Easy Lies The Head That Wore The Crown
At the end of October 2020, Mat Fraser won his fifth consecutive CrossFit Games title. With the pandemic raging, the Games had been delayed multiple times, changing venues from the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin, to a family ranch in Aromas, California. The competitive field of 40 men, 40 women and 40 teams that had been the norm for the past decade was reduced to just five men and five women with no spectators.
Yet, for Fraser, it was business as usual. He won a record 10 events and finished second in the other two by the smallest of margins. His points total of 1150 was almost double that of the second-place athlete. He also set records in career event wins and consecutive event wins and was the first person to lead the CrossFit Games from start to finish. His fifth title passed Rich Froning Jr’s tally of four. The mantle of “the Fittest Man in History” had a new pair of rippling shoulders upon which to rest.
Then, at the beginning of February this year, Fraser announced his retirement. The king of CrossFit vacated the throne. Men’s Health called him at his home in Cookeville, Tennessee, to find out why he has hung up his training shoes, how you can apply his fitness principles to your own lifestyle – and who he is backing to be the next CrossFit Games champion.
“My sole purpose was to train, eat, sleep, compete. Now I just want a change of pace”
Men’s Health: What have you been doing today? Have you swapped your Metcons for a pair of slippers yet?
Ha! No. We’re only back at home for 32 hours before taking off again. So, from 6am to 8pm today, it’s been a
