A five-star recruit who threw for who threw for 55 touchdowns and just four interceptions, and led his high school team to two state championships, earning him a spot at the University of Alabama.

READ THE COVER STORY

3. Thomas Heilman

Swimming

IG: @Thomas_heilman_
6’2” 185 pounds
Western Albemarle High School, Crozet, VA

Swag: Silver medalist at the Paris Olympics as part of Team USA’s 4x100m medley relay team. He also swam the 100m and 200m butterfly in Paris.

Training per week: 16-18 hours per week, including 2-3 hours of strength training out of the pool.

Proudest sports moment: Making the 2024 Olympic team in the 200 fly. That was my first ever Olympic Trials final and that environment was unlike anything I’ve ever been a part of. It was a dream come true and justified all of the hard work that had led up to that moment.

Frenemy exercise?: I have a love-hate relationship with long distance training. I don’t particularly enjoy it, and, in fact, I find it quite boring; however, I know that type of training is an essential component to performing well in my main events (200 fly, 200/400 IM, 500 free).

Workout music: 70s and 80s rock.

Dream workout partner: Michael Jordan. He is known as one of the hardest-working athletes, and he keeps his peers accountable.

Workout clothes: Nike

Sneakers: Nike

Average day of eating: Although I am not strict on calorie count or macros, I try to eat relatively healthy options, and the main focus is to ensure I am ready for my next practice.

• Granola bars before practice in the morning.
• Breakfast: 4-5 eggs, bagel, and fruit.
• Lunch: Pasta, protein (chicken/beef), and some fruits/vegetables.
• Dinner: Pasta or rice with protein (chicken, beef, fish, etc.) and vegetables.
• Snacks: I snack a lot between meals (pretzels, bars, cereal, etc.).

Fast food: Chick-fil-A, Chipotle, and Jersey Mike’s.

Favorite Athlete: Caeleb Dressel

GOAT Athletes:Michael Phelps, Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, and Lionel Messi

Electrolytes: Red (Fruit Punch) Gatorade in the pool, Lemon-Lime outside the pool

Most memorable line from a coach? “Live in the process, and the results will follow,” from Coach Gary Taylor

Last book you read: The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple (But not Easy) by William McRaven

Favorite influencer: Kyle Sockwell—best swimming content out there.

Social media, stress or inspo: Social media can provide an occasional source of inspiration, but generally I just use it for entertainment and staying up-to-date in sports and news.

What makes your generation different: We respect, but are not afraid of, those who came before us.

What’s it take to succeed at this level: The little details make the biggest impact. The difference between winning and losing is so miniscule: One poor turn or an incorrect stroke can be the difference between standing atop the podium and going home with nothing.

Next: To find success in the pool and academically at the University of Virginia, and continue to compete on Team USA.

4. Ryan McDonald

Weightlifting

IG: @ryanmcdonald81k
5’11” 178 pounds
Homeschooled, Schuylkill Haven, PA

Swag: Silver medalist at the 2024 Junior World Championships, five-time youth national champ.

Training per week: 24 hours of strength training with an additional 10 hours of stretching and mobility work.

Proudest sports moment: Getting second place at the 2024 Youth World Championships, because one of my longest goals was getting a world medal.

Frenemy exercise: Heavy Clean Pulls / Deadlifts

Workout music: Upbeat/Happy music like “Unwritten” or “Mr. Blue Sky.”

Dream workout partner: Pei Xinyi

Workout clothes: TYR, Skims, and Virus

Sneakers: Adidas

Average day of eating: I eat at least 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight. My main sources are usually eggs, yogurt, Kodiak protein oatmeal, whey protein, and meat. I don’t track carbs or fats, but I definitely eat higher carbs. I eat the same foods every day, usually, so I know what works for me and what doesn’t. Nutrition is extremely important for fueling my body and helping me recover optimally.

Supplements: BPN Whey Protein, BPN Creatine, Turmeric, and BPN Collagen

Favorite caffeine drink: Celsius

Electrolytes: Body-Armor, or water with pink Himalayan salt

Fast food: Five Guys

Social media, stress or inspo: It inspires me to perform.

GOAT athlete: Karlos Nasar or Kuo Hsing-Chun

What’s the last book you read: Revelation

What’s it take to succeed at this level: Actively trying to improve or invest in succeeding in your sport every single day.

Define strength: Pushing through difficulties and never giving up.

Next: Medal at the Junior World Championships.

5. Gary Merrill

Lacrosse

IG: @garygoat16
6’1” 190 pounds
St. Anthony’s High School, South Huntington, NY
Hometown: Bayport, NY

Swag: A rare elite two-sport athlete, Merrill won a national lacrosse championship with his club squad, Team 91 Long Island 2025 Shock, and is rated as the number one midfielder in America by Inside Lacrosse. Plus, he’s the Gatorade New York Player of the Year—in football.

Training per week: 15 hours.

Proudest sports moment: Winning the national championship in club lacrosse, because our team worked so hard to win it.

Frenemy exercise: Conditioning, but I appreciate how it prepares you for the games.

Dream workout partner: Conor McGregor

Workout clothes: Nike

Sneakers: Nike

Average day of eating: Breakfast: Six eggs. Lunch: Chicken or ground beef. Dinner: Steak, usually.I try to eat foods that fuel me for games and workouts.

Supplements: Creatine

Caffeine: Coffee

Electrolytes: Santa Cruz paleo electrolytes

Fast food: Raising Cane’s

Social media, stress or inspo: Both, because it pushes me sometimes, but also stresses me out.

Who do you look up to in lacrosse culture: Sergio Perkivic

GOAT athlete: Michael Jordan

What does it take to succeed at this level: How much hard work you really have to put in to be elite, and how strong you have to be mentally to be elite.

Define strength: Resilience, dedication to your craft, and physical prowess.

Got a motto: You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.

Next: Start at the University of North Carolina for lacrosse, bench 400 pounds, and become a better shooter.

6. Ben Willwerth

Tennis

IG: @ben_willwerth
6’3”180 pounds
Florida Virtual School, Jupiter, FL

Swag: The world’s #8 junior player, Willwerth made the finals of the 2025 boys’ Australian Open.

Training per week: 24 hours.

Proudest sports moment: Making the finals of the Australian Open.

Frenemy exercise: Bulgarian split squats

Dream workout partner: Roger Federer

Workout clothes: Vuori

Sneakers: Asics

Average day of eating: Breakfast: I’ll have some eggs, sourdough toast and my supplements with some tea. Lunch: I’ll have fresh kitchen (seed oil-free) with rice, chicken, steak, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, and avocado. For dinner, I’ll have some chicken and pasta, usually, or a steak.

Caffeine: Organic Mushroom pre-workout

Electrolytes: Santa Cruz

Fast food:Fresh Kitchen

Social media, stress or inspo: It inspires me to perform.

Last book you read: The 38 Letters from John D. Rockefeller to His Son

What have you sacrificed: High school, normal life, and being at home.

Define strength:It’s in your mind.

Favorite tip from a coach or parent: “Stay in the present moment, because that is where you win.” – my Dad

Next: Win a Grand Slam, and be number one in the world for juniors, grow my YouTune wellness channel Blenjy.

7. Jonathan Yang

Judo

@yangbro.three
5’4” 132 pounds
Liberty University Online Academy, Los Angeles, CA

Swag: The USA’s first-ever cadet judo world champion (2024)

Training per week: 16 hours

Frenemy exercise: Long-distance running. The simplest, yet hardest for me.

Workout music: NCS

Dream workout partner: David Goggins

Workout clothes: Nike

Sneakers: Nike

Caffeine: Celsius

Electrolyes: Gatorade

Fast food: Dave’s Hot Chicken

Who do you look up to in MMA: Conor McGregor, Jon Jones

GOAT athlete: Choi Minho, 2008 Judo Olympic champion

Last book you read: Atomic Habits, by James Clear

What makes your generation different: We are more focused on the science behind growth rather than training just to train.

What’s it take to succeed: Most people don’t realize the sacrifice that it takes to be successful in this sport. It’s all or nothing.

Best tip from a coach: You learn who you truly are not when you are winning, but when you are losing.

Define strength: Strength is defined by our ability to rise when we fall.

Motto: You’ve gotta want it as bad as you want to breathe.

Next: Junior world champion, Senior Pan American champion, Junior European Cup champion, Senior national champion.

8. Raylon Murry

Rugby

IG: @rmurry25
5’10” 215 pounds
Loyola High School, Detroit, MI

Swag: Murry, a three-time all-state football player, is a member of the US Junior National rugby team and was named to the US Rugby Sevens “Pathways” team.

Training per week: Between rugby and track, 6-7 practices per week.

Proudest sports moment: When I was won MVP in South Africa (at the Rugby Tens Championship). It was my first tournament outside the US, and I was 16 playing in U19s.

Frenemy exercise: Hip mobility exercises. They feel less “masculine,” but make me feel lighter on my feet.

Workout clothes: Vortex Rugby

Sneakers: Adidas

Caffeine: Caramel Frappe

Electrolytes: Vitamin Water

Dream workout partner: Ray Lewis

GOAT athlete: Lebron James

Social media, stress or inspo: I would say both for my situation, because when I perform how I expect myself to, people will say, “oh, he is legit,” and stuff of that nature. But if I have a regular game—not bad, a regular game—I will get judged by all.

Favorite influencer: Korporate

What makes your generation different: The athletes now are already putting up pro stats, and we have social media to help us.

What do people not understand about what it takes to succeed: It takes more than a huge guy to run the ball in rugby. You have to have a strategy and game plan. It challenges your decision making within seconds, or we could be peeling you off the ground.

Define strength: Getting up when you can’t. Pushing yourself when you’re at the edge of giving

Next: To dominate at Mount St. Mary’s college.

9. Ethan Holliday

Baseball

IG: @ethanhollidayy
6’4” 200 pounds
Stillwater High School, Stillwater, Oklahoma

Ranked as one of the top prospects in the 2025 major league draft, the lefty slugger hit .611 his senior year with 19 home runs and 65 RBI.

READ THE COVER STORY

10. Adam Lakomy

Gymnastics

IG: @adam_lakomy_
5’10” 165 pounds
Roselle Park High School, Roselle Park, NJ

Swag: Pan American Games junior all-around champion.

Training per week: I train 26 hours a week in the gym including strength and cardio work. I often go for runs and bike rides on the weekends.

Proudest sports moment: When I was able to compete in Germany representing the United States in front of my family, who live in Czech. This also exemplifies the countless hours and hard work that went into making the national team, and having the opportunity to represent America.

Frenemy exercise: I hate climbing ropes and planches, however, they give many strength benefits in gymnastics.

Workout music: Recently, older hard rock. My current favorite workout song is “Kickstart My Heart” by Motley Crue.

Dream workout partner: Jason Statham. I feel like our workout would be so bizarre, like some stunts out of a movie where we’re jumping off a plane, sprinting across Greenland, and swimming in Antarctica.

Define strength: Strength is being scared of doing something, and doing it anyway.

Sneakers: Nike, with New Balance a close second

Average day of eating: Usually, I’ll start the day off with a bowl of apples and oranges, along with a cup of brown rice. Or sometimes oatmeal with some fruit. While I’m at school, I’ll usually have a small snack, like a granola bar or even rice cakes, followed by water with electrolytes. Once I come home from school, I’ll eat lunch, where I’ll have a variety of protein—from chicken to ground turkey—with sweet potatoes or brown rice and an assortment of vegetables. Before practice, I’ll usually have another, smaller snack with high carbs like rice cakes with peanut butter, or some more fruit and granola. After practice, I’ll come home for dinner and have a similar meal to lunch with a variety of protein, brown rice or potatoes, and vegetables. Before bed, I’ll usually try to grab one more snack or small meal, like oatmeal or a bowl of yogurt.

Electrolytes: Drip Drop and Liquid IV

Fast Food: Chick-fil-A and Chipotle

Social media, stress or inspo: A bit of both. On one hand, you have easy access to seeing some of the best gymnastics in the world, which can motivate you and inspire you to try new skills or techniques. But on the other hand, it can sometimes be discouraging seeing others progress more quickly or do better gymnastics.

Favorite influencers: Shizzy, Nile Wilson, and Frederick Richard.

GOAT athlete: Kohei Uchimura (retired Japanese gymnast). “His poise and extreme calmness through highly demanding and difficult routines is inspiring.”

Last book you read: Rich Dad Poor Dad”, by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter.

What makes your generation of athletes different: We’re constantly pushing the limits, and gymnastics continues to evolve. Having better technology available to analyze training allows us to elevate the sport.

What’s it take to succeed: Gymnastics is very unforgiving. A week off from training for a vacation, or even studying for an exam, can set you back months. Gymnastics is often seen as one of the most physically daunting sports, however the mental aspect is often overlooked. Considering how dangerous it is, as you grow older, you begin to understand the risks you’re taking and the danger you allow yourself to be exposed to daily. A distracted or unfocused mind can quickly turn disastrous in this sport.

Define strength: There is a mental strength that shows when staying present and consistent, even when you are going through something challenging in life or getting back up after falling countless times. I personally believe strength is being scared of doing something and doing it anyway. Obviously, in gymnastics, physical strength is needed on all events. But I see physical strength as an outcome of being mentally strong and disciplined to put in the work when no one is watching.

Catchphrase: Pain is temporary. Swag is forever.

Next: Help the Michigan Wolverines defend their B1G title and gun for the national championship. Long-term, compete at the 2028 Olympics.

11. Tommy Latham

Track and Field

IG: @tommylatham22
5’11” 152 pounds
Marist High School, Atlanta, GA

Swag: In March 2025, Latham became just the 19^th high schooler in history to run a sub-4-minute mile.

Training per week: 14 hours.

Proudest sports moment: Breaking 4 minutes in the mile. I did it at a home meet, which made it even more special.

Frenemy exercise: Lunges.

Dream workout partner: Jakob Ingebrigtsen.

Sneakers: Nike

Average day of eating: I usually start with toast for breakfast ,and have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch. I always eat dinner with my family. Some of my favorite meals are pasta and quesadillas.

Electrolytes: Gatorade

Fast food: Chick-fil-A.

Social media, stress or inspo: I like seeing what my competitors are doing before a race. It helps me avoid surprises. I can see how Instagram could be stressful, but for the most part, I’m fine using it.

Last book you read: Shoe Dog by Phil Knight.

What’s it take to succeed: You have to stay consistent, even when things aren’t going your way, like dealing with injuries.

How is your generation of athletes different: We’ve grown up with social media and access to insights from the best athletes in the world, which lets us learn and apply their methods. On YouTube, I’ve learned from Total Running Productions and Ben Crawford.

Next: Running at the University of North Carolina

12. Jin Kang

Archery

IG: @_jin.kang
5’11” 154 pounds
Regis High School, New York City

Swag: Five-time national champion, and top-rated U-18 archer.

Training per week: I practice around 40 to 70 hours a week depending on the proximity to a large competition, including strength training.

Proudest sports moment: Becoming the 2023 JOAD Outdoor Nationals Champion, in what was my third gold medal out of five possible competitions in the 2023 season. It also was my fifth time becoming the national champion. The gold medal match turned out to be exhilarating to say the least. I came back from nearly losing in straight sets, to winning the match in a one arrow shoot-off, in which one arrow decides the winner.

Frenemy exercise: One exercise that I hate requires me to put on a resistance band over my bow, effectively increasing the draw weight by about 6 pounds. I then shoot the bow normally, but the higher draw weight taxes my fingers to the point where they are in extreme pain after the exercise is concluded.

Workout music: I like to listen to music that calms me down and keeps me grounded, which is in contrast to many other sports. I enjoy listening to Daniel Caesar and Brent Faiyaz most of the time.

Dream workout partner: Mike Tyson

Workout clothes: Lululemon

Sneakers: New Balance

Average day of eating: I don’t have an incredibly regimented diet. But as a base ,I try to consume around 2000 calories and 160 grams of protein every day. I eat a lot of eggs, lean ground beef, and chicken. I don’t enjoy eating a lot before I train because I feel more energized and lighter that way. I normally have some eggs in the morning, and after training, I have a bigger meal which consists either of beef, chicken, or steak with rice and vegetables most of the time. After I do my strength training following my archery session, I normally have a smaller meal, which most of the time consists of a Greek yogurt bowl and a whey protein shake.

Supplements: I take creatine every day, and various vitamins such as Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and zinc.

Caffeine: None, caffeine makes me feel overstimulated and jittery.

Electrolytes: Liquid IV

Fast food: Chick-fil-A

Social media, stress or inspo: Social media inspires me to perform, especially when I see other people at the pinnacle in their respective fields, whether that be sports or business. When I hear them speaking about their philosophies and their approaches to success, I often see similarities in our mindsets ,which affirms that I am moving in the right direction. This, in turn, inspires me to perform at the highest level.

Favorite influencers: Chris Bumstead, Jesse James West, and Dr. Mike Israetel

GOAT athlete: Jon Jones

Last book you read: Goodbye to Berlin by Christopher Isherwood

How is your generation of athletes different: I think my generation of athletes is more courageous. I feel that we are less bound by tradition and practices of the past. Just because something has occurred in a certain way for a certain amount of time, I don’t think we necessarily adhere to those ideals. My generation of athletes is willing to make change even if it seems unorthodox. My generation is innovative and willing to take risks. I believe this culture of constant questioning and improvement is what is driving the overall rise in performance standards across all sport.

What does it take to succeed at this level: Archery isn’t a sport where success is simply measured by how well you aim at the center. In fact, aiming is one of the least important aspects. Like golf, archery is deeply rooted in form and mental control. While all sports demand mental strength, archery is uniquely challenging in high-pressure moments when everything must align perfectly to shoot a clean arrow. The instinct is to focus on the target—but paradoxically, the more an archer fixates on hitting the middle, the worse the shot often becomes. Instead, success depends on focusing entirely on form and engaging the correct muscles. This need to rely on muscle memory and mentally detach from external pressure is what sets archery apart from other sports.

Favorite tip: “Be aggressive,” from my Coach Sungwoo Shin of SW Archery Academy: It is a mindset that reminds me to trust myself, be outgoing, and move forward with confidence.

Define strength: The ability to impose and carry out your will, no matter the circumstance. In a sports setting for me, that means being able to focus on solely my form and my process, and blocking out the pressure of the moment. I try and recreate the mental state I exist in during practice, and possessing the ability to enter that state constitutes strength for me.

Next: I plan to pursue career in medicine and I am fortunate enough to be starting at Columbia University. I also look forward to continuing archery with Columbia University’s club team.

13. Dane Libby

Surfing

IG: @danelibby
5’8” 135 pounds
San Dieguito Academy, Encinitas, CA

Swag: Open Men’s NSSA National Champion.

Training per week: Around 25 hours.

Proudest sports moment?: Winning Open Men’s NSSA National Title, and receiving the Andy Irons Standout Surfer Award. The win put my name alongside many of my surfing idols: Taylor Clark, Jake Marshall, Griffin Colapinto, just to name a few.

Frenemy exercise: Squats

Workout music: Alternative and Rap

Dream workout partner: Bruce Lee

Workout clothes: Hurley

Sneakers: Converse

Average day of eating: Coffee in morning, lots of eggs, burrito or acai bowls for lunch, more eggs, and then my mom’s special of the day dinner (e.g. Taco Tuesday, Pasta Wednesday).

Caffeine: Coffee

Electrolytes: Electrolit

Fast food: In-n-Out and Chick-fil-A

Favorite influencers: Dylan Yarbrough, a close childhood friend.

GOAT athlete: Andy Irons

Last book you read: Waves and Beaches: The Powerful Dynamics of Sea and Coast by Kim McCoy and Willard Bascom

How is your generation of athletes different: We have more resources, such as wave pools and jet skis to help with progression.

What do people not realize about being successful in your sport: Being mentally strong to remain motivated everyday…some days the waves are terrible, or it’s cold, or you have a tough loss in a heat.

Favorite tip: Believe in yourself. – Mom and Dad

What strength means to me: Mental drive and focus.

Catchphrase: Be Calm, Be Confident.

Got a motto: If you don’t try. you’ll never know.

Next big goal: Get more comfortable in big waves of consequence.

14. Ori Radwin

Crew/Rowing

IG: @ori.was.here
6’7” 230 pounds
Albany High School, Albany, CA

Swag: Part of the US Men’s U19 Eights team at the 2024 World Championships, which took home silver. Radwin sits in the middle of the boat, known as “The Engine Room.”

Training per week: 18-20 hours.

Proudest sports moment: Coming in 2nd at the Under 19 Junior World Championships in the Men’s 8. Although it wasn’t a gold, crossing the finish line left me with an indescribable feeling, as I reflected on where I was three years prior as an athlete, and how far my journey has taken me.

Frenemy exercise: Squats, and especially split squats.

Workout music: Drum & Bass, Techno, House

Dream workout partner: Tom Platz, so I could try out his infamous leg day

Workout clothes: 776BC (very rowing-specific brand)

Sneakers: Vivo barefoot

Average day of eating: Breakfast: Big greek yogurt bowl with berries and protein powder. Lunch: Chicken/ground beef with brown rice, fruit on the side. Pre-/mid-practice: banana, energy chews or medjool dates. Right after practice: protein bar, FairLife protein shake. Dinner: Beef/chicken/fish with sweet potato or brown rice, with veggies on side. Dessert: fruit of some kind, usually orange slices. I take my nutrition very seriously, and it’s one of the most important aspects of my day. It’s crucial to make sure that I have enough fuel to feel my best, and perform my best at practice. Nutrition is also key to my recovery–hitting my protein goals and refueling after a hard workout are my top priorities.

Supplements: I take creatine every day. I take magnesium glycinate to help with sleep. I’ve experimented a bit with more supplements, but I like to keep it simple.

Caffeine: Yerba Mate (specifically the Enlighten-Mint flavor)

Electrolytes: Santa Cruz Paleo electrolytes or LMNT

Fast Food: Chipotle

Social media, stress or inspo: I definitely would say a little of both; seeing what others do definitely has pushed what I think I’m capable of, but also has pushed expectations that aren’t positive or realistic.

Favorite influencers: Chris Bumstead and the Sincović brother

GOAT athlete: Eliud Kipchoge

Last book you read: By the Grace of the Game, by Dan Grunfeld

How is your generation of athletes different: This generation is different from any before because of the technology available to us. As more studies about sports science come out, the more tools we have in our toolbox to improve.

Define strength: Strength is having the discipline to put yourself into hard situations, whether physically, emotionally, or both—it is the ability to sacrifice and struggle in order to chase what fuels your inner flame.

Motto: Do you hate losing so much that you’re willing to change? Or do you hate change so much that you are willing to lose? Honorable mention: Take it seriously, but don’t take yourself seriously.

Next: Be in the top two boats on the Princeton heavyweight team. 2,000 meters on the erg under 5:56. Medal at the IRA Championships.

15. Arian Nathan Buenaventura Canete

Tae Kwon Do

IG: @ariancanete.tkd
5’7” 120 pounds
Ayala High School, Chino Hills, CA

Swag: A five-time national champion, and 2024 Pan American champion.

Training per week: 3-4 hours per day, 6 days per week.

Proudest sports moment: Winning the Pan American Championships in 2024. I’m proud of this moment as I got to represent USA and carry the flag in the podium.

Frenemy exercise: Split Squats. It’s beneficial on my quads and thighs, but it’s just not comfortable for me to do it.

Workout music: My own recorded piano piece, video game music/K-pop

Dream workout partner: Makima

Workout clothes: Tusah

Sneakers: TopTKD, OnCloud, Nike

Electrolytes: Liquid IV

Fast food: In-and-Out

Favorite influencers: Technoblade, Hatsune Miku

GOAT athlete: Grant Fisher

Last book you read: Dracula by Bram Stoker

What’s something people don’t appreciate that it takes to be successful in your sport: Sleep.

Define strength: Falling and getting back up again, and moving forward towards attainment of your goals regardless of the obstacles along the way.

Motto: Osamu Dazai, No Longer Human: “As long as I can make them laugh, it doesn’t matter how, I’ll be alright”.

Next: Do tae kwon do and study at the University of California Los Angeles

16. Brayden Williams

Sprinter

IG: @br8yden.williams1
5’6” 150 pounds
Duncanville High School, Duncanville, TX

Swag: One of the nation’s fastest high school 100m sprinters has three times under 10 seconds—9.99, 9.82, and 9.95—all wind-aided, but the kid can fly.

Training per week: 14-16 hours.

Proudest sports moment: Running 9.82 in the 100-meters

Frenemy exercise: Speed Endurance, like repeat 300-meter sprints in a workout.

Workout music: Rod Wave, or J-Cole

Dream workout partner: Kishane Thompson (Jamaican sprinter)

Workout clothes and sneakers: Nike, Nike

How does nutrition fit into your training: It plays a big part, especially getting the protein. I have to eat a good breakfast the day of the meet. I eat bananas, yogurt, potatoes, eggs, just things that can fill me up and last throughout the day.

Caffeine: Starbucks

Electrolytes: Cool Blue Gatorade – the best Gatorade, hands down.

Fast food: McDonald’s or Wendy’s, it’s a tie between those two.

Social media, stress or inspo: I feel like it’s not real. So I don’t have any pressure to perform.

Favorite influencers: FlightReacts (YouTuber), and DJ Ghost (YouTuber)

Who do you look up to in the culture: LeBron James and Michael Jordan, I love their mindset.

GOAT athlete: Jon Jones

Last book you read: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

How is your generation of athletes different: Technology.

Define strength: Strength is when you don’t always feel like doing something but you do it.

Next: Win an NCAA title in 60 meters and 100 meters at the University of Georgia.

17. Marek Turner

Volleyball

IG: @marek.turner
6’5” 202 pounds
Woodrow Wilson High School, Long Beach, CA

Swag: Marek is a member of the U21 National Team.

Proudest sports moment: Representing the United States as a part of USA Volleyball in Guatemala and Argentina. The experience was highly competitive and taught me valuable lessons in teamwork, hard work, accountability, and perseverance. It was awesome to work with teammates who were committed to the same goal – bringing home the gold.

Do you strength train: My dad Marcus is my trainer. He is retired from the NFL and teaches health. So, he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to all our workouts.

Frenemy exercise: Jumping rope. But it builds coordination, timing and agility.

Workout music: House music

Dream workout partner: Cristiano Ronaldo

Workout clothes: Nike, Mizuno, Adidas, Lululemon, Vuori

Sneakers: Nike

Electrolytes: Body Armor Strawberry Banana

Fast food: Raising Cane’s

GOAT athlete: Cristiano Ronaldo

Last book you read: Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

Define strength: Staying confident and composed under pressure, resilience, and positive relationships.

Next: Play volleyball at the University of California Los Angeles and to become a better version of myself.

18. Simon Val Lioznyansky

Fencing

IG: @simonvalofficial
5’11” 185 pounds
Texas Connections Academy, The Woodlands, TX

Swag: The world’s No. 1 junior in epee, one of the three disciplines of fencing. At the 2024 Summer Nationals, he won gold in Division-1.

Training per week: I fence 15-18 hours a week in the evenings (more if I compete). I also box around 3 hours a week in the mornings before school.

Proudest sports moment: Becoming the Senior National Champion last summer. I’ve had a few tough years prior to that where I didn’t perform as well as I wanted. But once I won the national championships, I started believing in myself more and ended up finishing the 2024-25 season 3^rd in the world and 1^stin the United States for under 21.

Frenemy exercise: Plank. It’s incredibly boring and painful, but it’s definitely one of the best ab strengthening exercises.

Workout music: I listen to basically everything, from Kendrick Lamar to Elvis Presley.

Dream workout partner: Michael B. Jordan. He clearly knows what he’s doing at the gym, and he seems like a great guy to hang out with.

Workout clothes: I’m a brand ambassador of Prieur (the oldest fencing clothing brand in the world). For regular athletic clothes, Nike.

Sneakers: I’m also a brand ambassador of Fencing Star (a fencing shoe brand). When I’m not fencing, I wear Asics for their arch support.

Average day of eating: Because I go to a virtual school, I get to sleep in. I eat breakfast at around 8-9 am. I usually have eggs, either hard-boiled or over easy, with a piece of toast. I eat lunch at around 12-1 pm, and I try to eat the most amount of my daily calories at this time. I normally have some form of protein, like chicken, beef or fish with some carbs, and I also eat some salad. I have dinner at 4-5 pm before my fencing practice, and I try to eat slightly less but about the same type of food. I come home from practice at around 10 pm, and I normally have some small snack, like cheese and crackers. I do have a major sweet tooth, so I normally eat some dessert throughout the day as well.

Fast food: I practically never eat fast food, but when I occasionally do, it’s Subway.

Social media, stress or inspo: Social media has had no effect on my mental state as an athlete. I’ve had a public account on Instagram since I was 14 (when I was singing and acting). The account was also monitored by my parents. I only started posting fencing when I was about 16, and since then I’ve been combining music, film acting, and fencing. It’s extremely rare that I have a negative experience on my social media.

GOAT athlete: Michael Phelps and Michael Jordan are the GOATS. For fencing, I think Lee Kiefer is the GOAT (three-time Olympic gold medalist and most decorated fencer in women’s foil).

Last book you read: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.

How is your generation of athletes different: I believe my generation is very heavily college-focused. A lot more people are doing sports to get into top-tier universities. Also, with social media now, my generation can get brand deals/sponsorships for doing what they love, which I think is great!

What it takes to succeed at this level: Not many people realize that fencing is not only physically demanding but also mentally. Fencing is often called physical chess because you constantly have to think while moving, adjusting tactics, being two or three moves ahead of your opponent.

Define strength: Strength is being able to bounce back after failure. As athletes we are often faced with defeat. After all, there’s only one winner in a competition. And to me, being strong is not losing motivation to continue training and getting better even after you’re faced with what feels like endless defeats.

Next: Become NCAA Champion for the University of Pennsylvania. Stay ranked in the top 10 in Senior men’s epee in the U.S. Set myself up for the following season to begin qualification for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.

19. AJ Dybantsa

Basketball

IG: @aj.dybantsa
6’9” 211 pounds
Utah Prep Academy, Hurricane, Utah

The consensus top-ranked hoops recruit is being compared to Kevin Durant and is taking his skills to Brigham Young University where he’ll hope to win a national title.

READ THE COVER STORY

20. Jack Murtagh

Hockey

IG: @_jackmurtagh
6’1” 198 pounds
Michigan International Prep School, Plymouth, MI.
Hometown: East Greenbush, NY

Swag: As a member of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, he’s scored 22 goals on a team studded with fellow future NHL players.

Training per week: 8 hours.

Proudest sports moment: Winning a bronze medal for USA at the IIHF Under-18 Men’s Worlds.

Frenemy exercise: Deadlifts. They’re good, but it hurts the back and hands.

Workout music: Rap or country

Caffeine: Coffee

Electrolytes: Liquid IV

Fast food: Chick-fil-A

Favorite influencers: Marlon

GOAT athlete: John Daly or Michael Jordan

Last book you read: Silver Linings Playbook, by Matthew Quick

What do people not realize about success in hockey: I think the speed and pace of the game.

Favorite tip from a coach or parent: Always give an attempt, whether you fail or succeed.

Define strength: Giving it your all at your best ability.

Catchphrase: You’re either hot, or you’re due.

Motto: Live, laugh, love

Next: Win an NCAA national championship at Boston University.

21. Ashlin Barry

Cycling

IG: @ashlinbarry_
6’4” 17 pounds
Upper Canada College, Toronto, Canada

Swag: Junior U.S. road race and time trial national champion, and won a round of the UCI Gravel World Series.

Training per week: Including strength training, probably around 20 hours per week. The majority of my training is on the bike, and my weekly volume can fluctuate. Over time, my on-the-bike training volume will continue to increase, and gym training will stay roughly the same.

Proudest sports moment: Racing the Junior World Championships in Zurich last year and finishing as the best 17 year old in the time trial and road race. This was my first World Championships, and it came at the end of a breakthrough year for me. It was my biggest race of the year, and I was able to perform at my best despite having some troubles and doubts going into it.

Frenemy exercise: Definitely squats. I can’t say I enjoy gym work too much in general, but I do it because I know it can make me better.

Workout music: Rap and house music

Dream workout partner: Muhammad Ali

Sneakers: Nike

Average day of eating: A day of eating for me could range anywhere from 2000-7000 calories. Most of my calories come from carbs. I usually eat 120-190g of protein, then I always try to have some calories from unsaturated fats.

How does nutrition fit into your training: My nutrition day to day completely changes based on my training. On easy days, I’m quite conscious to not eat too much. Then on hard days I sometimes have to force myself to eat more. There are often days where I do a 4-5 hour training session, or have two sessions in one day, or have high-intensity work on the bike and then I go to the gym to strength train.

Supplements: Iron, because it can be easy to get deficient as an endurance athlete, and Vitamin D through the winter.

Caffeine: Red Bull

Electrolytes: Amacx and Skratch

Fast food: Chipotle

Social media, stress or inspo: At times it’s stressful or just annoying, so I try not to use it too much. It can definitely inspire me, but at times when I’m not in the best environment or struggling for whatever reason, it can be easy to look at it and feel envious or get into a negative mindset. At the moment I’m trying to find a balance because there can definitely be positives, and it’s a nice way to see and connect with people who support me.

GOAT athlete: Tadej Pogacar

Last book you read: The Chimp Paradox by Steve Peters

How is your generation of athletes different: Everything’s a lot more professionalized, and it seems every sport is starting at younger ages. The minor details are looked at a lot more, and I think everyone’s better because of it.

What’s it take to succeed at this level: The amount of consistency and discipline you need with everything you do. It’s not just with how you train, but almost all of your actions can influence your performance. It’s something I’ve realized the longer I’ve been in the sport. It takes an extreme amount of accumulated hard work and consistent execution to reach your potential.

Favorite tip: “It doesn’t matter how bad you want it, you can’t force it. You have to be composed and feel the right moment.” – My Dad

Define strength: What you can endure without folding.

Next big goals: To have a strong professional debut by integrating into my new team (Visma Lease a Bike), being a solid teammate, learning and winning some races.

22. Kihei Akina

Golf

IG: @kihei_akina
5’10” 160 pounds
Lone Peak High School, Lone Peak, UT

Bona Fides: Made his PGA Tour debut at the Black Desert Championship in 2024. Averaged 63 shots per round as a high school senior.

Training per week: 30-40 hours.

Proudest sports moment: Making my PGA TOUR debut at the Black Desert Championship

Frenemy exercise: Bike/cardio

Workout music: Rap. A lot of Drake.

Dream workout partner: Kobe Bryant

Workout clothes and sneakers: Nike

How does nutrition fit into your training: Eating and drinking the right things on the golf course is important. Trying to stick to protein, fats, and fibers.

Electolytes: Re-Lyte

Fast food: Chick-fil-A

Who do you look up to in the culture: Tony Finau

GOAT athlete: Michael Jordan

Last book you read: Star Splitter by Matthew J. Kirby

How is your generation of athletes different: Stronger and more athletic, hitting the golf ball further.

Favorite tip: Play for something bigger than yourself (Coach Farr)

Next: Win a golf National Championship at Brigham Young University.

23. Marcus Blaze

Wrestling

IG: @1123marcus
5’7” 140 pounds
Perrysburg High School, Perrysburg, OH

Swag: 2023 U17 world champ. Competed in the U.S. Olympic Team trials in 2024.

Training per week: At least 3 hours per day, 7 days per week.

Proudest sports moment: My proudest moment was when I won a World Championship in Istanbul, Turkey. It just showed that I was the best, which is what I strive to be every time that I step out on the mat or compete in anything.

Frenemy exercise: Landmine squat press

Workout music: Techno

Dream workout partner: I would love to work out with Masanosuke Ono and Michael Jordan.

Workout clothes: Rudis

Sneakers: Rudis

Average day of eating: Breakfast: Fruit with almond butter on top of it. Lunch: Chicken Breast with a Cobb salad. Dinner: Seasoned ground beef with sweet potatoes and a protein shake.

Caffeine: Iced coffee on occasion

Electrolytes: Ultima

Fast food: Chipotle

GOAT athlete: Coach Cael Sanderson, Penn State wrestling coach

Last book you read: Between the Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

How is your generation of athletes different: I think that being able to look at different techniques on the Internet and watch film help tremendously.

What does it take to succeed at this level: It takes A LOT of hard work, training, discipline and dedication to be the best.

Favorite tip: “Positive thoughts outweigh negative ones.” – Cael Sanderson

What strength means to me: When people are dense, they are the strongest.

Next: NCAA Champion at Penn State, World Champion, senior level

Kā’eo Subiono

Kūlani Subiono

24. Kā’eo and Kulani Subiono

Crossfit

IG (Kā’eo): @kaeo.subiono
IG (Kulani): @kulani.subiono
Ka’eo: 6’0”, 200 pounds
Kulani: 5’10”, 195 pounds
Homeschooled, Austin, TX
Hometown: Honolulu

Swag:These Hawaiian brothers both cracked the top 10 in the 2024 Teenage CrossFit Games: Kulani finished 6^th, while older brother Ka’eo climbed the podium in 3^rd.

Training per week:

Kā’eo: I train about 24-26 hours a week. That includes just training and being in the gym (cardio and strength included). But I also spend about 6-8 hours a week on top of that doing recovery like ice baths, mobility, and eating, which is just as important as training.

We snatch, C&J, bench Press, Deadlift, and Squat. As well as many other functional strength exercises. My coach and trainer Dave Tillman, owner of the MAD athlete programming, creates most of my strength work as well as the bulk of my general practice and training.

Kulani: I train 4-6 hours a day, 5 days a week. So one week would be anywhere from 20-30 hours of training.

Proudest sports moment:

Kā’eo: Placing 3rd at the 2024 Teenage CrossFit Games in Kalamazoo, MI. It’s my proudest moment because it’s been my goal to be on the podium the prior 3 years, so in 2024 I finally made it happen.

Kulani: Finishing the weekend of the 2024 Teenage CrossFit Games in 6th place. It was a moment of joy and a moment to be proud of not just my own performance, but of the performance of my brother and my friends who had competed alongside me.

Frenemy Exercise:

Kā’eo: I would say I hate doing Burpee Box Jump Overs, however, they make me a fitter athlete and it’s another movement I don’t have to worry about when it comes up in a competition.

Kulani: Man, it’s hard to pick just one. Currently, I would say Echo Bike intervals are my least favorite. Any amount of Echo Bike work absolutely sucks.

Workout music:

Kā’eo: Hip hop and rap when it’s time to get hyped and get the work done. Artist like Eminem, NF, and Kendrick Lamar are my favorite.

Kulani: I’d say I can work out to almost anything if it’s loud enough, but I prefer primarily Rap/Hip-hop. Favorite artists include J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, NF, Eminem, Kanye West, and Lil Wayne.

Dream workout partner:

Kā’eo: Rich Froning and Tia Claire Toomey would be really cool. Michael Jordan in his prime, that I bet would be a phenomenal experience.

Kulani: David Goggins. I think he’d push me to another level mentally.

Workout clothes:

Kā’eo: Northern Spirit, Nike

Kulani: Northern Spirit, Born Primitive, and Nike

Average day of eating?:

Kā’eo: I have to eat 3800-4100 calories a day to continue to grow and build muscle. My go-to is eggs and toast. Simple. And then, during training, I’ll consume 2 protein shakes and 2-3 baby foods which in total is about 600 calories. Usually lunch and dinner is around 1600-2000 calories per meal. It’s well balanced, mainly making sure I get in my protein and carbs.

Kulani: An average day of eating starts with a light breakfast. Currently, I’ll eat 2 or 3 small Kodiak Protein Pancakes. During training, I might eat a couple baby food pouches for fueling between workouts. After training, I’ll have a protein shake and a big lunch. Usually around 1000-2000 calories of food, including a lot of protein and carbs, usually some form of meat with rice or pasta. Then I’ll eat dinner which is pretty much the same as lunch in terms of portion size, calories, and food content. Before bed, I’ll have a protein shake and that’ll be the last thing I have for the day.

Supplements:

Kā’eo: Creatine and omega 3. I’ll also have protein powder and pre-workout when I need it.

Kulani: Omega 3 Fish oil, protein powder, Xendurance Extreme Endurance, Xendurance Fuel-5, and Creatine.

Electrolytes:

Kā’eo: Water with Himalayan salt

Kulani: LMNT

Fast Food:

Kā’eo: In-n-Out

Kulani: Chipotle

GOAT athlete:

Both: Rich Froning

Social media, stress or inspo:

Kā’eo: It helps me perform. Rarely stresses me out.

Kulani: I think it’s very capable of both. If I’m seeing posts of certain, usually well-known athletes, I might be inspired. But if I’m seeing post of my own direct competitors, it might stress me out a bit.

Last book you read:

Kā’eo: Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink

Kulani: Mere Christianity by CS Lewis

How is your generation of athletes different:

Kā’eo: My generation is weaker then the previous. Work ethic in this generation is horrible. However, there are a handful that have had the privilege on that skill being passed down to them. The hard workers are going to rise to the top.

Kulani: In CrossFit, a lot of the kids in my generation are mostly kids who are like me, and have been doing this since they we’re little kids, which is something that you can only now see because the sport is so young.

What does it take to succeed at this level?:

Kā’eo: What most people that don’t do CrossFit don’t understand about this sport is a game of pain tolerance and capacity in all areas of fitness. You can’t understand how hard it is to be great in this sport until you’ve experienced the physical pain of pushing your body to its limit, and then coming back the next day to push it further.

Kulani: I’d say the biggest thing is the mentality it takes to be successful. Training is a lot of volume, and if you can’t mentally handle that, then you’re not going to make it. I’d say most athletes in my sport who don’t make the Games or quit the sport fail in their mental ability and not their physical ability.

Favorite tip:

Kā’eo: Two best words to say to yourself when you’re in the pain cave: Jesus. “For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13

Kulani: I’d say one of the best tips I’ve heard is from Josh Bridges. Not sure on the exact quote, but it goes something like “If you’re hurting in a workout, it’s not going to hurt a lot more to go faster, but it will be over a lot sooner. So why not go faster?” It’s a good thing to keep in mind when things start getting real painful in a workout.

Define strength:

Kā’eo: I would define it the same way that the CrossFit L1 defines it. Which is: The productive application of force.

Kulani: The ability to not give in no matter how painful things get is a good definition of strength in terms of mentality.

Next:

Both: Qualify for the CrossFit Games, the big leagues with guys who are anywhere from 18 to 35+.

25. Owen Bloch

E-Sports

IG: @owen_block
5’11” 149 pounds
Saline High School, Saline, MI

Swag: Bloch is a leader on the number-one ranked high school e-sports team in America.

Training per week: For Esports, I practice gaming online around 20 hours a week.

Proudest sports moment: Getting the highest rank in the Rocket League, Supersonic Legend. My proudest sports moment of all time is making varsity soccer, and then making it to the state semi-final.

Do you strength train: Not for eSports, but I do go to the gym with friends a couple of times a week and work out.

Frenemy exercise: Playing 1v1s because it can be very frustrating, but makes you a lot better.

Workout music: Tame Impala, Arctic Monkeys, and Drake

Dream training partner: Squishy Muffins (that’s his gamertag). He was on the pro team NRG.

Workout clothes and sneakers: Nike, Nike.

Average day of eating: I have a granola bar in the morning. Then for lunch, I have the school’s chicken sandwich, and then pretzels when I get home. Then for dinner, I usually have some sort of meat like steak, vegetables like broccoli, and then potatoes. Afterwards, I usually have an ice cream sandwich for dessert.

Caffeine: Iced Chai Latte

Electrolytes: Liquid IV

Fast food: Subway

Social media, stress or inspo: Social media inspires me more than stresses me out because it is pretty cool to see people who are better than me play, and how I can improve to match them.

Favorite influencers: In E-sports, my favorite influencers are pro players and YouTubers like Squishy Muffins, Jstn, and Sunless Kahn.

GOAT athlete: In all sports, Messi, but in Rocket League, Beastmode.

Last book you read: The Gunslinger, by Stephen King

How is your generation of athletes different: Because of social media and technology, my generation of athletes grew up watching some of the best players play and perform all the time, and wanting to be like them. This makes my generation more determined and skillful because of how they have progressed.

What do people not understand about what it takes to succeed: The amount of time and dedication that it takes to be good at a game. Especially a mechanical game such as Rocket League.

Define strength: I define strength by the ability to keep going after something knocks you down.

Got a motto: Collect moments, not things.

Next big goal: Play E-sports at Michigan State.

Greg Presto is a fitness and sports reporter and videographer in Washington, DC.