We here at Morning Chalk Up (like many other fans) love getting to know CrossFit athletes behind the scenes and getting a glimpse of their daily lives outside of the gym.
- We enjoy seeing how the athletes live, what they do in their off-time, and who they enjoy spending time with at home. But we especially love learning about their animals.
That’s partly because the staff at Morning Chalk Up is filled with animal parents. Writer Teaganne Finn is raising Bruce, Burger, and Yogi. Scott and I, meanwhile, have a house full of cats: Frida, Ongi, and Pico.
If you follow any of the athletes on social media, you’ve probably seen them, but if not, meet CrossFit’s cutest four-legged friends:
Noah Ohlsen and Max
If you’ve been following Noah Ohlsen for any time, you’ve gotten to know Max, his golden retriever.
- With 35,000 followers of his own, he’s definitely the most popular CrossFit dog, at least as far as social media is concerned.
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Bethany Flores, Bella, and Winston
Bethany Flores’ dog, Bella, has been front and center during Flores’ fitness journey. In fact, this English Bulldog has graced Flores’ custom-made Games T-shirts since 2019.
- This year, the 2024 edition of Flores’ shirt features not only Bella but a new addition to the Flores home, Winston, an adorably fluffy Scottish Fold gray cat.
Jacob Heppner and Winston
Jacob Heppner’s Corgi, Winston, serves as a running partner, cuddler, and riding buddy.
- Another four-legged CrossFitter with his own account, Winston is almost 7 years old and appears to be one of the happiest, spoiledest, goodest boys.
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Colten Mertens and Mable, Milly, Margot, Martha, and Otis
Colten Mertens and his partner, fellow Games athlete Ally Zierke, have five Dachshunds of their own. They also run the business Mertens Dachshund Puppies, where they breed and sell puppies that are raised with love in the Mertens-Zierke home for eight weeks. This offers an alternative to puppy mills.
- The five weiner dogs are frequently featured on Mertens’ personal Instagram account, but of course, they have their own dedicated account as well for anyone needing 100% Dachshund content.
Justin Medeiros, Ellie Turner, and Theo
Justin Medeiros and Ellie Turner’s English Cream Golden Retriever, Theo, recently celebrated his first birthday.
- The last year has been full of adventures for the young boy, mostly involving consuming inedible objects like baby pacifiers and thumb tape.
A pampered and much-loved gym dog, Theo is often featured on Turner and Medeiros’ social media accounts as well as Medeiros’ YouTube channel, so chances are, you’ve seen quite a bit of him. Give his account a follow as well to keep up with all his naughty (and extremely sweet) exploits.
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Danielle Brandon and Cash
Anyone who follows Danielle Brandon knows Cash.
- He’s the ultimate snuggler, gym bro, and travel bud. He goes on Target runs, sneaks into photoshoots, and enjoys a Sunday picnic.
He’s seen on Brandon’s Instagram account often and has a face that could melt even the hardest heart. Brandon’s knuckles feature a tattoo of his name, so the two best friends are never separated.
More From the 2024 TYR Cup
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- 5 Things the CrossFit Games Can Learn From the TYR Cup
Featured image: @colten_mertens / Instagram
