Progress in CrossFit Back Squat Records at the 2025 Games Compared to Past Years

The 2025 CrossFit Games showcased remarkable progress in back squat performance, emphasizing the sport's core principles of measurability and repeatability. A standout moment was the standalone event "IE5: 1RM Back Squat," held for the first time, highlighting athletes' strength gains over the years. Comparing this year's results to past competitions reveals significant advancements. On the men's side, Colten Mertens and Nick Mathew dominated with lifts of 570 and 555 pounds, respectively—both surpassing previous top performances. Notably, five men achieved back squats exceeding 500 pounds, a feat not reached in 2020, where the highest was 492 pounds by Scott Panchik. The field has also become more competitive, with 86% of men lifting at least 450 pounds in 2025, compared to just 30% in 2018. Women demonstrated similar progress; Mirjam von Rohr led with a 360-pound squat, with the top lifts surpassing previous years' bests by 30 to 35 pounds. Additionally, a higher percentage of women (70%) lifted over 300 pounds, up from 53% in 2018. Individual athletes showed consistent improvement or maintained their lifts compared to past competitions. For example, Justin Medeiros increased ...