Wodapalooza 2021- Who to expect at the top of the podium
Wodapalooza makes its return this weekend with the event being postponed like many other in 2020 due to the global pandemic. With the introduction of an elite teams of 3 division, a number of individuals that would otherwise be considered podium contenders have opted to join forces to participate in the new format. Athletes including Noah Ohlson, Chandler Smith and Hayley Adams have all opted to take part in a team therefore producing a slightly less of a stacked field in both individual competitions. Despite this, here are the three men and women with a great chance of returning home victorious from Miami, Florida.
Pat Vellner
As the returning defending champion of Wodapalooza, Pat Vellner will likely require little invitation to stay around the top of the standings for the whole weekend. The Canadian boasts an impressive resume that also includes 4 appearances on the Crossfit games podium and a first place at the 2020 Rogue Invitational. Vellner recently placed second at the 2021 Rogue invitational behind Justin Medieros but with the young American not competing this weekend, Vellner will come into it as the clear favourite as he moves on to potentially become a two-time open champion in February.
Ricky Garard
Garard is a name that has been in the media a lot in recent weeks having made his return to competition at the Dubai Crossfit championships last month following a 4-year suspension. In a weekend that included two victories in the opening two events, Garard reminded the world of the ability and talent he has and will no doubt remain on Vellner’s radar all weekend, similar to the pressure the young Australian famously put Mat Fraser under in his rookie year at the 2017 Crossfit games. Interestingly this will be the first time Vellner and Garard share the competition floor since the Australian prevented the Canadian from standing on the podium in 2017 due to his illegitimate 3rd place finish.
Guilherme Malheiros
All fans around the world will agree that it is just a matter of time before Gui Malheiros bursts onto the podium. Following an impressive display at the Crossfit Games and Rogue invitational, Malheiros shows all the potential of being a serial winner in the sport, reinforced by a recent move to Nashville, Tennessee where he has been training under the eye of legend Rich Froning and the CrossFit Mayhem Team. With a consistent weekend, Gui Malheiros has all the potential to put compete with Garard for second place and force Vellner to keep a watchful eye.
Bethany Shadburne – West Coast classic champion, 8th at the 2019 Crossfit Games, missed the 2021 Games after testing positive for COVID-19
In a women’s field that does not contain a previous winner or a Games podium finisher in the last 4 years. Bethany Shadburne finds herself to have the best chance in the field of becoming the 2021 Wodapalooza champion. The American boasts a best games finish of 8th place in 2019 and more recently became the defending champion of the West Coast Classic. With great possibility of becoming the highest ranked American women at the 2021 Games, Shadburne was forced to miss the competition due to a positive covid-19 test but will return to competition this weekend with every chance of finishing victorious.
Sara Sigsmundsdottir
With the best resume in the women’s field, a lack of consistency is the only thing preventing the world from calling Sara Sigmundsdottir the fittest women on the planet at one point in years gone by. However, following knee reconstruction surgery that kept her out for over a year, Sara retuned to competition at the Dubai Crossfit championship and showed signs of the women who has two games podium finishes and several other competition victories to her name. With a somewhat depleted women’s field in terms of big names, Sara has a fantastic opportunity to shake off any competition nerves she still has and gain some serious confidence with a solid podium finish.
Emily Rolfe
Emily Rolfe is a name that does not typically come up when discussing potential winners of an event. However, with her third-place finish at the 2019 edition of Wodapalooza and the women’s field being what it is, there is every chance the athlete can make a run for the competition victory. Rolfe’s most impressive competition victory comes in the form on an event win at the 2019 Crossfit Games where she was victorious in the Ruck run having beaten a leading pack that included strong runners such as Tia-Clair Toomey and Sam Briggs.