From 2011 to 2015, Dan Bailey made five CrossFit Games appearances and posted five Top 10 finishes. That’s the consistency of a world class athlete, and Bailey—the 2015 “Spirit of the Games” award winner—certainly fits that description.

A former track and field standout at Ohio University, Dan has personal best times in the 100m: 10.57, 200m, 21.76, 400m, 47.83, 800m 1:53.8, 1500m 4:35, and 8k 29:16. Bailey was introduced to CrossFit while studying for his master’s degree at the University of Akron in 2010. Finding a new outlet for his drive to compete, he soon became an annual presence at the Central East Regionals, reaching the podium each year from 2011-2013. In 2014, when his professional life forced a move to San Diego, Bailey didn’t skip a beat—reaching the podium at the SoCal Regional that year and taking first place at the California Regionals in 2015 also the year of his highest finish as the 4th fittest man on earth.