Top 20 Athletics & Sports from Columbus on Instagram Influencers by Follower Growth

Last updated: October 02, 2026

Total Athletics & Sports Influencers in Columbus, United States of America

467

Expected Reach

7.5M

Total Followers

24.0M

Avg Engagement

5.15%

Audience Analysis

Gender Distribution

Female31%
Male69%

Age Distribution

25-3442.2%
18-2430.2%
35-4416.5%
13-175.0%

Top Countries

United States of America49.2%
Mexico4.1%
Brazil3.9%
United Kingdom2.8%
Argentina2.7%

Top Languages

en72.4%
es13.7%
pt4.7%

Top Cities

Columbus2.9%
Los Angeles1.3%
New York City1.1%
Panama City0.9%
Almaty0.5%

Top 20 Creators

RankInfluencerLocationFollowersEngagementMonthly GrowthScore
1
Caleb Downs
@calebdowns
Trust In I am. Athletes ➡️ download @launchpoint @paypal
Columbus, United States of America
545.4K
Followers
9.86%
Engagement
+7.0%(+35.9K)
9.2
2
Francesca Jordan Dugarte
@francescadjordan
Mom 💙💖 Venezolana 🇻🇪 Ballet Dancer with @balletmet NASM Certified Personal Trainer
Columbus, United States of America
51.9K
Followers
0.82%
Engagement
+33.4%(+13.0K)
7.1
3
Max Arfsten
@maxarfsten
Professional Footballer @Nike Athlete 559
Columbus, United States of America
69.5K
Followers
15.40%
Engagement
+19.2%(+11.2K)
8.2
4
Ryan Ruffels
@ryan_ruffels
Pro Golfer and Amateur YouTuber ⛳️📺 @thelads_golf Sponsored by ⬇️ @malbon // @ripitgrips Check out my latest YouTube video📺⬇️👇
Columbus, United States of America
130.2K
Followers
2.58%
Engagement
+8.6%(+10.3K)
9.4
5
kaylee angelene
@kayleefitt
@thrivin - kaylee10 all socials - @kayleeangelene
Columbus, United States of America
294.9K
Followers
0.69%
Engagement
+3.5%(+9.9K)
4.7
6
Daniel J Patton
@djpattonck
Unapologetically helping people become their best self. Olympian, writer, actor..Most Interesting Man in the World runner up 😎
Columbus, United States of America
116.6K
Followers
N/A
Engagement
+8.3%(+8.9K)
5.8
7
Heckler & Koch
@hecklerandkoch
#NoCompromise #HecklerAndKoch @hkshooting @hk.knives
Columbus, United States of America
1.1M
Followers
0.16%
Engagement
+0.7%(+7.6K)
4.9
8
Elie Tane Ngnewo
@elie_champion
Elie tane Ngnewo I Africandiamond 💎📍NJ I Bodybuilder I ISSA Certified Trainer 🔥 Transforming Ambition into Achievement 💪coach 📩 DM For Paid Promotion
Columbus, United States of America
752.6K
Followers
0.19%
Engagement
+1.0%(+7.4K)
6.7
9
Zach Werenski
@zachwerenski
Grosse Pointe Woods, MI
Columbus, United States of America
100.8K
Followers
27.31%
Engagement
+5.7%(+5.4K)
9.8
10
Eduarda Bezerra - Olympia Champion 👑
@eduardabeezerra
🥇 @mrolympiallc 🚩 @integralmedica EDUARDA 🐺 @darcsport EDUARDA 🍚 @elev8.foods.cr EDUARDA 💊 @oficialfarma EDUARDA 🍑 @glute.builder @glutebuilderbr
Columbus, United States of America
461.7K
Followers
5.10%
Engagement
+0.8%(+3.6K)
7.5
11
Dr. Matthew Casturo, DPT, CSCS
@themovementsystem
🧠 Learn about Movement ⁣ 📚 Helping You Pass the CSCS Exam⁣ 🎥 Youtuber⁣ 🏋🏽‍♂️🏃🏽Hybrid Athlete
Columbus, United States of America
197.9K
Followers
1.36%
Engagement
+1.1%(+2.2K)
7.6
12
abbi walker
@abbi_fitsta
💫🤸‍♀️🚲⚡️🏋️‍♀️🚀🥾🎶🕺🫧 lifting, handstanding & now ironman-ing 🎥 YT | @abbifitsta press handstand program ↓
Columbus, United States of America
41.3K
Followers
0.57%
Engagement
+4.7%(+1.9K)
6.9
13
Brian Hartline
@brianhartline
Husband Father USF Head Football Coach @hart.farm Former NFL WR #BeKind #BeDifferent
Columbus, United States of America
99.3K
Followers
0.00%
Engagement
+1.9%(+1.9K)
8.1
14
Ryan Dengler | Transformation Coach
@ryan_dengler
Head Coach | @evolvetrainingsystems 400+ Men Transformed @rawnutrition @gymshark | DENGLER 𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗟𝗬 𝗕𝗘𝗟𝗢𝗪 ⬇️
Columbus, United States of America
256.9K
Followers
2.74%
Engagement
+0.5%(+1.4K)
4.5
15
Stefan Kienzl
@bossofoutlaw
79 IFBB PRO Wins 4 Arnold Classic Titles 4 ⭕️ Top 3 Placings | 3 Arnold Top 2 | 8 Arnold Top 3 Coaching⬇️
Columbus, United States of America
144.2K
Followers
2.76%
Engagement
+0.9%(+1.3K)
6.3
16
Ellie Wagner
@elliewagner13
23 | mn OSUDT alum @nbcworldofdance Season 3 finalist @_ellieandava_ @pressplay
Columbus, United States of America
61.0K
Followers
8.04%
Engagement
+2.1%(+1.2K)
8.6
17
Julius Maddox
@irregular_strength
✝️ @jailhousestrong @mhp_strong @lockjawbarbellcollars @widebodybench ATWR Bench 782lbs 355kg ⬇️PROGRAMS
Columbus, United States of America
461.8K
Followers
0.13%
Engagement
+0.2%(+1.1K)
5.7
18
Mark Spitzer Golf
@markspitzergolf
Dir. of Instruction @elgincountryclub I help golfers transform their swing in 14 days Apply below ⬇️
Columbus, United States of America
24.6K
Followers
0.89%
Engagement
+4.3%(+1.0K)
6.6
19
6ixshooter
@the6ixshooter_
Shooting coach🏀 6ixShooter.net Full training program and more!!⬇️🏀
Columbus, United States of America
96.7K
Followers
4.49%
Engagement
+0.9%(+891)
8.6
20
Graham Holmberg
@grahamholmberg
2010 CrossFit Games Champion🥇 Father of 6️⃣ Follower of Jesus ✝️ I train men to raise the standard Click the link to apply for 1:1 coaching 👇🏻
Columbus, United States of America
61.1K
Followers
0.60%
Engagement
+1.4%(+839)
6.1

About This Instagram Influencer Ranking

Discover the most influential creators in Columbus with our comprehensive ranking of the top 20 influencers on Instagram who post Athletics & Sports content. This data‑driven analysis identifies the content creators who are shaping conversations, driving trends, and commanding the highest engagement rates in 2026.

Key Insights & Metrics

  • Combined Reach: 7.5M potential impressions across all ranked influencers
  • Total Audience: 24.0M followers collectively following these creators
  • Average Engagement Rate: 5.15% - significantly above industry average
  • Market Coverage: 467 total influencers analyzed in this category

Audience Demographics & Reach

The influencers in this ranking reach a diverse, global audience with primary concentrations in:

  • Top Markets: United States of America, Mexico, Brazil
  • Gender Distribution: 31% Female, 69% Male
  • Primary Age Group: 25-34 years (42.2% of audience)
  • Languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese

Why This Ranking Matters

For brands and marketers, this ranking provides essential intelligence for:

  • Identifying high-performing influencers for partnership opportunities
  • Understanding audience demographics for targeted campaigns
  • Benchmarking engagement rates and growth metrics
  • Discovering emerging talent with strong growth trajectories
  • Analyzing competitive landscape in Athletics & Sports niche

For content creators, these insights help with:

  • Understanding industry benchmarks and performance standards
  • Identifying successful content strategies from top performers
  • Network building and collaboration opportunities
  • Setting realistic growth targets based on peer performance

Methodology & Data Freshness

Our rankings are generated using advanced algorithms that analyze multiple performance indicators:

  • Profile Score: Proprietary metric combining reach, engagement, and growth
  • Engagement Rate: Average interaction rate across recent content
  • Growth Velocity: Month-over-month follower growth and momentum
  • Content Consistency: Posting frequency and audience retention
  • Audience Quality: Authenticity scores and demographic relevance

Data is refreshed weekly to ensure you're always working with the most current information. Last update includes performance data through October 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the fastest‑growing Athletics & Sports creator in Columbus on Instagram?

Caleb Downs (@calebdowns) is, as of October 2026, the fastest‑growing Athletics & Sports creator in Columbus on Instagram, with +7.0% monthly growth (+35.9K followers).

How many followers did Caleb Downs (@calebdowns) gain last month?

Caleb Downs (@calebdowns) gained about 35.9K followers last month (+7.0%).

Who grew more: Caleb Downs (@calebdowns) or Francesca Jordan Dugarte (@francescadjordan)?

Caleb Downs (@calebdowns) grew more than Francesca Jordan Dugarte (@francescadjordan) (35.9K vs 13.0K).

How is Francesca Jordan Dugarte (@francescadjordan) performing right now?

Francesca Jordan Dugarte (@francescadjordan) is growing at +33.4% (+13.0K) per month, with a Profile Score of 7.1 and average engagement of 0.82%.

How is Max Arfsten (@maxarfsten) performing right now?

Max Arfsten (@maxarfsten) is growing at +19.2% (+11.2K) per month, with a Profile Score of 8.2 and average engagement of 15.40%.

How is Ryan Ruffels (@ryan_ruffels) performing right now?

Ryan Ruffels (@ryan_ruffels) is growing at +8.6% (+10.3K) per month, with a Profile Score of 9.4 and average engagement of 2.58%.

How is kaylee angelene (@kayleefitt) performing right now?

kaylee angelene (@kayleefitt) is growing at +3.5% (+9.9K) per month, with a Profile Score of 4.7 and average engagement of 0.69%.

Who had the higher percentage growth: Francesca Jordan Dugarte (@francescadjordan) or Max Arfsten (@maxarfsten)?

Francesca Jordan Dugarte (@francescadjordan) leads (33.4% vs Max Arfsten (@maxarfsten) 19.2%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Caleb Downs (@calebdowns)?

Caleb Downs (@calebdowns) gained about 35.9K followers last month (+7.0%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Francesca Jordan Dugarte (@francescadjordan)?

Francesca Jordan Dugarte (@francescadjordan) gained about 13.0K followers last month (+33.4%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Max Arfsten (@maxarfsten)?

Max Arfsten (@maxarfsten) gained about 11.2K followers last month (+19.2%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Ryan Ruffels (@ryan_ruffels)?

Ryan Ruffels (@ryan_ruffels) gained about 10.3K followers last month (+8.6%).

What is the absolute follower gain of kaylee angelene (@kayleefitt)?

kaylee angelene (@kayleefitt) gained about 9.9K followers last month (+3.5%).

Is Caleb Downs (@calebdowns) still a relevant creator?

Yes — Caleb Downs (@calebdowns) has a Profile Score of 9.2, average engagement of 9.86%, and +7.0% (+35.9K) monthly follower growth, indicating high relevance.

What is a good engagement rate for Athletics & Sports in United States of America?

The average engagement rate for this category is 5.15%. Generally, rates above 6.2% are considered excellent, while rates above 4.1% are good. Engagement rates vary by platform, niche, and follower count - micro-influencers often have higher rates than mega-influencers.

How is the Profile Score calculated?

The Profile Score (0-10 scale) is a composite metric that weighs several factors: 40% engagement quality, 25% audience reach, 20% growth momentum, 10% content consistency, and 5% audience authenticity. A score above 7.0 indicates a high-performing influencer, while scores above 8.5 represent elite-tier creators.

Can I use this data for influencer marketing campaigns?

Yes! This ranking is designed to help brands, agencies, and marketers identify potential partnership opportunities. The data provides a starting point for campaign planning, competitor analysis, and market research. For detailed campaign analytics and contact information, consider upgrading to our professional tools.

What does monthly growth percentage mean?

Monthly growth shows the percentage change in followers over the past 30 days. Positive growth (green) indicates gaining followers, while negative growth (red) means losing followers. The number in parentheses shows the absolute follower change. High growth rates often indicate viral content or successful campaigns.

Why should I track influencers in Columbus?

Location-specific influencer tracking is crucial for targeted marketing campaigns. Local influencers often have higher engagement rates within their geographic area, understand cultural nuances, and can drive better ROI for region-specific products or services. They're particularly valuable for retail, hospitality, and location-based businesses.

How can I improve my ranking as an influencer?

Focus on these key areas: (1) Increase engagement by creating content that encourages comments and shares, (2) Post consistently to maintain audience interest, (3) Use relevant hashtags to expand reach, (4) Collaborate with other creators in your niche, (5) Respond to comments to build community, and (6) Analyze your best-performing content and create similar pieces.

Note: This ranking represents a snapshot of current instagram influence based on publicly available data. Rankings can fluctuate based on content performance, platform algorithm changes, and audience behavior. Use this data as one of several factors in your decision-making process.