CrossFit Open 26.1 — Full Workout Breakdown

The 2026 CrossFit Open kicked off on February 26 at Moffett Air National Guard Base in California — and 26.1 is exactly what the Open should be: accessible, brutal in its simplicity, and deeply revealing about your aerobic engine. Two movements, thirteen rounds, a 12-minute time cap. Here's everything you need to know.

The Workout

Movement Standards

Wall-Ball Shot

Start with the ball in the front-rack/support position. A squat clean to start a set is allowed but not required. Squat until the crease of the hip is clearly below the knees (below parallel). The rep is credited when the center of the ball hits the target clearly above the specified height. Common no-reps: squatting at or above parallel, the ball not making contact with the target, catching the ball on the bounce.

Box Jump-Over

Both feet start on the ground on one side of the box. For Rx'd divisions (ages 14–54), a two-foot takeoff is required. Both feet must make contact with the top of the box. Athletes must step down from the box — no jumping down. Alternatively, athletes may jump over the box entirely, passing over and not around it. The rep counts when both feet land on the opposite side. Common no-reps: stepping up or single-leg takeoff (Rx), touching the box with hands or knees, jumping down.

Medicine-Ball Box Step-Over

Both feet start on the ground. The medicine ball can be held in any position. Only feet may contact the box. Both feet must touch the top of the box — hips and knees do not need full extension at the top. The medicine ball may not rest on the thigh or contact the box during the movement. Rep counts when both feet are on the ground on the opposite side.

Breaking Down the Structure

26.1 is a palindrome — it builds up and mirrors back down. That structure is intentional. It rewards athletes who pace intelligently early, then tests whether they can hold that pace under accumulating fatigue. Total reps Rx: 316 wall-ball shots + 108 box jumps/step-overs if you finish under the cap.

Most athletes at the community level will hit the time cap somewhere in Phase 3 — the 40 or 30 wall-ball sets on the way back down. Getting through the 66-rep block and into the mirror is a meaningful benchmark.

Strategy & Tips

Pacing the Wall Balls

The biggest mistake in 26.1 is going unbroken on the 20s and 30s. Athletes who sprint the early sets consistently blow up on the 66-rep block and grind to a halt. A smarter approach: pick a rep scheme you can sustain from the start and stick with it. If you're targeting sets of 15–20 on the 66, practice that rhythm on the 20s too — don't let it feel easy.

The 66-Rep Block

This is the defining moment of 26.1. Break it early. Sets of 15–17 with 5–8 second breaks outperform grinding to 30 and needing a 90-second rest. Keep the ball at chest height in rest, take controlled breaths, and go again before your heart rate drops too far.

Box Jump-Overs as Active Recovery

Use the box jump-overs to settle your breathing — don't rush them, but don't slow-walk them either. A controlled, rhythmic pace (roughly one every 3–4 seconds) keeps your heart rate steady without adding to your fatigue debt.

Medicine-Ball Box Step-Overs

Hug the ball tight to your chest to minimize shoulder fatigue. Step deliberately rather than jumping with the ball. Face the box directly for efficiency and keep your core braced — the instinct to slouch forward under fatigue will cost you energy.

Common No-Reps to Avoid

• Squatting above parallel on wall balls — judges will be watching hip depth
• Ball not making contact above the line — aim higher than you think you need to
• Catching a wall ball that drops short of the target and bouncing it back up
• Single-leg or step-up takeoff on box jump-overs (Rx'd divisions)
• Hands or knees touching the box on jump-overs
• Medicine ball touching the box during step-overs

Tiebreak Rules

A tiebreak time is recorded after each set of box jump-overs and each set of medicine-ball box step-overs. If you hit the time cap, your score is the number of reps completed. If two athletes tie on reps, the faster tiebreak time at the last completed set wins. Athletes who finish under the cap do not need a tiebreak time.

Elite Performance at the Announcement

At the live announcement, Colten Mertens — the 2025 CrossFit Open overall champion — won the head-to-head matchup. Jayson Hopper, the reigning Fittest Man on Earth, placed second after a tight battle with Dallin Pepper in the final minutes. Austin Hatfield was also in the field. All four athletes finished the workout, demonstrating what's possible at the elite level — and giving the community a benchmark for pacing and movement efficiency.

Need a Judge? Find a CrossFit Gym Near You

To submit a verified score for 26.1, you need a judge — either a coach at a licensed CrossFit affiliate or another athlete following the movement standards. Video submission is also accepted if you upload a working YouTube link to your competition dashboard. Find a CrossFit affiliate near you on WodFind's directory of over 5,700 gyms across all 50 states.

Ready for week two? See our full 26.2 breakdown — movement standards, scaling, and strategy. Also see our full 2026 CrossFit Open guide covering all three workouts, and check out our CrossFit benchmark workout library for training reference.