James Sprague: Five Titles as the New Horizon

For many athletes, a second CrossFit Games title would be the end of a dream. For James Sprague, it seems to be a new beginning. In an extensive conversation with Dave Castro, the 24-year-old champion reflected on his recent victory while looking firmly ahead. For the first time, he can picture himself one day holding five Games titles to his name.

From Talent to Champion

Sprague has been one of the most promising names in the sport for years. As a teenage athlete, he was already standing on the podium alongside peers who have since risen to the absolute top of the world. Yet his development has been anything but straightforward.

After his first Games victory, doubts lingered among part of the public. Then came a third-place finish, before he claimed the title again in 2026. That changed the conversation around his career. Sprague no longer needs to prove he can be a champion. He has now proven he can come back time and time again.

That is precisely what makes him proud. He sees his career not as a straight line upward, but as a process in which setbacks are just as important as victories.

No Room for Complacency

What stands out in the conversation is how little Sprague seems focused on his past achievements. He describes how, after each title, he deliberately returns to a beginner's mindset.

Rather than holding on to the fact that he has won, he analyzes training periods, looks for weaknesses and tries to understand what made him successful. The question, in his view, is not what he has accomplished, but how he can become a better version of himself.

That also explains why he places little value on the idea of a dynasty. While outsiders are already talking about multiple titles, Sprague thinks primarily in years. One season. One preparation. One opportunity at a time.

The Hunt for Number Five

Something did shift after this victory, though. During the conversation, Sprague admitted that he can envision a career with five Games titles for the first time.

That is an ambitious goal. Five titles would place an athlete in the company of the greatest names the sport has ever produced. At the same time, Sprague understands that such goals are only achievable if he keeps evolving.

That is why he is already planning changes to his training. He wants to place less emphasis on endurance work and invest more in explosiveness and maximum strength. His reasoning is straightforward: if he can turn weaker events into consistent top finishes, the gap between him and the competition will only grow.

A Champion Who Isn't Finished Yet

Perhaps the most striking conclusion from the conversation is that Sprague is far from thinking like an established champion. Despite two Games titles, he speaks more like a challenger than a reigning winner.

That makes him dangerous for the rest of the field. At 24 years old, he still has years to continue developing physically, while his experience at the highest level is already enormous.

The question is no longer whether James Sprague is a champion. The question is how many championships he ultimately collects. For the first time, he dares to dream out loud about five. For his competitors, that is probably a less comfortable prospect.