Scott Panchik to Retire From Competitive CrossFit After the 2021 CrossFit Games
If ever there was more reason to be hyped for the 2021 CrossFit Games. Scott Panchik took to his Instagram page to announce that the 2021 Games would be his “FINAL ride.” 2021 marks his 10th year in the sport and his ninth trip to the Games.
Panchik shared a highlight reel of himself competing at the Games over the past decade on his Instagram post announcing his retirement. In it, he is seen performing clean & jerks, farmer’s carries, prowler pushes, pistol squats, chest-to-bar pull-ups, front squats, overhead presses, and back squats. Check it out below:
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Scott Panchik’s CrossFit Career
Despite his retirement announcement, Panchik is arguably one of the favorites to become the first man to step atop the Games podium in five years not named Mat Fraser, as the five-time Fittest Man on Earth® retired in February 2021.
Although Panchik has never finished on the podium, he is objectively one of the most consistent athletes to ever compete at the Games. In his eight previous appearances at the CrossFit Games, Panchik finished in the top six each year except in 2018 where he ranked 11th overall.
CrossFit Games Performances — Scott Panchik
Here are all of Panchik’s individual performances at the CrossFit Games:
- 2012 CrossFit Games — Fourth place
- 2013 CrossFit Games — Fourth place
- 2014 CrossFit Games — Fifth place
- 2015 CrossFit Games — Sixth place
- 2016 CrossFit Games — Sixth place
- 2017 CrossFit Games — Sixth place
- 2018 CrossFit Games — 11th place
- 2019 CrossFit Games — Fourth place
During the 2021 CrossFit Open, Panchik was featured in the announcement of workouts 21.3 and 21.4. He performed both workouts against his younger brothers, Saxon and Spencer, both of whom remain active in competitive CrossFit.
Saxon will also compete at the 2021 Games. Scott finished the 2021 Open ranked 33rd worldwide. The best Open finishes of his career spanned the four from 2013-2016, when he finished fourth, fifth, fifth, and fourth overall, respectively.
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2021 NOBULL CrossFit Games
The 2021 NOBULL CrossFit Games begins on July 27 in Madison, WI. We will see if Panchik’s final appearance at the CrossFit Games will see him best the other 39 male competitors who qualified via the Semifinals and Last Chance Qualifier and stand atop the podium as the Fittest Man on Earth®.
Featured image: @scottpanchik on Instagram