Remind Me
Ultimately, there are three paths to earn one of the 30 men’s and women’s invites to this summer’s CrossFit Games in Albany, NY. Here’s how it breaks down.
Path 1: The In-Affiliate Semifinals
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* The top 1% in the CrossFit Open will qualify to the online In-Affiliate Semifinals. From there, it looks as though 12 men and 12 women will qualify for the 2025 Games.
Path 2: In-Person Qualifying Events
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* Eighteen more men and women will have a second opportunity to qualify for the Games via 10 in-person qualifying events around the world. These events have additional online qualifiers or are invitationals.
* Two men and two women will qualify from eight of the 10 in-person qualifying events, and one man and one woman will advance to the Games from the other two.
Path 3: Last Chance Qualifier
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* Details are scarce at this point, but one man and one woman will earn a ticket via an online “Last Chance Qualifier” from June 13-16.
Two Things to Consider
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On paper, at least, it appears that this season favors two types of athletes:
1. Those who tend to be rock stars in online competitions.
2. Those who find a way to win or come second at in-person qualifying events.
On the flip side, the season might be tough for two other types of athletes:
1. Those who perform better at in-person events than online ones.
2. Those who consistently do well at in-person qualifiers but can’t break through and finish in the top two.
In light of this, here are four men and four women we expect this season to go well for.
Men
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1. Jonne Koski: The nine-time Games athlete failed to qualify for the first time since 2018 last season. He became the first man to win both the Open and Quarterfinals.
2. Saxon Panchik: Although he’s a six-time Games veteran, we don’t tend to think of Panchik as a shoo-in to qualify. Still, he’s a bit of a silent assassin and has traditionally placed very high in the online portions of the season: the CrossFit Open and Quarterfinals.
3. Pat Vellner: Pat Vellner might not be known for his strength in online competitions, but he knows how to place in the top two at in-person qualifying events.
4. Jeff Adler: If there’s a front-runner for the top athlete we expect to cruise through the qualification process this season, it’s 2023 Games champion Jeff Adler.
5. Sam Kwant: The seven-time Games veteran has never placed inside the top 12 in Quarterfinals, but he always seems to find a way to get it done and qualify.
6. Jelle Hoste: Two-time Games veteran Jelle Hoste has shown he’s much better at the CrossFit Games than he is in an online Quarterfinals format.
Women
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1. Karin Frey: The five-time Games athlete from Slovakia is another who struggles with online competitions.
2. Emily Rolfe: The five-time Games athlete has some serious strengths, but online competitions haven’t proven to be one of them.
3. Elisa Fuliano: Italy’s Elisa Fuliano has competed at the Games the last three years, but she has always been a mid-pack qualifier through Semifinals, and only once has she had a top 12 performance in Quarterfinals.
4. Dani Speegle: Five-time Games athlete Dani Speegle is another Games veteran who has found a way to qualify five of the last six years but who doesn’t look like (at least on paper) she will excel under this season’s format.
The Big Picture
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The 2025 CrossFit Games season is undoubtedly like no other season we have navigated before.
Conclusion
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The 2025 CrossFit Games season is a unique and challenging season, with multiple paths to qualify for the Games. While some athletes may struggle with online competitions, others may thrive in the in-person qualifying events. As the season unfolds, we will see which athletes rise to the top and earn their spots at the 2025 CrossFit Games.
FAQs
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Q: What are the three paths to qualify for the 2025 CrossFit Games?
A: The three paths are the In-Affiliate Semifinals, In-Person Qualifying Events, and the Last Chance Qualifier.
Q: Who are some athletes that may struggle in this season’s format?
A: Athletes who tend to perform better in in-person events than online ones and those who consistently do well in in-person qualifiers but can’t break through and finish in the top two.
Q: Who are some athletes that may excel in this season’s format?
A: Athletes who tend to be rock stars in online competitions and those who find a way to win or come second at in-person qualifying events.
