Over the past few seasons, a lively debate has developed online and elsewhere about the connection (or lack thereof) between CrossFit as the “sport of fitness” and CrossFit as a fitness methodology for everyday gym-goers.
- Some have suggested that the athletes we see on the competition floor no longer possess the same understanding of the methodology or build relationships in affiliates as previous generations did.
However, the CrossFit Games have been and remain an advertisement for the CrossFit methodology taught in gyms worldwide.
And once again, it was on display this weekend in Albany, New York, at the 19th annual CrossFit Games.
And here’s a statistic that may surprise some: this year at the Games, 45% of the athletes who lined up at the starting line hold a current Level 1 or Level 2 CrossFit Trainer certification.
Some Details
The CrossFit Level 1 (CF-L1) is a hands-on introductory course that teaches the core principles and fundamental movements of CrossFit.
- Designed for individuals seeking to expand their knowledge of the CrossFit methodology or begin coaching, the course covers key training techniques and practical nutrition strategies.
Out of 60 individual athletes and 80 team athletes who competed in Albany, 33 hold a current Level 1 certificate.
Individuals, Men & Women (14 Total)
| Men | Women |
| Ty Jenkins | Lydia Fish |
| Peter Ellis | Lucy McGonigle |
| Harry Lightfoot | Luiza Marques |
| Kalyan Souza | Claudia Gluck |
| Moritz Fiebig | Grace Walton |
| Colten Mertens | Jennifer Muir |
| Jay Crouch | – |
| James Sprague | – |
Teams (19 Total)
| Team Member, Team |
| Rebekah Devine, CrossFit Hendersonville Mayhem |
| Dalton Rodgers, CrossFit Hendersonville Mayhem |
| Wes Peters, CrossFit Hendersonville Mayhem |
| Joe Pierro, CF Body Blueprint Conquer |
| Jordan Adcock, CF Body Blueprint Conquer |
| Nicolette Torreggiani, CF Body Blueprint Conquer |
| Arturo Torres, CrossFit Greater Heights OverTake |
| Harry Kean, Blueprint CrossFit Team AOD |
| Helen Nutter, Blueprint CrossFit Team AOD |
| Ojay Keen, Blueprint CrossFit Team AOD |
| Sean Early, CrossFit Invictus |
| Ava Georg, CrossFit PRVN |
| Jordan Kerr, CF Franco’s EMOM Co |
| Josh Mattes, CF Franco’s EMOM Co |
| Samantha Pugh, CF Franco’s EMOM Co |
| Angelica Bengtsson, CF Prestanda |
| Caroline Kluttz, Camel City CrossFit |
| Agustina Haag, Q21 CrossFit |
| Kristin Holte, CrossFit Oslo Kriger |
The CrossFit Level 2 (CF-L2) is a more advanced course that builds on the foundational concepts taught in the CF-L1, helping trainers refine their coaching skills and deepen their understanding of CrossFit methodology.
- Ideal for those committed to delivering high-quality coaching, the CF-L2 course focuses on program design, implementation, and improving movement instruction through hands-on practice.
Of the 60 individual athletes and 80 team athletes in Albany over the weekend, 30 athletes hold a current CF-L2 certificate.
Individuals, Men & Women (12 Total)
| Men | Women |
| Jack Rozema | Carolyne Prevost |
| Jonne Koski | Lexi Neely |
| William Leahy IV | Christina Livaditakis |
| Bronislaw Olenkowicz | Emily de Rooy |
| Nick Mathew | Seungyeon Choi |
| – | Feeroozeh Saghafi |
| – | Lucy Campbell |
Teams (18 Total)
| Team Member, Team |
| Christine Znosko, CrossFit Undivided |
| Griffin Roelle, CrossFit Undivided |
| Kristine Best, CrossFit Undivided |
| Mike Needleman, CrossFit Undivided |
| Audrey-Ann Perry-Dupuis, CF Le Repere Mayhem |
| Joshua Hong, CrossFit Body Blueprint Conquer |
| Cierra Cole, CrossFit Greater Heights OverTake |
| Kerri Hewitt, Blueprint CrossFit Team AOD |
| Molly McGrandy, CrossFit Mayhem |
| Robert Yates, CrossFit PRVN |
| Alexander Elebro, CrossFit Prestanda |
| Lena Mentyka, Camp Rhino CrossFit Dawgs |
| Lee Sharum, Camel City CrossFit |
| Stevie Dellinger, Camel City CF |
| Bryce Broome, TTT CrossFit |
| Brynn Kurlan, TTT CrossFit |
| Gustavo Errico, TTT CrossFit |
| Danielle Dunlap, 8th Day CrossFit |
An Interview with CF-L2 Coaches, Team CrossFit Undivided
Did you catch that?
One of the teams that competed at the 2025 CrossFit Games is made up entirely of CF-L2 coaches, CrossFit Undivided.
- Christine Znosko, CF-L2
- Griffin Roelle, CF-L2
- Kristine Best, CF-L2
- Mike Needleman, CF-L2
CrossFit Undivided won “TE06: Team Back Squat,” with a combined total of 1,690 pounds (767kg)
We reached out to team captain Mike Needleman to learn about what having the CF-L2 means to him and to his team:
Morning Chalk Up: What does it mean to you to be a CF-L2?
- Needleman: “The L2 has allowed us to ‘sharpen our swords’ and coach more effectively. Even with nearly 40 years of combined CrossFit coaching experience on our team, there is still ample room to grow and refine our coaching skills.”
MCU: Do you all actively coach when not competing and training?
- Needleman: “All of us actively coach year-round. Whether in CrossFit group classes, personal training sessions, youth sports groups, or remote clients – we preach what we practice! Griffin is the director of Coaching and Sports Performance for Blacklisted HQ. Christine is the director of Fitness Operations and Programming for Ocean State CrossFit. Kristine is a special education teacher and part-owner of CrossFit Undivided, and I co-own Port CrossFit. I think it would be more accurate to say that we train and compete when we’re not coaching/teaching! Haha”
MCU: What are your thoughts on being the only four-person, all CF-L2 team?
- Needleman: “It’s a pretty cool stat! We all take great pride in coaching individuals within our community. We’re not just representing our gyms at the CrossFit Games; we’re representing CrossFit as a methodology and profession. We live and breathe the values of the CrossFit community daily, and we’re proud of it.”
The Big Picture
Having Games athletes not only certified as CrossFit coaches in affiliates but even as “Red Shirt” Seminar Staff instructors brings the methodology of CrossFit full circle.
This “full circle” process was best stated in a recent interview on the CrossFit Podcast with CF-L4 host Denise Thomas and CF-L3 coach/Games commentator Adrian Conway.
- “I know you think you know a thing,” Conway said, “but if you get up here and start looking at these coaches that do it at a higher level, you will learn so much more.”
Denise Thomas responded, “I couldn’t agree more. Anybody that makes the Games should get a free level one…and I would teach those for free.”
- “It’s a wheel,” she concluded. “You start at the affiliate, you see some success, you make it to the big stage, you become the fittest, and then you dump it back into the affiliate.”
Check out the CrossFit Course schedule to find a Level 1 or Level 2 seminar course near you.
More CrossFit Stories
- Building Her Own (Wolf) Pack – How Jenn Powers Became a Grid League Team Owner
- 2025 CrossFit Games Athletes’ Instagram Gains Hit 5-Year Low — What It Says About the Sport
- The Race to Copenhagen – World Fitness Project Challenger Athletes Fight for Their Season
Featured Image: CrossFit Games
