Rich Froning

If anyone needs no introduction in the CrossFit world it's Rich Froning. The CrossFit athlete that made history as the only individual athlete to win the CrossFit Games for 4 consecutive years. (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014).

Rich Froning Jr. is a name etched in gold letters in CrossFit history. Considered the "Fittest Man in History," Froning has conquered the CrossFit Games multiple times and has become a global fitness icon. Throughout his career, he not only accumulated titles and records, but also left an indelible mark on the CrossFit community, inspiring thousands of athletes. His trajectory, filled with epic victories, bold transitions and endearing personal moments, is that of an athlete who evolved from unbeatable competitor to leader and mentor.

Many people consider him the GOAT (Greatest of all time) of the sport. However, with the emergence of Mat FraserIn this case, the discussions about which of the two is the best are constantly recurring.

He moved to Cookeville, Tennessee, where he currently resides. He played baseball and soccer there during his high school days.

He later left baseball and football to work for the Cookeville Fire Department while attending college at Tennessee Tech University.

It was then that he learned about CrossFit and began to focus his efforts on the sport.

Results

His most outstanding achievements are:

2025

25.1 with Mayhem athletes

Participate in the presentation of the Open 25.1 together with Austin Hatfield, Haley Adams and Roman Khrennikov.

15-minute AMRAP:

3 lateral burpees over the dumbbell
3 dumbbell hang clean-to-overheads
30-foot walking lunge (2 x 15 feet)
📌 After completing each round, add 3 reps to burpees and hang clean-to-overheads.

💪 Pesos:
🔹 35 lb (15 kg) dumbbell
🔹 50 lb (22.5 kg) dumbbell

Austin Hatfield 334 reps
Rich Froning 309 reps
Roman Khrennikov 305 reps
Haley Adams 261 reps

2024

Member of the Security Advisory Board at CrossFit Games

Last month, CrossFit presented its action plan following the investigation into the death of Lazar Đukić at the past CrossFit Gamess. A Safety Advisory Board was created that seeks to ensure the well-being at competitions.

Its eight members were presented early this morning:

• Rich Froning (10 times CrossFit champion)
• Caity Matter Henniger (2008 Games Champion and Rogue Fitness CSO)
• Robert Oh, MD (Sports Medicine Physician)
• Brian McGuire, MS, ATC (NFL Athletic Trainer and Sports Medicine Expert)
• Allison Brager, Ph.D. (Scientist and CrossFit athlete)
• Manuel Cruz (Chief Agent, U.S. Border Patrol Academy)
• Michael Cohen (CEO of USA Masters Weightlifting and Olympian)
• Mark Ritchie, Ph.D. (Risk management expert)

This new council aims to provide guidance for safety in competitions and to be a channel for athletes to voice their concerns.

Show your support for Dave Castro

Following the tragic death of Lazar Djukic at the CrossFit Games 2024, Rich Froning released a message on his Instagram account showing support for Dave Castro:

"Perhaps an opinion not everyone shares right now: there is no one on the planet who cares more about CrossFit Games than Dave Castro."

On the other hand Andrew Hiller publishes that the athletic association (PFAA) will make a statement calling for the resignation of Dave Castro.

2023: Decline!

Rich Froning announced on his own podcast before Semifinals, that he would not follow the qualifier after the Age-Group Semifinals: "This year I will not be competing live at the CrossFit Games. I will be there to support the athletes and do activations with Mayhem."

He remembered that he is also the spare athlete on the team, but in a humorous tone he said he would only compete if someone passes away. - Let's hope you don't compete - said the presenter.

In the most recent vlog he published, he commented that he felt discomfort in his back and even pain when he did the thrusters. When asked about the moment when the invitation email to Games arrives, he says without hesitation: !DECLINE!

Rich Froning Team Members

2022: Sixth team title - a triumphant farewell

Rich Froning announced on the Sevan podcast, his plans for 2023 and assured that no longer compete in teams. His intention was to do the Open, Age Group Qualifiers and Semifinals, to compete in the 35-39 division in Masters. As long as it allows him to share more time with his family.

He commented that he was recovering from a shoulder injury that he had been carrying for 2 years. If he is not forced to undergo surgery we would see him in the Masters division.

The year 2022 marked the culmination of an era for Rich Froning.

As team captain CrossFit Mayhem Freedomled his squad to another championship in the CrossFit Games, earning his first 6th title in the team category.

This victory elevated ten the total number of Games championships in his track record (adding the four singles of his beginnings), a milestone that no other athlete has reached.

Froning celebrated this triumph savoring every moment, aware that it was more than just another medal in his collection: it was the finishing touch to more than a decade of dominance in the sport.

Shortly after being crowned in 2022, Rich announced that it would be his last participation in the CrossFit Games as an elite competitor.

At the age of 35, and after achieving everything imaginable in competition, Froning decided to take a step aside in sports. This farewell, far from being the end of his story, marked the beginning of a new stage. Since then, he has focused on his family, on managing and coaching his team from off the track and on his numerous personal projects.

Rich Froning's legacy was sealed in 2022 with one final victory, and he went from being the invincible athlete to becoming the mentor and role model for the next generation of crossfitters.

2021: Fifth team title

After an atypical 2020 with no official team competition in the Games, Froning returned in 2021 with renewed energy. That year, CrossFit Mayhem Freedom regained the world team throne, giving Rich his fifth championship in this modality.

With changes to the CrossFit Rulebook, he was forced to change team members but that was no impediment to dominating the competition and proving that, even after a year of uncertainty, Rich's hunger for victory was still intact.

2020: Focus on your community and business

2020 was a unique year for Froning as well. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the team category in the CrossFit Gamess, leaving Rich with no chance to contend for a title that summer.

Despite this, he did not sit idly by: earlier in the year, before the confinements, he led Mayhem Freedom to win major independent events such as Wodapalooza, proving that they were still the team to beat.

With the big competitions on hiatus, Froning took the opportunity to focus on other fronts. He stepped up his presence on social media and online platforms, sharing workout routines from his iconic barn-gym in Tennessee and encouraging the community to stay active from home.

It also expanded its business by strengthening CrossFit Mayhem as a training center and launching new projects such as its online training program. Mayhem Athlete. He also creates his own competition, the Mayhem Classic, which is held in his own CrossFit Mayhem box.

He has even ventured into personal initiatives, from a line of artisanal coffee to the management of Froning Farmshis family farm.

2019: New team championship

Announced as the Open 19.2 beat his own record since this wod was a redo of the Open from a few years ago (16.2), also achieving the best mark in the world.

In 2019, Rich Froning added another spectacular win.

By fourth time, his Mayhem Freedom team won the championship. in the CrossFit Games, revalidating the title obtained the previous year.

This achievement not only added to their impressive medal collection, but also cemented Mayhem as a true dynasty in the CrossFit world.

By this point, Froning's name was already synonymous with excellence: amassing eight titles (four individual and four team) had made him the most decorated athlete in the history of the sport. But 2019 also stood out for Rich's influence beyond the competition. With hundreds of thousands of followers on social media - reaching around one million on Instagram alone - Froning inspired athletes around the world on a daily basis. He shared workouts, tips and snippets of his daily life, showing his human and relatable side.

In addition, his box in Cookeville became a center of pilgrimage for the CrossFit community: many would travel to train in CrossFit Mayhem and, hopefully, meet the legend in person.

2018: Team champion again

After the previous year's defeat, 2018 represented redemption for Froning and theirs. CrossFit Mayhem Freedom came back strong and received first place in the CrossFit Gamess, reclaiming the team throne. It was a particularly sweet triumph: after seeing his winning streak interrupted in 2017, Rich proved he knew how to pick himself up and return to the top.

On a personal level, the year was also one of joy. Together with his wife Hillary, Froning expanded his family. adopting her third daughter, Violet. Now the father of three young children (Lakelyn, Trice and Violet), Rich manages to balance his intense training schedule with family life.

2017: Team runner-up

Not every year is a winning one, and 2017 proved to be a reminder of that. At that year's CrossFit Gamess, the Mayhem Freedom team had to settle for second place, ending (at least temporarily) their dynasty of back-to-back champions.

For many, a second place finish deserves celebration; however, Rich's expression of indignation was very famouswho, despite being on the podium, was not satisfied with the result.

On a personal note, 2017 brought a gift that surpassed any podium: Rich and Hillary gave the welcome to their second son, little Richard Lyle Froning IIIaffectionately nicknamed "Trice". The joy of having a new baby at home put the silver medal won in the Games into perspective. As Froning commented on more than one occasion, defeats hurt, but nothing matters more than family.

2016: Bicampeonato by teams

2016 reaffirmed that Rich's shift to team competition had not diminished his competitive ferocity. In his second year leading CrossFit Mayhem Freedom, Froning once again stood atop the CrossFit Games podium in the team category. With this back-to-back two-time championship, he made it clear that his hegemony was not a one-year thing: Rich proved that, whether competing solo or as a team, he was still the one to beat.

The Mayhem team dominated the events with enviable coordination and physicality, reflecting Froning's leadership both on and off the track.

Meanwhile, his figure continued to grow beyond the competition stage. Renowned brands in the world of sports and fitness fought to have him as an ambassador. Froning already had major sponsors like Reebok (who even launched a sneaker with his name on it), Rogue Fitness u Oakleywho saw in him the ideal representative of CrossFit's values of effort and excellence.

2015: Golden debut in teams - first-time dad

2015 was a year of transformation for Rich Froning. After four years of reigning solo, Froning changed strategy and switched to competing in the team mode.

Under the name of his own gym, CrossFit Mayhem Freedommade his debut in the team CrossFit Games and the result could not have been better: champion in his first participation.

That same year, Froning's life took a wonderful turn outside of competition. Together with Hillary, his wife, he became a father for the first time by adopting his daughter Lakelyn. The image of the fearsome champion changing diapers and preparing baby bottles showed an endearing side of his personality.

The giant Reebok launched a special edition Nano shoe with his name on it.a recognition of Rich's impact on the fitness community.

2014: Four-time individual champion - end of an era

2014 would be the last chapter of Rich Froning's glorious individual career, and what a close it was. For the fourth consecutive year, Froning was crowned champion of the CrossFit Games in the individual category, an all-time record that earned him the title of "the fittest man in the world" for the fourth year in a row.

The 2014 competition was not an easy one: new talents emerged ready to dethrone the king, and Rich had to bring all his experience and physical ability to bear to prevail in increasingly demanding events. When he finally secured victory in the final event, the entire stadium cheered for the living legend they had just witnessed.

With this fourth consecutive gold medal, Froning felt he had come full circle. At the age of 27, and after dominating the individual scene for a whole five years, he surprised the world by announcing that he was retiring from individual competition in the CrossFit Games. It was the end of an era: Rich was leaving the undefeated throne.

But far from walking away from CrossFit, he was already preparing his next move. Having achieved everything he dreamed of on an individual level, his passion for the sport reinvented itself in a new challenge: competing in teams (and, incidentally, devoting more time to his newly formed family and personal projects such as opening his own box).

2013: Tri-championship and book publication

In 2013, Rich Froning achieved a feat few thought possible: winning his third consecutive CrossFit Games in the individual category.

With this tri-championship, he left behind any hint of chance or luck: its dominance was absolute and his figure was beginning to become legendary within the young sport of CrossFit.

Throughout the various events of that year, Froning exhibited amazing consistency, always staying in the top positions and coming back when necessary.

His ability to endure pain and push boundaries earned him the unconditional admiration of fans and competitors alike.

Rich's impact in 2013 transcended the physical. That year, he shared his insights and training secrets by publishing his book "First: What It Takes to Win". ("What It Takes to Win"). In its pages, Froning chronicled his path to success, his philosophy of hard work and his faith, inspiring many readers beyond the CrossFit community.

2012: Bicampeon - CrossFit Mayhem is born

After winning in 2011, all eyes were on Froning to see if he could repeat the feat. And in 2012, Rich did not disappoint: he retained his title by winning the CrossFit Games for the second year in a row.

With this two-time championship, he made it clear that he was serious about his dominance. Few athletes had ever won two titles, and he did it consecutively.

In the 2012 edition, Froning stood out for his incredible balance between strength, speed and endurance, winning several events and always ranking among the best. His performance cemented his reputation as the man to beat in any CrossFit event.

The success of 2012 catapulted Rich Froning to stardom within the fitness community. That year he began to experience sports fame: interviews, magazine covers and a growing following that saw him as a modern fitness hero.

Rich's humility remained intact despite the attention: he continued to train with the same intensity at his longtime gym in Cookeville, remembering his roots at every turn.

However, it was clear that CrossFit already had its first big superstar. Froning was beginning to influence how people trained, what equipment they used and how they viewed the sport, paving the way for a legacy that was just beginning to be built.

Rich Froning founded CrossFit Mayhem in 2012 in Cookeville, Tennessee.

2011: First crown of the CrossFit Gamess

The year 2011 was the year that fired the legend of Rich Froning. After falling just short of glory the previous year, Froning returned to the CrossFit Gamess determined to reclaim the throne.

With an impressive combination of power and strategy, he won the first place in the CrossFit Games 2011achieving his coveted title of "Fittest Man on Earth".

That summer, Rich overcame all his rivals in a close competition, showing an astonishing athletic maturity for an athlete who was just making his debut the previous year. His victory marked the beginning of an era of unprecedented dominance.

Shortly after being crowned CrossFit world champion, he married Hillary, his childhood sweetheart. That year is etched in his memory not only for his first major sporting trophy, but also for saying "I do" and starting to build a life together with Hillary.

2010: Explosive debut

Rich Froning's CrossFit Games story began in 2010, and from his first appearance he made it clear that he was an exceptional talent.

That year, in his senior debut, he surprised the world by fighting neck and neck for the individual championship.

Froning even led the ranking, but an unexpected rope-climbing test -an obstacle that he had not trained sufficiently. cut their lead short.

In a dramatic turn of events, he dropped to second place overall, falling just short of the title.

Far from discouraging him, that defeat was the fuel he needed. Rich absorbed the lesson with humility and returned home determined to polish every one of his weaknesses. The 2010 experience forged his competitive character: learning from adversity, Froning laid the foundation for the legendary streak that was to come in the following years.

Other curiosities

Rich Froning Diet

Rich Froning has always made quite a joke about his diet. Somehow he hinted that with all the training he did, he could afford to eat without much thought. As time went on, he began to give it the importance it deserved and started working with nutritionists, as well as a company that prepares healthy food for him.

In Spain, we have a similar business, Fitness Power Food (with the code ANABELPUMP you get discount) cooks the tuppers for you in a personalized way and sends them home refrigerated.

Tattoo by Galatians 6:14

Froning is one of those athletes who likes to train shirtless and that's why we all recognize your rib tattoo. Says Galatians 6:14 and it corresponds to a bible verse in which you can read:

"May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world"which is Spanish would be "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.".

Froning is a very religious athlete.

Chris Hinshaw, your aerobic capacity coach

Chris Hinsaw is the best coach we know within the CrossFit field specialized in aerobic capacity. It is known, because Chris himself explained it, that he started doing CrosFit in Jason Khalipa's box, for whom he had great admiration.

When Jason learned that Chris had been a great triathlete, he asked him to help him improve his aerobic capacity and Chris with deep respect accepted the job. It was a time when both Khalipa and Froning had serious aspirations to win the Games, and Khalipa only gave Chris one condition: "I'm going to do it.that he never trained Froning". At the time, Chris was so honored to be able to train Khalipa that he accepted without thinking about it.

In 2014, Jason decided to retire from individual competition and it was then that Froning took the opportunity to call Chris and ask for his services. In that call, Froning acknowledged that he knew about his ban on coaching him but understood that since Khalipa had already retired, the deal had already been fulfilled. Chris was a little embarrassed that Khalipa knew he had agreed to such a deal, but at the same time he was very flattered that a professional like Froning would ask for his help.

To top it off, Chris received a call from Khalipa after the fact in which he still reminded him that they had a deal and that he couldn't let him down. To which Chris reminded him that he was already retired from individual competition, but Khalipa wanted him to keep it going because he wanted to continue competing at least at the team level. Evidently, Chris had accepted the job and knew deep down that Khalipa even though he understood the situation and accepted it had been upset that he ended up coaching Froning.

Rich Froning's wife

Rich Froning is married to the girl who has been his girlfriend throughout his adolescence.

Both made public their desire to start a family, despite the problems they were facing to conceive..

For this reason, they decided to opt for adoption.

Hillary, in particular, has recounted the difficulties of the process, which included several denied adoptions, resulting in significant delays.

However, with great determination, they continued to fight and now have a beautiful family with three children: Lakelyn, Richard and Ivy.