Pat Vellner to Sit Out 2025 CrossFit Games Season, Will Focus on World Fitness Project

Pat Vellner Joins a Growing List of Athletes Skipping 2025 CrossFit Games Season

Add nine-time CrossFit Games athlete and five-time medalist Pat Vellner to the growing list of athletes who are choosing to skip the 2025 CrossFit Games season.

In a social media post, Vellner wrote, "I’m not stepping away from the sport, in fact, this year I’ll be competing more than ever. But if you’re looking for me on the CrossFit Games leaderboard in a couple of weeks, just know I won’t be hitting submit on my Open registration form, and that it’s intentional."

In an interview with the Morning Chalk Up, Vellner told us he plans to focus on the World Fitness Project (WFP), TYR Wodapalooza events, and the Rogue Invitational.

Pat Vellner Joins a Growing List

Twelve-time CrossFit Games athlete Annie Thorisdottir recently announced she will be sitting out the 2025 CrossFit Games season, citing how CrossFit HQ dealt with Lazar Đukić’s death at the 2024 Games as her reason. "I feel very, very disappointed in how they have handled everything and what happened, obviously. That’s the biggest thing," Thorisdottir said. "So, for moral reasons, I cannot partake in the Open this year, and that will be the first year since 2009, or since the Open started. I will not participate in the CrossFit Games season."

Similarly, on February 13, four-time Games athlete Chandler Smith posted on social media that he is out of the 2025 CrossFit Games season. "Today, I’m using my voice and following it up with action: I will not be competing in the 2025 CrossFit Games season," he wrote.

The Big Picture

Vellner’s decision undoubtedly makes a statement to CrossFit that they’re not the only player in the game for CrossFit athletes anymore. Between foregoing the CrossFit season for "moral reasons," like Thorisdottir, to make a statement about CrossFit HQ, like Chandler Smith, or choosing competitions based on an athlete’s best chance for a payday, we expect more athletes to follow in Vellner’s footsteps. And we expect the CrossFit Games to look a whole lot different this year than in years gone by.

Conclusion

As the CrossFit Games season approaches, it’s clear that the landscape is changing. With more and more athletes choosing to skip the season, it’s likely that the competition will look different in the future. Prize money has become a big factor, and athletes are starting to prioritize competitions that offer a better financial reward.

FAQs

Q: Why is Pat Vellner skipping the 2025 CrossFit Games season?
A: Vellner is focusing on other competitions, including the World Fitness Project (WFP), TYR Wodapalooza events, and the Rogue Invitational.

Q: Who else is skipping the 2025 CrossFit Games season?
A: Annie Thorisdottir, Chandler Smith, and Elisa Fuliano are also skipping the 2025 CrossFit Games season.

Q: Why are athletes skipping the CrossFit Games season?
A: Some athletes are skipping the season due to "moral reasons," while others are prioritizing other competitions or focusing on other aspects of the sport. Prize money is also a factor, with some athletes choosing to prioritize competitions that offer a better financial reward.