CrossFit™, the most popular and intense athletic lifestyle has taken center stage in Madison, Wisconsin, where the world's strongest, and most brutal athletes compete to be named Fittest on Earth™. The mission is to find the toughest athletes on Earth and is quickly becoming "one of the fastest growing sports in America," according to Forbes.
About the Games
The CrossFit Games is an elite competition that tests a wide range of functional movements including strength, endurance and the aerobic ability of athletes who practice the CrossFit regimen. It's a summer event that is now in its 11th year, sponsored by CrossFit, Inc. and Reebok. There are weightlifting and aerobic events but can even have certain surprise events not typically standard for CrossFit like swimming or obstacle-based events.
There are individual, team, and masters/teen divisions for competitors.
Individuals can compete for the 1st prize of $285,000.
Beginning in 2018, teams are made up of 4 men and 4 women who train together.
Masters and Teens are age-based divisions and were introduced just a few years ago. Boys and girls as young as 14 years old can compete. For older competitors, the age divisions range from 35-60+.
How the Games Work
The Games is organized into three seasons, or stages: the Open, Regionals, the Games.
The Open stage is a five-week competition held during the winter at CrossFit affiliates and gyms where athletes complete assignments and are scored weekly. Only the top athletes who qualify move on to Regionals.
Regionals is a three-day competition held in late Spring. Only 40 men, 40 women, and 40 teams qualify to advance to the Games.
And finally, the 2018 Reebox CrossFit Games are held in late summer, where the world's elite athletes, only 40 men, 40 women, 40 teams, 80 teenagers, and 240 masters move on to compete and rank for the title of Fittest on Earth.
Scoring the Games
The Games are scored relative to the event they are participating in, and are scored not based on their performance alone but also in comparison to the other athletes in their category.
Every athlete earns points based on each category they finish and can be awarded up to 100 points. If the event is timed and the athlete doesn't finish, a point is deducted from their total score for every second not completed. If an event has a minimum work requirement, then the athlete must complete the minimum or they can't advance to the next event.
At the end of the Games weekend, the final athletes with the most points are awarded with the title, the Fittest on Earth.
Team Arrowhead Shout Outs
We support athletes who push themselves to be the best. A big shout out to our CrossFit beasts who know the challenges of training and competing and forge ahead in their fitness journeys to not only be the best for themselves, but for their families, peers, and trainees.
Tune in to The Games
Watch live to follow along in the men's and women's competitive categories like Crit, 30 Muscle Ups, Fibonacci, and Chaos.
Photo credit:
Victor Freitas