With various announcements surrounding changes to the annual CrossFit Games in recent weeks, you might be wondering what it is all about! Let’s take a look at what we know so far about the 2024 competitive CrossFit season, and what to expect over the course of the next few months in the lead up to the CrossFit Games.
But… before we get stuck in to the ins and outs, let’s re-wind for a moment, and take it back to basics:
What actually are The CrossFit Games?
The CrossFit Games are an annual athletic competition, owned and run by CrossFit, LLC. Athletes compete in a series of events at the Games, which may be various standard CrossFit workouts consisting of metabolic conditioning exercises (think ergs, running – what we tend to call ‘cardio’ on the whiteboard!) weightlifting, and gymnastics movements, as well as a handful of activities from other sports such as swimming, cycling, and strongman. The events generally are not revealed before the Games, and although the format of some of the events will be very familiar to the athletes, many of the exact details regarding number of workouts, movement combinations, length of workouts and even location have often been kept secret right up until they enter the competition floor.
The variety, volume and intensity, not to mention unexpected twists to workouts, challenge the athletes both physically and mentally.
Winners of the CrossFit Games earn cash prizes, and the title of ‘Fittest on Earth’. The competition started in 2007 and has been held every year since, normally in the summer.
So what do we know so far about the 2024 Season?
New Year, New Location
Arguably the biggest announcement in relation to the 2024 Games so far is the change of location. For the last few years, the CrossFit Games have taken place in Madison, Wisconsin. Prior to this, Carson, California was the home of the Games for 7 consecutive years, preceded by the CrossFit Games’ original venue: ‘The Ranch’, in Aromas, California.
This year, the Games are relocating to Fort Worth, Texas. This new location is sure to make for a tough competition, given the summer heat in the Lone Star State, with temperatures typically ranging from 25° – 36°. Whilst a number of the Games workouts often take place indoors in the arena, there will no doubt be some outdoor events (including running and swimming), so the question on many people’s lips is… will the Athletes cope with the heat?
What else is changing this year?
Just last month, CrossFit HQ announced another major change to the 2024 season: The Age Group and Adaptive Divisions will no longer finish their seasons at the CrossFit Games. Now, adaptive athletes will be separated entirely from the CrossFit season and instead compete in the WheelWOD competition, which will host its 11th annual event in 2023.
Masters division athletes (ages 35 to 65+) will continue to compete in the CrossFit Open, Quarterfinals, and Semifinals, but instead of progressing on to the CrossFit Games, qualifying Masters athletes will battle it out for the top spot at the Legends Championship.
Teen division athletes will also participate in the CrossFit Open, Quarterfinals, and Semifinals, but will finish their season at the Pit Teen Throwdown in southwest Michigan.
Pre-Games
Whilst no official announcements have taken place confirming format or dates, we expect the season to begin as previous years, with the CrossFit Open. This is stage one, which anyone and everyone (who wishes to!) can register for and take part in. Last year, the Open consisted of 3 workouts across 3 weeks (with one released each week, to be completed within 4 days of release). If the 2024 season follows a similar timeline to 2023, we expect The CrossFit Open to commence around mid February.
Typically, workouts are released with different variations depending on the athlete category, including the classic ‘RX and Scaled’ versions, so anyone can take part! Thousands upon thousands of people join in across the globe, many submitting scores online in the hope to make the cut for the next stage!
In the past, the top 10% of individuals in each category and the top 25% of teams will advance to stage 2: the Quarter Finals.
Quarter Finals
In previous years, the Quarter Finals have taken place online. Athletes take part in a series of workouts spread over a weekend, submitting scores and accompanying videos online in the hopes to advance to the next round. These workouts typically feature some higher skill gymnastics, heavier loads and more complex movements than those featured in the Open. It’s likely Quarter Finals will take place around March-April time.
Semi Finals
In previous years, qualifying Athletes from the top cut of the Quarter Finals then progress to the in-person Semi Finals. Various Semi-Final events take place around the world, making for an exciting opportunity for budding and seasoned athletes alike, and a fantastic spectacle for CrossFit fans to attend and support across the world!
The Games
One thing is for certain: the fittest athletes will be invited to take part in the live, in-person grand final in Fort Worth, Texas. Scheduled for August 8th-11th, The CrossFit Games typically sees 40 male and 40 female athletes, plus take to the competition floor to fight for the title of Fittest On Earth.
What’s next?
In the coming weeks, we expect to see an announcement from CrossFit HQ outlining the ‘road to the 2024 Games’, with a breakdown of competition stages and dates. Keep checking back for updates and to find out what we’ll be doing at SCFIT to join in on the CrossFit Games action, and how you can get involved!
So there we have it – some key changes for the year so far, and a sneak peak at what we are likely to expect in the coming months!Whether competitive CrossFit is your thing or not, it’s a hugely fun way to get involved in the SCFIT and wider CrossFit community. Stay tuned for more updates, announcements, and key dates for your diary!
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