Legends and Masters Podcast

Send us Fan Mail

This episode of the Legends and Masters Podcast has its basis in a young boy named Elias. Elias is the son of Jamie and Kenny Merritt who are both Coach's at CrossFit Reverence in Rogers Arkansas. Kenny is a Games Athlete (60-64) and podium finisher at the 2025 Legends Championship. Jamie is a CrossFit Level 2 Coach who created and developed a growing Adaptive Athlete program. CrossFit Reverence is the community that has opened it's Heart to the Merritt Family and the Merritt family has hugged them back. Join Kenny and Jamie as they tell their very special CrossFit Story to Warren and be prepared to hear, and hear about Elias. 

www.crossfitreverence.com

Instagram: @crossfitreverence

Instagram: @exceptionally_elias

Send us Fan Mail

2025 was 10 years in the making for Dana Mather. Earning a trip to the Masters Games and a Legends Championship atop the podium against a long time rival. Dana tells her story of growing up as a gymnast, triathlete, marathoner and finding CrossFit in her forties. A decade of training, developing and growing both physically and mentally to finally achieve her goals. 

Send us Fan Mail

Meet Greg Walker - CrossFits first Games Champion in the 60+ Masters Division. Discovering CrossFit with his daughter in 2008, this life-long athlete found success as an affiliate owner and Masters Athlete. When CrossFit expanded the Masters Games to include a 60+ Age Group in 2011, Greg travelled to Carson CA and became Champion. Today, 15 years later Greg is a Co-Owner of CrossFit Globe Cobre Valley located in Arizona and continues to Coach athletes of all ages and intends to  never stop coaching. 

Instagram @greg.walker.94801116 @crossfitglobecobrevalley

CrossFitglobecobrevalley.com

Send us Fan Mail

Shellie Edington, 2016 Masters Games Champion (50-54), 3x Podium finisher and 6x Games Athlete shares with Warren how CrossFit and the CrossFit Games transformed her life from a Kids Gymnastics Coach to Gym Owner and Games Legend. A former gymnast who shared the floor with Mary Lou Retton chose a different path in adulthood and after years of parenting and globo-gyms found CrossFit and a path to the Games. Learning how to over-come physical and mental health challenges she rose to Champion. Retiring from competitive CrossFit in 2018 she focused on her business ulitmately opening Edington Family Fitness with a high focus on Womans health and development. In 2025, with the Age-Group Games near her home in Columbus OH, she decided to return to Competitive CrossFit qualifing for her 6th Games. 

www.edingtonfamilyfitness.com

Instagram @shellie_edington

Send us Fan Mail

Nichole Kribs is a true CrossFit Games OG. She podiumed at the very first Games in 2007. Now the Director of Operations for Invictus Fitness, she is very involved with their programming and coaching of Masters Athletes. Nichole joins Co-Host Pat Haverty and Warren discussing the ins and outs of creating programming as well as the evolution of Masters Athletes over the past 15 years. We discuss what a Masters Athlete needs in order to make a run at the Games as well as the excitement being generated for the 2026 Games in San Jose CA. 

https://invictusfitness.com/

@nic.kribs 

Send us Fan Mail

In the Age of On-Line influencers, Susana and Elvis Mandelli quite possibly are becoming just that with thier focus being to spread the word of CrossFit to current and future Senior Masters Athletes (55-70+ Age Groups). With over 60 Thousand followers on thier Instagram account called Over 50 and fit (@over_50_n_fit) they spread the word that health and fitness is within your reach in these age groups. Using a combination of shared and personally created content, humor and inspirational quotes to bring the message of health and fitness. Join Warren as he discovers how Susana and Elvis found CrossFit and began creating content worth watching. 

Instagram: @over_50_n_fit

Send us Fan Mail

The Venerable Pat Rhodes. The first thing you'll notice is her colorful hair, then be amazed at her outgoing nature, her athletic abilities and her willingness to spread the message about CrossFit. She's usually the oldest person at the competition.  A college instructor, sky diver, scuba diver, musician, athlete and CrossFit Coach. Pat joins Warren to discuss her motivations for starting CrossFit and how she's attracting more athletes to the Sport of Fitness.  

Send us Fan Mail

Today's show is in 2 parts: First is a discussion with 5 amazing athletes on the 2026 CrossFit Games Calendar and the Second is a short conversation with Joe Linton, the Director of the Masters CrossFit Games discussing the announcement of the selection of the 2026 Masters CrossFit Games in San Jose CA in July. 

We organized an incredible group of 2025 Masters Games Athletes to review the 2026 Games calendar with all the expected changes. These include the reinstatement of Quarter Finals; The incentive placed on the quarter finals as they relate to the In-Person Semifinals; The level of international participation in the Senior Masters (55-70+ Age Groups); The loss of qualifying positions at the 2026 Games especially as it relates to the 55-59 Age Groups and the excitement around the Bolder Athlete sponsored Leader Jerseys at the 2025 Legends Championships and what impact it might have on other, future competitions. 

Joe Linton discusses some of the reasoning behind the selection of the Masters CrossFit Games moving venues to San Jose CA and more specifically why the event cannot be held at the SAP Center with the Elites. 

Guest Athletes:

Betty Hardin 2nd Place 70+ @kspyder51

Mitchell Taylor Champion 65-69 @mtaylormade716

Dave Powell 2nd 60-54 @davidpowell.2024

Cindy Hinkle Champion 55-59 @_cindyhinkle_

Tia Vesser 5th 55-59 and 2021 Champion @@tvesser

Show Segments

Introduction: 0:00

Panel Discussion: 0:40

Joe Linton: 37:58 @thelegendschampionship

Send us Fan Mail

3X Games athlete and this years 65-69 Age-Group champion Denise Moore tells Warren about her long and challenging road to becoming Champion. From amateur golfer to runner to CrossFit, health issues, becoming competitive, close friendships and a sureal Games experience leading to her being at the top of the Podium. 

Send us Fan Mail

4x Games Athlete and this years 60-64 Age Group Champion Paul McCrary speaks with Warren about his early games appearances in the 50-54 Age Group, his disenchantment with the sport after the cancellation of the 2020 Masters Games and how he overcame those thoughts to return this year ending at the top of the Podium.