Explainer | CrossFit Games 2022: Who is Justin Medeiros, Mat Fraser’s successor and The Fittest on Earth defending champion?
- Justin Medeiros worked with Fraser to take his performance to the next level and win the CrossFit Games, now he is back to defend his title
- The Californian was a wrestler and American football player before taking up CrossFit
Justin Medeiros will defend his CrossFit Games title next week, and once again he is the man to beat.
The 23-year-old burst onto the CrossFit scene two years ago by qualifying for the Games. Covid-19 restrictions meant that just five athletes made the final cut, to compete at an in person event in California.
Medeiros showed he was there to compete, and not just take part, by finishing second in the first event.
But it was the fifth event where he really made an impression. The five athletes were sent on a gruelling 5km trail run, up and down over dusty hills. Fraser and Medeiros finished first and second, then the event director, Dave Castro, coldly told them to go again. There was an unexpected second lap.
The two men tousled for first spot. Ultimately, Fraser prevailed, but Medeiros pushed him to the end. Going toe to toe with the champ earned Medeiros a lot of credit and marked him out as one to watch.
