Legends and Masters Podcast

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The Games Gang returns one last time to discuss the latest updates surrounding the 2027 CrossFit Games season. We dive into the announcement of the new host for the Masters Games, share our thoughts on what it means for the community, and speculate on how the Semifinal stage could evolve in the years ahead.

As always, we offer plenty of opinions, predictions, and a few educated guesses on some of the biggest topics currently facing the sport. If you're curious about where the Games are headed and what these recent changes could mean for athletes at every level, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

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Micah Shoemaker of The Magic City Games joins Warren to discuss the exciting announcement that his organization has been selected to host the 2027 CrossFit Masters Games, set to take place in Birmingham AL in August of 2027.

In this conversation, Micah shares the vision he and his team have for the future of the Masters Games, from creating unforgettable first impressions to selecting venues that elevate the athlete experience. 

The discussion also explores scaling considerations for Senior Masters Athletes, the importance of honoring the competitive spirit of the Masters community, and the opportunities that come with hosting the premier Masters event in the sport. 

Whether you're a competitor, coach, fan, or event organizer, this episode provides an inside look at the planning, leadership, and innovation behind the 2027 CrossFit Masters Games.

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Dee Dee Hoffman qualified for the CrossFit Masters Games in 2020 and made her Games debut in 2021, but she admits she didn't fully believe in herself as a successful Masters athlete until returning to the Games in 2025. In this conversation, the three-time Games athlete, Level-2 Coach and Mom of Five opens up about the obstacles, setbacks, and self-doubt she overcame, the dedication required to make it back to the Games, and the lasting love for fitness that continues to drive her every day.

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Episode Description — A Lifetime Outdoors, Three Trips to the Games, and a Season Changed by a Medical Challenge

3‑time Masters CrossFit Games athlete in the 65–69 Age Group, and an avid outdoorsman from Victoria, British Columbia, John Guthrie joins Warren for a reflective and heartfelt conversation. A biker, hiker, kayaker, skier, husband, father, and grandfather, he shares the story of a life built around movement, exploration, and challenge.

From his early days playing college hockey to decades spent adventuring in the outdoors, he walks through the path that eventually led him to CrossFit — and ultimately to three appearances on the Games floor. He discusses what keeps him coming back, how the sport fits into his identity, and the joy he finds in training and competing at the highest level of Masters athletics.

This episode also dives into the difficult reality of his 2026 Games season, where a significant medical challenge struck at the worst possible time. He talks openly about how those issues affected his performance, including the heartbreaking impact on a legitimate opportunity to finish on the podium. His honesty about his medical challege, aging, and resilience offers a powerful look at what it means to compete when your body doesn’t cooperate.

A thoughtful, grounded, and inspiring conversation with an athlete who embodies grit, humility, and a lifelong love of the outdoors.

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Episode 70 — Rick Choppa: A Lifelong Athlete Still Pushing the Limits

Rick Choppa, a 2024 Masters CrossFit Games athlete in the 65+ division, lifelong competitor, and standout Masters Track & Field Long Jumper, joins Warren for a wide‑ranging conversation about a lifetime spent chasing performance, passion, and purpose through sport.

Rick reflects on his early love of fitness, the discipline that carried him through decades of training, and the thrill he still finds in the Long Jump and Triple. He shares his experience competing at the 2024 Masters CrossFit Games, offering insight into what it takes to stay competitive at the highest level well into his sixties.

The conversation also dives into Rick’s perspective on TRT and the recent Senior Masters suspensions at the 2026 Games, exploring how the community is navigating fairness, longevity, and evolving standards. Fresh off his victory at the New England Masters Championship, Rick talks about what that win meant to him and looks ahead to his upcoming trip to Aruba, where he’ll represent the USA Functional Fitness Team.

A thoughtful, energetic, and honest discussion with an athlete who has spent a lifetime proving that age is only one part of the story.

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Greg Weate, 8th place finisher at the 2026 Masters CrossFit Games in the 60–64 division and winner of the Magic City In‑Person Semi‑Finals, joins Warren for a powerful and candid conversation. Greg shares how he discovered CrossFit, the years of development that shaped him as an athlete, and the progression that ultimately earned him a spot at the 2026 Games.

He opens up about the significant health challenges he faced leading into the season — challenges that forced him to make decisions most people would never consider, driven by his commitment to compete on the Games floor. After returning from San Jose, Greg’s medical reality changed dramatically, leaving him unable to train in any capacity. He discusses the care he’s received, the choices he’s made, and the mindset required to navigate life when competition is no longer possible.

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Lifetime Canadian athlete Sarah Pennington joins Warren to share her remarkable journey through gymnastics, water polo, synchronized swimming and finally CrossFit — a foundation that still fuels her elite movement capacity today. At 67 years old, Sarah can handstand walk with ease and is actively working toward her first Bar Muscle-Up as she pushes to qualify for the 2027 Masters CrossFit Games.

A proud member of the Vegan Strong Team and http://plantbuilt.com/, Sarah explains how her vegan nutrition has become the centerpiece of her athletic longevity and performance. She breaks down the misconceptions around plant-based fueling, proving through her own training that upper-level competitive CrossFit does not require animal protein to thrive.

 Sarah’s story is one of discipline, curiosity, and relentless improvement — a masterclass in what’s possible when you combine smart training, intentional nutrition, and a lifetime love of movement. 

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Wayne O’Hara, 65–69 Age Group athlete, 2× CrossFit Games competitor, winner of the Magic City In‑Person Semi-Final, and 2nd‑place finisher at the 2026 CrossFit Masters Games in San Jose, joins Warren for a candid and wide‑ranging conversation.

Wayne reflects on his early athletic background, discovering CrossFit 16 years ago, and the journey that led him to multiple Games appearances and a podium finish in 2026. He also opens up about the difficult aftermath of the season — learning he failed the post‑Games drug test due to TRT he began in 2025, unaware it was prohibited under CrossFit’s published Drug Testing Policy.

This episode explores the highs of elite Masters competition, the realities of aging and performance, the responsibilities of being a CrossFit Masters Games Athlete, and the lessons Wayne has taken from both triumph and setback.

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Heidi Piehl Moody wears more hats than almost anyone in the CrossFit community — and in this episode, she joins Warren to talk about all of them. A Level 3 CrossFit Coach at CrossFit Boston, Masters Judge, adaptive coach, licensed social worker and therapist, Phoenix sober athlete and coach, Team Hoyt runner and team0-member, mountain climber, mom, and a long‑time listener of the Legends and Masters Podcast, Heidi brings a depth of experience that few can match.

We dive into how she balances her professional life in mental health with her passion for coaching, what she’s learned from working with adaptive athletes, and how sobriety and service shape her approach to training and community. Heidi also shares stories from the trail, the gym, and the competition floor — and reflects on what keeps her inspired as both an athlete and a coach.

This conversation is a celebration of versatility, resilience, and purpose. If you’re a Masters athlete, a coach, or someone who simply loves the CrossFit community, Heidi’s perspective will leave you energized and thinking differently about what it means to live a fully integrated athletic life. 

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 Dave Hippensteel — 12 Games Appearances, 4 Championships, and the Future of Masters Competition 

 Legend of Legends and Masters icon Dave Hippensteel joins Warren for a deep, candid conversation about his extraordinary career in the Masters division. With 12 CrossFit Games appearances, 7 podium finishes, and 4 championship titles—including his 2020 victory at the Masters Fitness Collective—Dave reflects on the longevity, grit, and mindset required to compete at the highest level for more than a decade. 

Now competing in the 70+ division, Dave opens up about the physical challenges that come with aging, the realities of recovery, and the personal hurdles he’s navigating as he continues pushing himself in elite competition. He also shares honest thoughts on recent Games programming, why certain changes have raised concerns for Masters athletes, and how those issues may influence his decision to return—or step away—from future seasons.

This episode is a rare look into the evolving landscape of Masters competition from one of its most decorated champions. Dave’s perspective is thoughtful, experienced, and refreshingly direct. Whether you’re a Masters athlete, a coach, or a fan of the sport, this conversation offers insight into what it truly takes to stay competitive for a lifetime.