• 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 » How This Year’s One-Rep Max Back Squats Stack Up to Past CrossFit Games 

How This Year’s One-Rep Max Back Squats Stack Up to Past CrossFit Games 

The numbers keep going up.

Written by Emily Beers
Last updated on August 2nd, 2025

One of CrossFit’s founding principles is that it’s measurable and repeatable, and the Games are no exception. 

And there’s no better way to showcase this than through repeat workouts, which have long been a part of the sport and are a great way for the community to see just how much fitter the athletes are becoming year after year.

  • Fans had the chance to see this improvement during “IE5: 1RM Back Squat” on Saturday at the 2025 CrossFit Games in Albany, NY.

Remind Me: This was the fourth time we’ve seen a one-rep max back squat at the CrossFit Games, but it’s the first time it was a standalone event, rather than part of the “CrossFit Total” (a combined total of a back squat, deadlift, and shoulder press).

  • The “CrossFit Total” was first tested at the inaugural Games in 2007, then again in 2018, and once more at the 2020 Games.

How the 2025 CrossFit Games Back Squat Compared to the Past

The Men

Colten Mertens and Nick Mathew were in a class of their own on “IE5: 1RM Back Squat,” squatting 570 pounds and 555 pounds, respectively, to secure the top two positions.

  • Five other athletes made it into the 500-pound club: Jack Rozema (515 pounds), Austin Hatfield (515 pounds), Justin Medeiros (505 pounds), Jayson Hopper (500 pounds), and Bronislaw Olenkowicz (500 pounds).
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by CrossFit Games (@crossfitgames)

In comparison, not a single man hit a 500-pound back squat in 2020. 

The heaviest lift was 492 pounds by Mat Fraser. Two years earlier, in 2018, Scott Panchik was the only man to hit 500 pounds.

  • Worth noting: That year, only five athletes in each division completed the CrossFit Total due to the pandemic, and only five men and five women traveled to Aromas, CA, for the CrossFit Games Final.

Arguably as noteworthy as the top-end lifts is how far the field as a whole has come since 2018.

  • In 2018, only 12 men, or 30% of the field, hit at least a 450-pound back squat. On Saturday, 26 out of the 30 men (86%) achieved the same.

The Women

Mirjam von Rohr won the event “IE5: 1RM Back Squat,” lifting 360 pounds, while Anikha Greer and Jennifer Muir tied for second with 355 pounds.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lydia Stadthoewer (@creationbylydia)

  • For comparison, the top three lifts on Saturday were 35 and 30 pounds heavier than the best back squats at both the 2018 and 2020 Games.

Furthermore, 70 percent of women in the field lifted at least 300 pounds on Saturday, compared to just 53 percent in 2018.

Comparing Individual Performances

On an individual level, six athletes competing in Albany competed at the Games in either 2020 or 2018, or both, and each one tied or improved their back squat lift from previous years.

Tia-Clair Toomey-Orr

  • 2025: 335 pounds
  • 2020: 335 pounds
  • 2018: 330 pounds

Brooke Wells:

  • 2025: 330 pounds
  • 2020: 315 pounds
  • 2018: 315 pounds

Haley Adams

  • 2025: 265 pounds
  • 2020: 260 pounds

Maddie Sturt

  • 2025: 325 pounds
  • 2018: 285 pounds

Justin Medeiros

  • 2025: 505 pounds
  • 2020: 480 pounds

Jeff Adler

  • 2025: 470 pounds
  • 2020: 470 pounds

The Bottom Line

A decade ago, a 275-pound back squat for a female CrossFit athlete and 450 pounds for men would have been competitive at any CrossFit event. 

Not anymore.

Today, as a female athlete, if you don’t have a 300-plus back squat or if you aren’t approaching the 500-pound mark as a male competitor, you simply won’t be able to compete with the top athletes in the world. 

What’s even more impressive is that we’re now 19 years into CrossFit Games competitions, and the top athletes in the world still don’t seem to have reached a collective plateau yet.

The question is, where does their potential end?

Featured image: Scott Freymond

About Emily Beers

Emily Beers is a freelance health, fitness and nutrition writer. She has also been coaching fitness at MadLab School of Fitness in Vancouver, B.C. since 2009. A former college basketball player and rower, Emily became heavily involved in CrossFit after finishing her Masters degree in journalism at the University of Western Ontario. She competed at the 2014 CrossFit Games and also worked with CrossFit Inc.’s media team for 8 years. You can also find her work at Precision Nutrition, the Whole Life Challenge, OPEX, and a host of other fitness and nutrition companies and media outlets.

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