• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The BarBend Logo in white.

BarBend

The Online Home for Strength Sports

  • Strength
    • Best Home Gym Machines
      • Best Functional Trainers
      • Best Squat Racks
      • Best Budget Home Gym Equipment
      • Best Cable Machines
      • Best Weight Benches
      • Best Smith Machines
      • Best Smart Home Gyms
    • Best Barbells
      • Best Budget Exercise Bikes
      • Best Budget Barbells
      • Best Powerlifting Barbells
      • Best Barbells For Women
    • Best Kettlebells
      • Best Adjustable Kettlebells
    • Best Dumbbells
      • Best Adjustable Dumbbells
    • More Strength Equipement
      • Best Resistance Bands
      • Best Weight Plates
      • Best Bumper Plates
      • Best Slam Balls
      • Best Weighted Vests
      • Best Weight Sleds
      • All Other Strength Equipment
    • Training
      • Exercise Guides
        • Deadlift
        • Bench Press
        • Back Squat
        • Overhead Press
        • Lat Pulldown
        • Shoulder Exercises
        • Chest Exercises
        • Ab Exercises
        • Quad Exercises
        • Biceps Exercises
      • Training Guides
        • Beginner’s Guide to the Gym
        • How to Build Muscle
        • Guide to Muscle Hypertrophy
        • How to Train on a Cut
      • Workouts
        • Back Workouts
        • At-Home Workouts
        • Chest & Back Workouts
        • Full-Body Workout
        • HIIT Workouts
        • Bodybuilding Workouts
        • Farmer’s Carry Workouts
      • Programs
        • 5×5 Program
        • Bodybuilding Programs
        • Push-Up Program
        • Pull-Up Program
        • 5/3/1 Program
        • Powerbuilding Program
        • German Volume Training
        • Build Your Own Program
    • News
      • CrossFit
      • Strongman
      • Bodybuilding
      • Powerlifting
      • Weightlifting
      • HYROX
    • Individual Strength Equipment Reviews
  • Nutrition
    • Best Pre-Workouts
      • Best Non-Stim Pre-Workouts
      • Best Pre-Workout for Women
      • Best Pre-Workouts for Men
      • Strongest Pre-Workouts
    • Best Protein
      • Best Protein Powder for Men
      • Best Whey Isolate Protein Powders
      • Best Protein Powder For Women
      • Best Tasting Protein Powders
      • Best Protein Bars
      • Protein by Goal
        • Best Mass Gainer
        • Best Protein Powder for Weight Loss
        • Best Protein Powder for Weight Gain
        • Best Protein Powder for Muscle Gain
      • Protein by Diet
        • Best Egg White Protein Powder
        • Best Keto Protein Powder
        • Best Organic Protein Powder
        • Best Vegan Protein Powders
    • Best Creatine
      • Best Creatine Gummies
      • Best Creatine For Women
      • Best Creatine for Men
    • Best BCAA’s
      • Best BCAA’s for Women
    • Best Fat Burners
      • Best Fat Burners For Women
      • Best Non-Stim Fat Burners
      • Best Fat Burners For Men
    • Other Nutrition Products
      • Best Meal Replacements
      • Best Nitric Oxide Supplements
      • Best Electrolyte Supplements
      • Best Greens Powder
        • Best Greens Powder for Pregnancy
      • Best Meal Delivery Services
        • Best Budget Meal Delivery Services
        • Best Vegan Meal Delivery Service
        • Best Healthy Meal Delivery Service
        • Best Meal Delivery Service for Weight Loss
        • Best Paleo Meal Delivery Services
        • Best Multivitamins for Women
        • Best Multivitamins for Men
        • Best Supplement Stacks
        • Best Multivitamins
    • Guides
      • Diets
        • Carb Cycling
        • Vertical Diet
        • Reverse Dieting
        • Carnivore Diet
        • Ketogenic Diet
        • Intermittent Fasting
        • IIFYM Diet
      • Muscle Gain
        • How to Dirty Bulk
        • Go From Cutting to Bulking
        • Eat These Carbs
        • How to Eat for Muscle
      • Fat Loss
        • Macros for Fat Loss
        • Calorie Deficits
        • Natural Fat Burners
        • Cut 2 Pounds Weekly
      • Supplement Guides
        • Pre-Workout
        • Whey Protein
        • Mass Gainers
        • Greens Powders
        • Creatine
        • BCAAs
      • Daily Protein Needs
      • Pre- and Post-Workout Nutrition
      • Foods With Creatine
      • Bulking Tips
    • Individual Supplement Reviews
  • Conditioning
    • Best Treadmills
      • Best Manual Treadmills
      • Best Compact Treadmills
      • Best Budget Treadmills
      • Best Treadmills Under $2000
      • Best Treadmills Under $1000
      • Best Treadmills For Tall People
      • Best Commercial Treadmills
      • Best Curved Treadmills
      • Best Under Desk Treadmills
    • Best Rowing Machines
      • Best Water Rowing Machines
      • Best Budget Rowing Machines
      • Best Compact Rowing Machines
      • Best Foldable Rowing Machines
      • Best Air Rowing Machines
    • Best Exercise Bikes
      • Best Recumbent Bikes
      • Best Folding Exercise Bikes
      • Best Exercise Bikes For Seniors
      • Best Air Bikes
    • Best Ellipticals
      • Best Budget Ellipticals
      • Best Compact Ellipticals
      • Best Rear Driving Ellipticals
      • Best Ellipticals For Seniors
      • Best Under Desk Ellipticals
      • Best Ellipticals Under $1000
    • Other Conditioning Products
      • Best Jump Ropes
      • Best Plyometric Boxes
      • Best Speed Sleds
      • Best Agility Ladders
      • Best Vertical Climbers
      • Best Commercial Stair Climbers
      • Best Affordable Stair Climbers
    • Individual Cardio Equipment Reviews
  • Recovery
    • Best Cold Plunges
    • Best Saunas
      • Best Infrared Sauna
    • Best Massage Guns
      • Best Mini-Massage Guns
    • Best Compression Boots
    • Best Back Massagers
    • Best Massage Chairs
    • Other Recovery Tools
      • Best Inversion Tables
      • Best Vibrating Massage Rollers
      • Best Massage Balls
      • Best Ice Wraps
      • Best Foam Rollers
    • Recovery Guides
  • Fitness Accessories
    • Fitness Tech
      • Best Fitness Apps
        • Best Weightlifting Apps
        • Best Workout Programs
        • Best Cycling Apps
        • Best Treadmills Apps
        • Best Workout Streaming Services
        • Best Workout Apps
        • Best Running Apps
    • Best Bluetooth Earbuds
    • Best Digital Scales
      • Best Smart Scales
    • Best Fitness Trackers
      • Best Heart Rate Monitors
      • Best Pedometers
      • Best Stopwatches
    • Apparel
      • Best Running Shoes
      • Best Weightlifting Shoes
      • Best Cross Training Shoes
      • Best Gym Shorts
      • Best Sports Bras
      • Best Trail Running Shoes
    • Support Gear
      • Best Lifting Straps
      • Best Gym Bags
      • Best Lifting Gloves
      • Best Wrist Wraps
      • Best Lifting Chalk
      • Best Dip Belts
      • Best Pull Up Assist Bands
      • Best Lifting Belts
  • Community Forum
Home » CrossFit News » 5 Most Impressive Rookies From the 2025 CrossFit Games

5 Most Impressive Rookies From the 2025 CrossFit Games

More than a quarter of the athletes at the 2025 CrossFit Games were first-timers. Let's see how they did.

Written by Julia Papworth
Last updated on August 8th, 2025

Seventeen rookies competed in the 2025 CrossFit Games, including nine women and eight men. With a condensed field, it represented a substantial percentage of the overall athlete roster. 

So, how did they do? 

Here is a bird’s-eye view of some of the great performances and overall takeaways from the freshmen in Albany.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by CrossFit Games (@crossfitgames)

Remind Me

There is always at least one rookie performance that surprises us – remember Tia-Clair Toomey-Orr finishing second in 2015, her first year at the Games? 

Fans almost always expect at least one top-ten performance from a rookie.

Here is the list of rookies who competed at the Games last weekend, in order of finish:

MenWomen
15. Ty Jenkins7. Mirjam von Rohr 
17. Colin Bosshard9. Anikha Greer 
23. Jorge Fernandez 11. Lucy McGonigle 
25. Isaac Newman 13. Lydia Fish 
26. Bill Leahy 20. Jennifer Muir 
27. Toby Buckland 22. Christina Livaditakis 
29. Henrique Moreira26. Siria Meha 
30. Tiago Luzes27. Mariana Meza 
30. Luiza Marques

* Morteza Sedaghat qualified, but did not compete as he was unable to obtain a visa.

While they all competed for the first time as individuals, several had experience on teams and in the teen divisions, so it doesn’t mean they lacked Games experience. Jenkins and McGonigle podiumed as teens, and Fernandez was a member of the Invictus team that won first place in 2023.

Highlights

Mirjam von Rohr

The two-time CrossFit Open winner and elite HYROX athlete left Albany as Rookie of the Year, finishing seventh overall. She squatted a ridiculous 370 pounds to win “IE05: 1RM Back Squat.”

Ty Jenkins 

The former teen champ had the highest finish for a male rookie this year and, at 19 years old, made a strong statement. Moving to Florida this season to train with Dallin Pepper, surrounding himself with a veteran presence, clearly paid off.

  • Jenkins’ performances were consistent all weekend, with his lowest finish being 23rd in “IE02: All Crossed Up.” Expect great things from Jenkins in the future.

Anikha Greer

The Canadian youngster finally broke through and qualified for the Games this year. 

Greer’s journey has been a dramatic one, as she narrowly missed qualifying multiple times due to various setbacks, including mental mistakes, judging miscalls, and technical problems. Still, she finally got the chance to compete with the best of the best this year.

  • Her bad luck seemed to continue as she collapsed following the first event with a cramp, but she quickly recovered and finished in second place in “IE05: 1RM Back Squat.” 

Greer left Albany, showing she belongs, finishing ninth in a stacked women’s field.

Lucy McGonigle

If you watched some of Toomey-Orr’s training videos leading up to the Games, you saw Lucy McGonigle. 

  • McGonigle became Toomey-Orr’s training partner leading up to the Games, even staying in a room at the champ’s house in Nashville. 

This experience paid off, with McGonigle earning three top-six finishes and ending the weekend in 11th place.

Lydia Fish

Finishing two spots behind McGonigle was Lydia Fish, a crowd favorite, with her cheering squad wearing Nemo fish head hats in the stands.

  • Fish spent some time near the top of the leaderboard over the weekend and also showed she had been working on her strength, finishing second in “IE03: Climbing Couplet” with those heavy cleans.
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Training Think Tank (@trainingthinktank)

Hurdles

The first year an athlete competes at the CrossFit Games can be tough, and they don’t always finish as high as we might expect. 

Jorge Fernandez

The former team champion had a tougher time as an individual, a story that has played out multiple times with other athletes.

  • As he gains more individual experience, we expect Fernandez to climb the leaderboard.

Siria Meha

After winning the 2025 CrossFit In-Affiliate Semifinals, fans were eager to see what the Albanian standout would bring to live competition. 

  • She had a solid third-place finish in “IE03: Climbing Couplet,” but her highest finish otherwise was 17th.

Join the BarBend community Forum

Looking to connect with fellow fitness lovers like you? Head over to the BarBend Community Forum to ask questions, share advice, and talk all things training.

Join the Conversation

Takeaways

With the recent retirement of several Games athletes, most recently Brooke Wells, the field is wide open for new talent, and we are seeing an increasing number of new athletes rise to the top every year. 

  • We anticipate the pipeline from the teen division to the individual competition will persist, and legitimate contenders will begin emerging from countries that have never participated in the CrossFit Games.

This year, twelve countries were represented for the men and thirteen for the women, and we saw an 18-year-old athlete nearly break into the top 10. 

The future is bright.

More CrossFit Stories

  • A Review of the 2025 CrossFit Games – At-Home Spectator’s Edition
  • One Year Gone –  Mourning the “Heart of Europe,” Lazar Ðukić
  • 5 Epic Performances That Stole the Show at the 2025 CrossFit Games

Featured Image: Scott Freymond

About Julia Papworth

Writer, hairstylist, football fanatic, and CrossFitter, Julia makes her home in sunny Southern California. When not handstand walking, she is writing for The Fantasy Footballers and running the Hair Department for CBS’s S.W.A.T. Her guilty pleasures are animals dressed as humans, babies wearing tiny headphones at sporting events, and every episode of “Arrested Development."

View All Articles

Primary Sidebar

Latest Reviews

Featured image for the Ironmaster Super Bench Pro V2 Review

Ironmaster Super Bench Pro V2 Review (2025): Our Expert’s New Favorite FID Bench

Titan T3 Power Rack Review

Titan T3 Power Rack Review (2025): An Expert-Approved Rig Beckoning to Budget-Minded Athletes

Our tester works out at the beach in preparation for the Rogue Resistance Bands Review

Rogue Resistance Bands Review (2025): Tested by a Certified Personal Trainer

Barbend tester Jake Herod works out on a Force USA Trainer

Force USA G3 Review (2025): Our Experts Tested This Compact All-In-One Rack for Small Home Gyms

BarBend

BarBend is an independent website. The views expressed on this site may come from individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the view of BarBend or any other organization. BarBend is the Official Media Partner of USA Weightlifting.

  • About Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest

Sections

  • CrossFit
  • Strongman
  • Bodybuilding
  • Powerlifting
  • Weightlifting
  • Reviews
  • Nutrition
  • Training

More

  • BarBend Newsletter
  • BarBend Podcast
  • The Ripped Report
  • 1RM Calculator
  • BMR Calculator
  • Macros Calculator
  • Protein Calculator
  • Squat Calculator

Policies

  • Accessibility
  • Advice Disclaimer
  • Cookies Policy
  • Disclaimers
  • Disclosures
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Copyright © 2025 · BarBend Inc · Sitemap