Opinion | CrossFit: is Mat Fraser really retired, or will we see a Michael Jordan-like comeback next season?

By all accounts, CrossFit’s GOAT is retired, but if athlete precedent is taken into account, he may not be out for good

Fraser left the sport on top, and many other superstars have got the itch to return to greatness

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One has to wonder, will Mat Fraser, get FOMO watching the 2021 CrossFit Games? Photo: Michael Valentin

Published: 10:00pm, 23 Mar 2021Updated: 2:05am, 24 Mar 2021

A few days ago Mat Fraser posted a quote from legendary basketball player Michael Jordan, who is wildly regarded as the NBA’s GOAT (greatest of all time), on his Instagram account.

“I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that’s why I succeed.”

The comparison between the two’s careers is unmistakable at this point, but there is an interesting question as we move forward: will Mat Fraser pull a Michael Jordan-like move sometime soon? Humour me and come along for some lighthearted CrossFit fun on this one.

Fraser retired this February after five consecutive CrossFit Games titles and two second-place finishes in the years leading up to his dominant run, which ended with the 2020 season. Fraser, who has been on a media bonanza, recently admitted to Joe Rogan on his podcast that he was almost done after four, but was talked into one more run at the title.

The American seems to be enjoying retired life. He now has a successful YouTube channel, more than two million Instagram followers and who knows how much sitting in the bank from his CrossFit wins and CrossFit endorsement deals.