The World Fitness Project Tour Event I is behind us, and we’re still recovering from three days of elite competition. Alex Gazan and Austin Hatfield emerged victorious in the Pro Division, while Jennifer Muir and Tudor Magda were crowned winners of the Challenger Division.
- Three days, six events, and countless conversations with athletes, coaches, fans, and friends have resulted in numerous takeaways. For now, however, we have narrowed it down to five.
5 Takeaways from The World Fitness Project Tour Event I
9 Athletes Are Currently in a Position to Earn a 2026 Pro Card
Six women and three men who qualified for the Pro Division through the online qualifier finished in the top 20 in Indianapolis, placing them above the cutline for a 2026 Pro Card.
It is early, but these results will be significant by December.
Men
- Colten Mertens – 410 points (9th)
- Chris Ibarra – 352 points (16th)
- Nick Mathew – 336 points (18th)
Women
- Fee Saghafi – 392 points (11th)
- Oda Lundekvam – 376 points (13th)
- Anhika Greer – 368 points (14th)
- Lexi Neely – 360 points (15th)
- Vår Thurmann-Moe – 336 points (18th)
- Sydney Michalyshen – 320 points (20th)
This is especially impactful for the women’s field, as two signed Pros – Emma McQuaid and Haley Adams – both withdrew, leaving them with zero points heading into the next event. With these two Pros absent, all the women across both divisions who competed at Tour Event I now have an edge, and the race for a 2026 Pro Card is already heating up.
In a notable announcement, Fee Saghafi and Colten Mertens received invitations to bypass the qualifier and compete in the Pro Division at Tour II in Mesa, Arizona, this August.
Saghafi, who finished 11th, and Mertens, who finished ninth, continued their 2025 success.
WFP Director of Sport Will Moorad praised their performances, saying, “These invites recognize them as two of the most promising, rising stars in the WFP.”
Austin Hatfield Is the Man to Beat
Although Austin Hatfield didn’t claim a single event win, his consistency secured the overall victory.
- Jeff Adler led going into the final workout, but Hatfield’s second-place finish propelled him to the top.
Hatfield had three second-place finishes throughout the weekend and only one placement outside the top ten. His trajectory has been building for some time, having earned a top-10 finish at the 2024 Games as a rookie, a third at TYR Wodapalooza in January, and a win at the Mayhem Classic last month.
With this victory against this field, Hatfield has proven he is not just part of the conversation about the best but also a conversation starter.
Pro Division Leaderboards Were a Rollercoaster
The women’s leaderboard was thrilling. Alex Gazan maintained the lead from Day 2 onward, while the competition for the remaining top spots shifted constantly.
- Aimee Cringle, Laura Horvath, Danielle Brandon, Arielle Loewen, Alexis Raptis, and Emma Lawson all vied for podium positions until the final moments.
The men’s side saw a new leader after almost every event.
Jeff Adler looked unstoppable after workout one, but lost the lead to Jay Crouch at the end of the first day. Hatfield jumped in front by the end of Day 2, but relinquished the lead back to Adler before the final workout, which threw a virtual grenade onto the leaderboard.
Ultimately, Hatfield stood on top when it mattered most, as Adler dropped from first to fourth. The unpredictability kept fans on edge throughout the weekend.
The Challenger Division Delivered Big Performances
The Challenger Division provided some of the weekend’s most exciting moments.
In the one-rep max jerk event, which could be compared across both divisions, Challenger athlete Jack Farlow lifted 417 pounds, topping the men’s field. Hannah Black posted the fourth heaviest lift among all women, at 286 pounds.
- She edged out second-place lifter Jessica Androsik by one pound and then rested for the remainder of the clock, showing she had plenty more in the tank.
Jennifer Muir and Tudor Magda, both unofficially Games-bound athletes, finished at the top of the Challenger Division, earning 250 points each.
If they secure a spot to compete in the Pro Division in Mesa, they will be well positioned to qualify for the Finals in Copenhagen, where the stakes are highest. Many of the Challenger athletes are now legitimate contenders for the Finals if they can qualify again for Tour Event II.
The WFP Is the Real Deal
Despite the initial excitement and nerves surrounding the inaugural event, the World Fitness Project exceeded expectations. The motto of the WFP is “For athletes, by athletes.” The consensus among the Pros and Challengers alike was that they were all treated like professionals.
Spectators were thrilled by the production quality, from the dramatic spotlights to the athletes’ personalized entrances as they walked through smoke onto the competition floor.
- Fan activations and behind-the-scenes footage from the Buttery Bros also highlighted the fun and camaraderie of the weekend.
The event gained even more credibility with major sponsors like Adidas and Red Bull joining the other supporters of the competition, signaling its legitimacy in the fitness world.
The Bottom Line
There will be wrinkles to iron out as the season moves along, but Tour Stop I of the World Fitness Project was a resounding success.
Next for the WFP competition is the online qualifier for Tour Stop II, which is set for August 29-31 in Mesa, Arizona. We recommend getting your tickets early.
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Featured Image: Scott Freymond
