The 2021 CrossFit Games saw Justin Medeiros take the men's title, Tia-Clair Toomey-Orr win the women's competition, and CrossFit Mayhem take the team's competition. The Games kicked off with a cardiovascular event, a mile of finswimming followed by a three-mile kayak paddle. Chandler Smith entered the top five for the first time at this year's Games, and Vellner clung to fifth place. The CrossFit Games have grown in popularity over the past 10 years, with more media and public interest in the event. The Games tested athletes' fitness with a variety of events, from classic chippers such as rope climbing, erg skiing and sandbag transport to the CrossFit “home run derby”, the maximum start of a repetition.
Rich Froning led CrossFit Mayhem to its fifth Affiliate Cup victory, while Scott Panchik was named the winner of the Spirit of the Games after suffering a shoulder injury to win several events and finish in the top 20. Cary, who is 17, came within 10 seconds of beating Tia-Clair Toomey-Orr, one of the most dominant female CrossFitters in existence. Toomey-Orr won her fifth consecutive CrossFit Games title, tying Mat Fraser for most CrossFit Games titles and remaining the most winning woman in sports history. Mat Fraser and Tia-Clair Toomey-Orr took the victory with ease, but Fraser withdrew from competitive CrossFit, leaving the top of the podium open. This year was also special for CrossFit as it saw an in-person event return after last year's Games were held online due to Covid.
For everything related to the CrossFit Games, you can use this page as a hub to view in-depth coverage of the BarBend Games in the form of event summaries, daily summaries, athlete profiles and more. The women's event was dominated by Tia-Claire Toomey-Orr, but Annie Thorisdottir's performance broke a third place in the standings to claim her third place overall at this year's Games. Spectators were also allowed to attend this year's Games, which gave it a different feel than last year's isolated and dusty adventure at The Ranch. Toomey-Orr won her 32nd CrossFit Games event, surpassing it with the fastest overall time. Dunne failed 305 and then snatched it to win his third event of the Games before a roaring audience.
