The CrossFit Games

The finals of the annual CrossFit Games will be held from August 3-7. We would like to get involved in this! This is the largest cross-training event where the fittest athletes compete for the coveted title of ‘Fittest on Earth’. Through a rigorous qualification process, the best crossfitters are qualified to compete against each other in the finals in Madison, Wisconsin. An event that is definitely worth following live. In this blog we tell you all about it!

What is CrossFit?

Let’s start at the beginning: What is CrossFit? CrossFit brings together athletics, weightlifting and gymnastics. This way you perform high-intensity exercises at a high pace in a varying manner. There are certainly similarities between CrossFit and Fitness. The big difference, however, is in the type of exercises. Fitness is mainly about isolated exercises, where you train one muscle group and CrossFit is all about functional exercises. You use the whole body to perform an exercise. The most important thing in CrossFit is the technique you use and not the weight you train with. Many techniques are complex, so you need a few lessons before you master them well.

Start of the CrossFit Games

The popularity of CrossFit is growing worldwide and this is certainly reflected in the CrossFit games that come back every year. This year the 16th edition takes place and every year the games are bigger, more spectacular and more professional. In 2007, the CrossFit Games were organized for the first time. In that year there was still no qualification process and with 70 participating athletes and a small audience. Both the sport and the CrossFit Games quickly rose in popularity and in 2014 there were already more than 200,000 registrations. During this multi-day sports competition, the candidates are tested on their fitness, physical strength and endurance. Meanwhile, there is a strict qualifying process whereby only the fittest of the fittest make it to the finals.

Crossfit Games Open

The qualification process starts with the CrossFit Games Open. All CrossFitters worldwide can participate in this international competition. The Open was held in February early this year and lasted three weeks. A workout was announced every Thursday and then you had until the following Monday to complete it. This was possible with a judge in a local Crosstraining box or by recording the workout on video. The Open is very accessible and in principle anyone can participate. If you participate, you will see where you stand in relation to athletes in your Crosstraining Box, but also in relation to all athletes in the Netherlands and crossfitters worldwide.

Quarterfinals and semi-finals

The top 10% from each continent then advance to the quarter-finals in March. Five workouts which were announced shortly before the start. Of these, only the fittest of the fittest will advance to one of the ten semi-finals in May. One or more semifinals are held on each continent. Four in North America, two in Europe and one in South America, Asia, Africa and Oceania. In the end, only five men and women will advance from each North American and European semifinals, three from Oceania, two from Asia and South America and one from Africa.

Crossfit Games final

After all, these top athletes will compete for the title of ‘Fittest on Earth’ during the CrossFit Games finals from August 3-7. There are five different parts; individual (male and female), team, teen, senior and disabled. Do you want to follow this spectacular and sensational event live? Which can! Go to the CrossFit Games website or follow the CrossFit Games on YouTube or Facebook. This will undoubtedly provide you with a bucket of motivation to get back to work yourself or maybe even to start CrossFit! We are looking forward to it!