Colten Mertens Wins the 2025 CrossFit Open: A Statement of Redemption
The 2025 CrossFit Open has come to a close, and the leaderboard speaks for itself—Colten Mertens is back with a vengeance, securing first place in the worldwide competition. With an impressive performance across all three workouts, Mertens not only claimed the top spot but also set a new world record in 25.2.
The 2025 CrossFit Open: A Test of Grit and Strength
The CrossFit Open, the first stage of the CrossFit Games season, is a three-week online competition where athletes battle through challenging workouts to qualify for the next stage. This year’s Open featured three workouts:
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25.1: A 15-minute AMRAP of lateral burpees, dumbbell hang clean to overhead, and walking lunges.
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25.2: Fast-paced workout combining pull-ups, double unders, thrusters at increasing weight, and advanced gymnastics for time.
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25.3: Featured wall walks, a 50-calorie row, a series of barbell lifts (deadlifts, cleans, and snatches) all repeated in a structured sequence within a 20-minute time cap.
Three AIRWAAV athletes dominated the top four of the worldwide leaderboard: Colten Mertens (1st), Dallin Pepper (2nd), and Austin Hatfield (4th)—a testament to their relentless pursuit of greatness and the power of AIRWAAV in optimizing their performance.
Colten Mertens: A Redemption Like No Other
After a shocking 2024 season where he failed to qualify for the CrossFit Games, Mertens made a promise: “Now… it’s time to grind for the next 12 months and come back with a vengeance next year.” And that’s exactly what he did.
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Workout Placements: 1st in 25.1, 1st in 25.2, and 3rd in 25.3.
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Set the world record in 25.2 with a time of 4:01.
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2024 CrossFit Open Placement: 19th.
Mertens' journey over the past year has been one of grit. His dominance in the Open sets the stage for an electrifying season ahead, as he looks to carry this momentum in the months ahead.
Dallin Pepper: A Close Contender Hungry for the Games
Finishing just behind Mertens in second place was fellow AIRWAAV athlete Dallin Pepper, who made a strong statement throughout the Open:
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Workout Placements: 3rd in 25.1, 11th in 25.2, and 1st in 25.3.
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2024 CrossFit Open Placement: 16th.
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2024 CrossFit Games Placement: 2nd place.
Pepper showed his strength during the live announcement of 25.3, jumping out to an early lead and dominating the 225-lb. deadlifts. Determined to take the event win, he pushed himself on the rower to clinch victory, proving that he’s a serious contender for the 2025 season podium. When asked about the final Open workout, he confidently stated that Colten wouldn’t win this one—and he delivered.
Looking ahead, Pepper has made it clear that his goal is nothing short of winning the 2025 CrossFit Games. With the momentum he’s carrying, there’s no doubt he’ll be a force to be reckoned with.
Austin Hatfield: The Underdog Making a Name for Himself
Finishing fourth overall, Austin Hatfield is proving that he’s a rising star in the sport. Having only recently started competing in CrossFit, Hatfield’s rapid ascent is nothing short of remarkable.
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Workout Placements: 8th in 25.1, 2nd in 25.2, and 12th in 25.3.
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2024 CrossFit Open Placement: 14th.
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2024 CrossFit Games Placement: 10th in his rookie season.
Hatfield only trains at Mayhem about once a month and solely trains at home, grinding away —but that hasn’t stopped him from competing with the best. His goal for the 2025 season? To break into the top five at the CrossFit Games.
“You compete to win, and I’m not going to settle for 10th place,” he stated in a recent interview, proving that he’s got the mindset of a champion.
AIRWAAV Athletes Continue to Dominate
With three AIRWAAV athletes in the top four of the worldwide Open leaderboard, it’s clear that our athletes are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Breathing better, recovering faster, and performing at the highest level—this is what AIRWAAV is all about.
As we head into the next stage of the CrossFit season, one thing is certain: Colten Mertens, Dallin Pepper, and Austin Hatfield and other impressive AIRWAAV athletes aren’t done yet. The 2025 season is just beginning, and the best is yet to come.
