education at Griffith University in Queensland) and 130th Worldwide.
- He went on to place sixth in the Australia Regional, and the seed had been planted for the incredible career we’ve had the privilege to witness.
Now 33 years old, he is a seasoned veteran and, in his own words, is “the fittest I have ever been.” He is going out on his own terms to focus on leading the Professional Fitness Athletes’ Association.
For the “Professor,” at least as far as the competition field is concerned, class is dismissed.
Featured image: Enrique Villaseñor
