How good was Mat Fraser?
How good was Mat Fraser? He retires as CrossFit's GOAT and was Tom Brady and Michael Jordan scary good.
The sudden announcement that five-time CrossFit Games winner Mat Fraser was walking away from the sport shocked many. His dominance at the 2020 CrossFit Games seemed as if he was primed for another run, or two, or even three before he looked to even start slowing down.
Now that he has hung up his shoes, we get a chance to step back and look briefly at some of the numbers he produced over his illustrious eight-year career. Not only did he win five titles, but he also came second twice, no small feat in itself. Fraser denied an entire era of CrossFit competitors from ever even notching one title, a half-decade of perfection.
Breaking down the numbers reveals a scary good athlete, and feats that most likely will never be reproduced in the sport. Fraser has achieved Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky or Tom Brady status, a once in a generation player whose accolades will surely stand the test of time. CrossFit will surely never see another dominant figure like him again, ever.
During his Crossfit Games tear Fraser competed in 72 events, taking 26, finishing in the top three in 47, and finishing 20th or worse only three times. His average margin of victory throughout all of this was a staggering 242 points and he accumulated 86 percent of all possible points available with an average event finish of fourth.
When it comes to going out on top, Fraser also pulled a Michael Jordan circa Chicago Bulls move, and maybe a Tom Brady Tampa Bay Buccaneers styled final run, if the legendary quarterback does retire also. And he did this all on his own, without a Scottie Pippen or a Rob Gronkowski, unless maybe you count training partner and four-time champion Tia-Clair Toomey.
Fraser admitted in his retirement note that after eight years of manically chasing CrossFit excellence, all the determination and dedication to the sport was wearing on him, and it was time to call it a career. His place in the sport and atop the CrossFit mantle has been cemented, he is the GOAT, and there is no debate about it.