Who won the Patriot Games in 2026? Meet Kennadi Fuhrman and Rockwell Myers, winners of inaugural event originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
After an initial announcement about the event in July 2025, the inaugural Patriot Games were held in Geneva, Ohio, earlier this week.
From Aug. 9 to Aug. 11, one male and one female student from each U.S. state and territory participated in the first-ever version of the event, founded by President Donald Trump's administration in his second term.
Only two victors were crowned for the 2026 Patriot Games, with one from the male category and one from the female category.
Here's what to know about the winners of the 2026 Patriot Games.
MORE: Pat McAfee buddies up with Donald Trump at Patriot Games
Participants between the ages of 14 to 17 who were U.S. citizens or legal residents were eligible for the first-ever Patriot Games, with each state and territory across the country sending one male and one female student.
After participating in skills events like a Presidential Fitness Test, a military-inspired boot camp circuit, an obstacle course, and team competitions such as Kickball, Dodgeball, Tug of War, and Victory Hoops, a female winner and a male winner were crowned.
Female division winner: Kennadi FuhrmanKennadi Fuhrman, a senior at De Soto High School in Kansas, per the Kansas City Star, won the female division at the 2026 Patriot Games.
Fuhrman is a soccer player who is committed to the University of Central Missouri, per the Kansas City Star, and per Fox4, she is also a power lifter.
"When they called my name, I was just kind of in awe; I started crying," Fuhrman said after winning, per Fox4. "I just had been praying...I was like whoever is supposed to win, they'll win."
Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall also congratulated Fuhrman in a social media post.
“Kansas is home to some great young patriots,” Marshall wrote.
Male division winner: Rockwell MyersRockwell Myers from Utah won the male division at the 2026 Patriot Games. According to the Deseret News, he is 16 years old and has an athletic history including climbing, ballroom dancing, completing the Utah Spartan Beast race and playing tennis.
Myers told the Deseret News he hopes to go to school for competitive ballroom dancing and teach it to others someday.
“You’ve got to be light on your feet on the dance floor. You’ve got to be fluent and graceful, and with some of these competitions, you’ve had to have very quick changes in direction and be ready for anything,” Myers told the Deseret News. “So that has definitely helped me.”
Myers grew up in the St. George area and attends the local campus of the Utah Military Academy, according to the Deseret News.
“I’m just very grateful for the opportunity to represent Utah, my generation, and to give back to the people who have raised me and the state that’s done such a great job at making me feel safe and welcomed,” Myers told the outlet. “The opportunity to represent something bigger than myself is life-changing really.”
Patriot Games prize moneyWinning the Patriot Games came with a significant prize for the two winners.
Both Myers and Fuhrman received $125,000 in scholarship money for winning their division.
What is the Patriot Games?The Patriot Games are a sporting event founded by the Trump administration, first announced in 2025 and put on in 2026. Trump stated at the time that he would not let transgender athletes compete.
For the event, each U.S. state and territory sent one male student and one female student between ages 14 to 17 — selected by the Patriot Games — to compete in a variety of athletic competitions, including the Presidential Fitness Test, an obstacle course and more.
From Aug. 9-11, the inaugural Patriot Games were held at SPIRE Academy in Geneva, Ohio. The event was originally streamed on the ESPN App and on Thursday, will be broadcast on ESPN on ABC.
Donald Trump at the Patriot GamesAfter announcing the event in 2025, Trump made an appearance at the Patriot Games, showing up for Tuesday's finale alongside ESPN personality Pat McAfee.
President Donald Trump sitting with @PatMcAfeeShow at the 2026 Patriot Games final in Ohio: pic.twitter.com/45u4cItgw0
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) August 11, 2026President Donald J. Trump and the 2026 Patriot Games athletes broke out the Trump Dance. Tune in tomorrow at 9 PM ET to watch the primetime special on ESPN on ABC. pic.twitter.com/QBzhXYRnXP
— Freedom 250 (@Freedom250) August 13, 2026The winners were presented with check and trophy from Trump, who spoke about the finalists and winners.
"Incredible people — and I like the audience also, I have to tell you,” Trump said, per the Deseret News.
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