In episode 437 of the Tom Rowland Podcast, host Tom Rowland reflects on his best CrossFit Games Open performance yet—placing 121st out of 7,000 competitors in his age group. But this Physical Friday episode isn't just about looking back at the Open. It's about what happens next: how to maintain momentum after a competition ends, why having a fitness goal is critical for staying on track, and how one workout can completely change your final standings. Tom breaks down the leaderboard, reveals his Grand Canyon rim-to-rim-to-rim goal, and issues a challenge to listeners to set their next target right now.
What Were the Results of the CrossFit Games Open 2021?
Tom Rowland placed 121st out of 7,000 competitors in his age group during the 2021 CrossFit Games Open, his best finish ever. The Tom Rowland Podcast leaderboard was won by Patrick Benson, with Builder Brock in second and Tom in third among podcast participants. The final workout—a lift complex with deadlift, power clean, hang power clean, and jerk—proved decisive, with scores ranging from 265 pounds for top finishers to Tom's 195 pounds.
Who is Tom Rowland?
Tom Rowland is the host of the Tom Rowland Podcast, a passionate CrossFit athlete, and an avid outdoorsman. He has been training with specific goals for 25 years, starting with marathons and continuing through CrossFit competitions. He is currently working with Joe Hippensteel to rehab his calf for distance running challenges.
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How One Workout Can Torpedo Your Entire Competition
The 2021 CrossFit Games Open came down to a single moment: the final workout, a brutal lift complex that separated the strong from the mediocre. Tom breaks down how Kevin Coaster dominated the first three workouts with first, first, and second place finishes—accumulating only four total points—before hitting 197 pounds on the final lift and plummeting to 42nd place. The same thing happened to Tom, who sat in 23rd or 24th place before his 195-pound lift dropped him to 121st. Meanwhile, athletes who could lift 265 or 275 pounds were massively rewarded. The cream rose to the top, with names like Simon Superman Wilson Story, Bill Grundler, and James Grundler taking the podium. But the leaderboard tells a fascinating story about the importance of well-rounded fitness versus specialized strength. The full leaderboard breakdown and what it reveals about competition strategy starts at 4:53.
Why You Always Need Something to Train For
Tom's been doing this for 25 years, starting with marathons after high school sports ended. The moment you sign up for something—whether it's a marathon, a five-k, or the CrossFit Open—everything changes. Your diet gets tighter. Your sleep improves. Your training becomes purposeful. Tom explains how the pressure of having an end date, a specific time and place, brings back the competitive feelings from youth sports. Some years the challenges are easy, some years they're brutal. But the consistency of having a goal keeps him on track year after year. And now that the Open is over? It's time to find the next one immediately. Tom's philosophy on goal-setting and accountability starts at 2:42.
Hear Tom break down the entire CrossFit Open leaderboard and what separated the top finishers from the rest
The Tom Rowland Podcast Leaderboard Results
Patrick Benson won the Tom Rowland Podcast leaderboard challenge, with Builder Brock edging out Tom for second place. John Snipes, Mike Bartlett, Tom Waz Woznasek, Pete Miller, and Sam De Jong rounded out the team. Tom gives credit to everyone who signed up and competed—there's something powerful about putting your name on the board and showing up for all four workouts over three weeks. The community aspect of the CrossFit Open creates accountability and camaraderie, even when participants are training in different gyms across the country. Tom's grateful for everyone who joined the challenge and encourages others to tell him about their next fitness goal. The complete Tom Rowland Podcast leaderboard and participant shoutouts start at 1:54.
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SubscribeTom's Next Big Challenge: Grand Canyon Rim to Rim to Rim
Tom reveals one of his lifetime bucket list goals: running the Grand Canyon rim to rim to rim. The challenge involves starting on one side of the Grand Canyon, running down to the bottom, up to the opposite rim, then back down and up to the original starting point. It's a legendary endurance feat that requires serious distance running preparation. Tom's currently working with Joe Hippensteel to rehab his calf so he can handle that kind of mileage without injury. The goal is to potentially attempt it next year. But whether it's rim to rim to rim, a marathon, or the next CrossFit challenge, the key is putting something on the calendar immediately after finishing the last event. Tom's Grand Canyon goal and his work with Joe Hippensteel starts at 11:32.
This one's worth your time.
A short but powerful Physical Friday episode about maintaining momentum
Key Takeaways
- Tom placed 121st out of 7,000 in his age group—his best CrossFit Open performance ever—but one workout nearly doubled his ranking
- The final lift complex separated athletes dramatically, with Kevin Coaster dropping from near-first to 42nd place because of one mediocre score
- Having a fitness goal on the calendar—whether CrossFit, marathons, or five-k races—keeps diet, sleep, and training consistent year after year
- The most important time to set your next goal is immediately after completing your last one—don't let momentum fade
- Tom's working toward a Grand Canyon rim to rim to rim run, rehabbing his calf with Joe Hippensteel to prepare for the distance
- Telling others about your challenge—like texting Tom at (305) 930-7346—creates accountability that helps you follow through
- Patrick Benson won the Tom Rowland Podcast leaderboard, with Builder Brock and Tom rounding out the top three
Final Thoughts from Tom
The CrossFit Open is officially wrapped, and I couldn't be happier with my performance—121st place out of 7,000 is my best finish ever. But here's what really matters: I did every workout more than once, pushed as hard as I could, and walked away knowing I left nothing on the table. That last lift complex was brutal, and yeah, it dropped me from the mid-twenties to 121st. But that's competition. That's what makes it worth doing.
What I want you to think about today is this: what's your next challenge? The Open is over for me, which means it's time to find the next goal and get it on the calendar. Maybe it's a five-k, maybe it's a Grand Canyon run like I'm planning, maybe it's something completely different. But don't let the momentum die. Don't let yourself drift into maintenance mode. Find something that scares you a little bit, sign up for it, and tell someone about it. That accountability is everything.
I hope you have an awesome weekend ahead—go catch some tarpon, go turkey hunting, get outside with your family and make some memories. And if you haven't listened to this whole episode yet, give it a shot. It's a short one, but it might be exactly what you need to hear right now to get your next goal locked in.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CrossFit Games Open?
The CrossFit Games Open is a worldwide competition that takes place over three weeks, featuring multiple workouts that athletes complete and submit scores for ranking. Participants compete in age divisions against thousands of other athletes globally, with scores determining qualification for further rounds of the CrossFit Games.
How did Tom Rowland perform in the 2021 CrossFit Open?
Tom Rowland placed 121st out of 7,000 competitors in his age group in the 2021 CrossFit Games Open, his best performance ever. His individual workout placements were 56th, 174th, 38th, and 648th, with the final lift complex significantly impacting his overall standing.
What was the final workout in the 2021 CrossFit Open?
The final workout was a lift complex consisting of a deadlift, power clean, hang power clean, and jerk, all performed consecutively without putting the bar down. Athletes had to complete the entire complex within a time period, with heavier weights earning better placements. Top finishers lifted 265-275 pounds.
Why does Tom Rowland emphasize having fitness goals?
Tom believes having a specific fitness goal with a set date creates accountability and helps maintain consistency in training, diet, and sleep. He's been setting fitness challenges for 25 years, starting with marathons, and credits this practice with keeping him engaged and improving year after year.
What is Tom Rowland's next fitness goal?
Tom's planning to run the Grand Canyon rim to rim to rim, which involves running from one rim down to the canyon floor, up to the opposite rim, and back to the starting point. He's currently working with Joe Hippensteel to rehab his calf in preparation for the distance, with a potential target of next year.
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Shop GORUCKPatrick Benson - Winner of the Tom Rowland Podcast CrossFit Open leaderboard
Builder Brock - Second place on the Tom Rowland Podcast leaderboard
John Snipes - Tom Rowland Podcast leaderboard participant
Mike Bartlett - Tom Rowland Podcast leaderboard participant
Tom Waz Woznasek - Tom Rowland Podcast leaderboard participant
Pete Miller - Tom Rowland Podcast leaderboard participant
Sam De Jong - Tom Rowland Podcast leaderboard participant
Simon Superman Wilson Story - Winner of Tom's CrossFit age division, Comp Train athlete
James Grundler - Top CrossFit Open finisher in Tom's division
Bill Grundler - Veteran CrossFit Games competitor in Tom's division
Bill Cillio - Top CrossFit Open finisher in Tom's division
Bob Ruano - Top CrossFit Open finisher in Tom's division
Kevin Coaster - Athlete who placed first, first, and second in first three workouts before dropping to 42nd
Joe Hippensteel - Physical therapist helping Tom rehab his calf for distance running
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Tom Rowland
Tom Rowland is the host of the Tom Rowland Podcast, a passionate CrossFit athlete, and an avid outdoorsman. In this solo Physical Friday episode, he reflects on his CrossFit Games Open results—placing 121st out of 7,000 in his age group—and discusses the importance of always having a fitness goal to train toward. Tom has been setting fitness challenges for 25 years, starting with marathons and continuing through CrossFit competitions. He currently trains with Comp Train programming and works with Joe Hippensteel on injury prevention and rehab as he prepares for future endurance challenges including a Grand Canyon rim-to-rim-to-rim run.
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