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2021 CrossFit Games
2021 CrossFit Games
from Wikipedia
2021 CrossFit Games
VenueAlliant Energy Center
LocationMadison, Wisconsin
DatesJuly 27–August 1, 2021
Champions
MenUnited States Justin Medeiros
WomenAustralia Tia-Clair Toomey
TeamCrossFit Mayhem
← 2020
2022 →

The 2021 CrossFit Games was the 15th edition of the CrossFit Games held from July 27 to August 1, 2021.[1] Justin Medeiros won the men's competition, Tia-Clair Toomey the women's, and CrossFit Mayhem the team's.[2]

The qualification process for the Games is similar to that used before it was changed for the previous two seasons, but with the introduction of quarterfinals between the Open and the semifinal, and a last-chance qualifier.[3] The Affiliate Cup returned as the team competition with Games qualification based on gym affiliation and a new adaptive athlete division was introduced this season.[4]

This is the first season sponsored by NoBull after the Reebok sponsorship ended in 2020.[5] The total prize purse increased to $2.5 million with the individual winners each receiving $310,000.[6]

Justin Medeiros won the men's competition and became the youngest man to win the CrossFit Games. Tia-Clair Toomey won the women's competition for the fifth time, equaling Mat Fraser's record. Toomey also broke Fraser's record for the most number of cumulative event wins by bringing her total to 33.[7]

Qualification

[edit]

The qualification system was revamped again this season, returning to the system whereby the number of participants get winnowed down in series of stages starting with the Open, but with the addition of a quarterfinal stage for individual and teams where the participants were grouped by continent. The Games also returned the team format to an affiliate-based qualification system with the return of the Affiliate Cup, and a new adaptive athlete division was also added.[4][8]

Open

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The Open returned to its previous role as the starting point of a series of qualification events. The national champion from the Open qualification was removed so that there will be a smaller field of invitees to the Games. The date of the Open was moved back to March, but reduced from five weeks to three starting March 11 with only four workouts held.[9] The number of athletes who registered for the Open increased to over 263,500 after two years of decline.[10] This year prize money was awarded to the overall winners of the Open for the first time in addition to those awarded for individual workout wins, with each overall winner receiving $15,000.[11] Jeffrey Adler and Tia-Clair Toomey were the respective male and female winners of the Open.[12][13]

Quarterfinals

[edit]

Participants in the Open were separated on a continental basis and only the top 10% on each continent from the Open can qualify for the Quarterfinals before they can move on to the sanctioned Semifinals.[4][14] The new quarterfinals were held online like the Open and similar to those previously used for age-group qualifiers. The Quarterfinals for individuals started on April 8, around a week and a half after the Open had finished. The athletes were required to complete five workouts over three consecutive days after the workouts were released, and submit their results for specific workouts daily from April 9 to April 11.[15][16][17] Competitors were ranked by continents; the top 120 men and women and 80 teams from the quarterfinals in North America qualified for the semifinals, while the top 60 men and women and 40 teams in Europe, and the top 30 men and women and 20 teams from each of the continents of Asia, Africa, South America, and Oceania also qualified.[18]

Team quarterfinals for the top 25% teams were held from April 22 to April 25.[19] For teens aged 14-17 and masters aged 35 and over, the Age Group Online Qualifier was used as in previous years, but the number of qualifiers from the Open was fixed at 10% instead of 200 athletes.[20] Age Group Online Qualifier took place from May 6 to 9, with the top 20 men and 20 women of each age-group qualifying directly for the Games.[21]

Semifinals

[edit]

The revamped Semifinals this season were a mix of the Regionals and Sanctionals; the participants competed in their own regions (continents), but each individual Semifinal was organized independently and responsible for its own programming,[22] apart from those held online where all followed the same standardized programming arranged by CrossFit.[23] A few athletes who cannot return to compete in their own continent due to travel restrictions were placed in Semifinals closer to where they lived or where they can compete online.[24] The prize purse was returned to 2018 level with a standardized $5,000 for the winners of each Semifinal with the top-paying Sanctionals of previous two seasons such as Wodapalooza, Dubai CrossFit Championship and the Rogue Invitational opting out of the Crossfit season.[25][26]

A total of ten Semifinals were scheduled on six continents spread over four weeks starting May 28, 2021, each one taking place in the last three days of the week.[27] Four semifinals were held in North America (Mid-Atlantic CF Challenge, Granite Games, West Coast Classic, Atlas Games), two in Europe (Lowland Throwdown, GermanThrowdown), one each in South America (Brazil CF Championship), Asia (Asia Invitational), Africa (Fittest In Cape Town), and Oceania (Torian Pro). Due to the differing national measures and travel restrictions imposed in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, five semifinals were held online, five in-person.[27] Five men, five women, and five teams qualified from each of the North American and European semifinals, three from Oceania, two from Asia and South America, and one from Africa.[28] A last-chance online qualifier, last used in 2009, was reintroduced for semifinal athletes who narrowly missed a Games qualification.[22][4] Two more athletes who missed qualification in the semifinals may qualify via the last-chance qualifier.[28]

Individual competitions

[edit]

The CrossFit Games are held in Madison, Wisconsin, from July 28 to August 1, 2021. Athletes competed in person, but an online contingency plan was also put in place as an alternative should it be necessary.[29] For the individual events, 40 men and 40 women qualified for the individual events at the Games, but three Russians could not attend the Games due to visa problems,[30] one woman could not start for a positive drug test,[31] and two women, including 2020 podium finisher Kari Pearce, had to withdraw due to positive COVID-19 tests,[32] Kara Saunders also had to withdraw after the first day due to the after-effects of an earlier infection.[33] The number of athletes would be cut to 30 after two days of competition (9 events), and to 20 after the first event of Day 3 (event 10).[34] The scoring system this year was the same as the top 40 of the 2019 Games, and the number of points awarded was adjusted after each cut.[35]

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

[edit]
  • Event 1: 1-mile swim with fins, 3-mile kayak (Winners: M- Jonne Koski; F- Tia-Clair Toomey)
  • Event 2: 126-ft. sled drag (180 lb. for women, 220 lb. for men), 5 Pig flips (350 lb. for women, 510 lb. for men), 12 muscle-ups, 12 bar muscle-ups, 12 bar muscle-ups, 12 muscle-ups, 5 Pig flips. 126-ft. sled drag (Winners: M- Patrick Vellner; F- Tia-Clair Toomey)
  • Event 3: 550-yard sprint (Winners: M- Guilherme Malheiros; F- Tia-Clair Toomey)
  • Event 4: 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 reps of: Wall walks and Thrusters (135 lb. for women, 185 lb. for men) (Winners: M- Scott Panchik; F- Mallory O'Brien)[36]

Friday, July 30, 2021

[edit]
  • Event 5: 4 rope climbs, 500 m/400 m ski erg, Sand bag carry (Winners: M- Patrick Vellner; F- Laura Horváth)
  • Event 6: 5 rounds: 250-m run, 1 clean – (Women: 165, 175, 185, 195, 205 lb. Men: 245, 265, 285, 305, 315 lb.) (Winners: M- Jeffrey Adler; F- Tia-Clair Toomey)
  • Event 7: 5 rounds: 200-m run, 1 clean – (Women: 210; 215; 220; 225; 230 lb. Men: 325, 335, 340, 345, 350 lb.) (Winners: M- Guilherme Malheiros; F- Tia-Clair Toomey)
  • Event 8: Handstand Walk O-course (Winners: M- Scott Panchik; F- Danielle Brandon)
  • Event 9: 21-15-9: Echo bike (cal.) Snatch (75lb. for women, 105 lb. for men) (Winners: M- Brent Fikowski; F- Amanda Barnhart)[37]

Saturday, July 31, 2021

[edit]
  • Event 10: 30 toes-to-bar, 1.5 mile run, 30 toes-to-bar, 1.5 mile run, 30 toes-to-bar (Winners: M- Lazar Đukić; F- Emily Rolfe)
  • Event 11: 11-min AMRAP: 1 pegboard ascent, 7 single-arm dumbbell overhead squats 50 | 70 lb, 15 heavy double-unders (Winners: M- Cole Sager; F- Tia-Clair Toomey)
  • Event 12: 1-rep-max snatch (Winners: M- Guilherme Malheiros; F- Tia-Clair Toomey. Brooke Wells had to withdraw from the competition after she dislocated her elbow in the snatch, which required a Tommy John surgery.[38][39])

Sunday, August 01, 2021

[edit]
  • Event 13: 4 rounds of: 20 GHD sit-ups, 8 cheese curd burpees over the hay bale (70/100 lb), 168ft yoke carry (425/605 lb), 1-min reset, Time caps by round: 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 min. (Winners: M- Björgvin Karl Guðmundsson; F- Tia-Clair Toomey)
  • Event 14: 6-10-14 reps of Deadlifts (275/405 lbs) and Free Standing Handstand Push-ups (Winners: M- Patrick Vellner; F- Anníe Þórisdóttir)[40]
  • Event 15: 500/600m Row, 90 Chest-2-Bar Pull-ups, 36' Back Rack Lunges, 36' Front Rack Lunges, 36' Overhead Lunges (135/185 lbs) (Winners: M- Justin Medieros; F- Tia-Clair Toomey)[41]

Toomey overtook Mat Fraser for the most number of cumulative Games event wins on Saturday with 30,[42] and ended the Games with 33 event wins, 9 of which was won this year. She also equaled Fraser's record of five Games titles.[43] Medeiros won the last event, his first ever Games event win, to seal his victory.[44] The title win made him the youngest ever Games male winner.[7] Mallory O'Brien was named Rookie of the Year, the first athlete to win the accolade while still a teenager.[45]

Team competitions

[edit]

Thursday, July 29, 2021

[edit]
  • Event 1: FF 500m swim, FF 1000m kayak, MM 500m swim, MM 1000m kayak; Time Cap: 90 min (Winners: CrossFit Mayhem)
  • Event 2: 168-ft. Bob Push, 25 synchro bar muscle-ups (in pairs), cheese curd hold (70/100lbs), 336-ft. Bob Push, 50 synchro bar muscle-ups (in pairs), cheese curd hold (70/100lbs); Time Cap: 12 min (Winners: CrossFit Mayhem)
  • Event 3: At the 12 min of Event 2: 4 Rounds for Time of 42 synchro toes-to-bar (in pairs), cheese curd hold (70/100lbs), 42 ft Bob Drag; Time Cap: 12 min (Winners: CrossFit Mayhem)
  • Event 4: For Time: F/M Pair 1: 7 rounds of: 5 Synchro Wall walks and 5 Thrusters (135 lb. for women, 185 lb. for men); F/M Pair 2: 5 rounds of: 7 Synchro Wall walks and 7 Thrusters (135 lb. for women, 185 lb. for men) (Winners: CrossFit Mayhem)

Friday, July 30, 2021

[edit]
  • Event 5: 4 Rounds for Time of: 4 synchro rope climbs (F1/M1), 200/250m ski (F2/M2), 4 synchro rope climbs, (F2/M2), 200/250m ski (F2/M2), 42 ft Bob Hand-over-Hand pull (F/M pairs) (Winners: CrossFit Mayhem)
  • Event 6: 2 min after Event 5: 4 Rounds for Time of: Down and Back Run, 42ft Bob Push (M/F pairs) (Winners: CrossFit Oslo)
  • Event 7: Relay: F1/M1: 35 Echo Bike calories, 35 snatches (75lb/105lbs); F2/M2: 25 Echo Bike calories, 25 snatches (75lb/105lbs), 10 Echo Bike calories, 10 snatches (75lb/105lbs) (Winners: CrossFit Urban Energy)

Saturday, July 31, 2021

[edit]
  • Event 8: 2 Rounds for Time: 1.5 mi run, 168 ft Handstand Walk; Time Cap: 40 min (Winners: CrossFit Oslo)
  • Event 9: At 40 min: F/F pair establish 3-rep max Back Squat in 8 minutes, then M/M pair establish 3-rep max back squat in 8 min (Winners: CrossFit Mayhem)
  • Event 10: 5 Rounds for Time of: 1 peg board ascent/athlete, 6 synchro burpees over the work (other 3 athletes) into 8 work squats full team; Time Cap: 16 min(Winners: CrossFit Surbiton)

Sunday, August 01, 2021

[edit]
  • Event 11: 2.5 Rounds for Time of: 20 GHD sit-ups with med ball (14/20 lb) (M1/F1) 8 synchro burpee curd toss over (70/100lbs) (F2/M2) 20 GHD sit-ups with med ball (14/20 lb) (M2/F2) 8 synchro burpee curd toss over (70/100lbs) (F1/M1), Then 40 worm Hang Clean and Jerks; Time Cap: 17 min (Winners: CrossFit Mayhem)
  • Event 12: 21-15-9 reps of Team Deadlifts (805 lbs) and Synchro Strict Handstand Push-ups; Time Cap: 7 min (Winners: CrossFit Genas)
  • Event 13: 3x30 pulls-ups each at the same time, 36ft Worm Lunge Left, 36ft Worm Lunge Right, 36ft Worm Lunge Overhead; Time Cap: 7 min (Winners: CrossFit Mayhem)

Podium finishers

[edit]

Individuals and teams

[edit]
Place Men[46] Women [47] Team[48]
1st United States Justin Medeiros Australia Tia-Clair Toomey CrossFit Mayhem
2nd Canada Patrick Vellner Hungary Laura Horváth CrossFit Oslo
3rd Canada Brent Fikowski Iceland Annie Thorisdottir CrossFit Genas

Masters men

[edit]
Place[49] 35–39 40–44 45–49 50–54 55–59 60–64 65+
1st United States Kyle Kasperbauer France Maxime Guyon United States Jason Grubb Italy Bernard Luzi[a]

United States Kevin Koester

Netherlands Vincent Diephuis United States Will Powell United States Ken Ogden
2nd United States James Hobart United States David Johnston United States Mike Kern United States Brent Maier United States Ron Ortiz United States Carl Giuffre United States George Koch
3rd United States Adrian Conway France Alexandre Jolivet United States Justin Lasala United States Christian Biagi Canada Bruce Young United States Tim Lafromboise United States David Hippensteel
  1. ^ On 29 July 2021, Bernard Luzi tested positive for meldonium, a banned substance. After a failed appeal Luzi forfeited his win and was given a 4 year suspension from CrossFit Games competitions which will end July 29, 2025. Kevin Koester took Luzi's place as champion.[50]

Masters women

[edit]
Place[49] 35–39 40–44 45–49 50–54 55–59 60–64 65+
1st United States Whitney Gelin United Kingdom Kelly Friel United States Annie Sakamoto United States Tia Vesser Canada Laurie Meschishnick Canada Susan Clarke United States Patty Bauer
2nd United States Lauren Gravatt United States Rebecca Voigt Miller United Kingdom Ali Crawford Canada Joyanne Cooper United States Karen Lundgren United States Bianca Williams United States Lidia Beer
3rd Czech Republic Aneta Tucker United Kingdom Kelly Marshall United States Jennifer Dieter United States Carrie Sandoval United States Rose Wall Canada Patricia McGill United States Polly McKinstry

Teens

[edit]
Place[51] 14–15 Boys 14–15 Girls 16–17 Boys 16–17 Girls
1st United States Ty Jenkins United States Olivia Kerstetter United States Nate Ackermann Canada Emma Lawson
2nd United States Isaiah Weber United Kingdom Lucy McGonigle United States David Bradley United States Olivia Sulek
3rd Brazil Gustavo Pusch United States Hailey Rolfe New Zealand Hiko o te rangi Curtis Mexico Paulina Haro

Adaptive divisions

[edit]
Place[52] Men Upper Extremity Women Upper Extremity Men Lower Extremity Women Lower Extremity Men Neuromuscular Women Neuromuscular
1st United States Casey Acree Switzerland Sabrina Daniela Lopez Norway Ole Kristian Antonsen United States Valerie Cohen United States Brett Horchar United States Shannon Ogar
2nd United States Josue Maldonado United States Eileen Quinn France Seraphin Perier United States Natalie Bieule United Kingdom George Simonds-Gooding[a]

United States Jcruz Gudino

South Africa Letchen Du Plessis
3rd United States Logan Aldridge France Anne-Laure Coutenceau United Kingdom Elliot Young United States Sarah Rudder United States Sylvania Harrod United States Alisha Davis
  1. ^ On July 29 2021, George Simonds-Gooding was found to be in breach of the CrossFit Games drug policy.[53] Gooding was subsequently suspended for 2 years from CrossFit Games competitions with his suspension ending on July 29, 2023.[54] Jcruz Gudino became the second place finisher.

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
The 2021 NOBULL was the fifteenth annual edition of the premier competition in the sport of , serving as the culminating event to crown the "Fittest on Earth" across multiple divisions including individuals, teams, age groups, and adaptive athletes. Held from July 27 to August 1, 2021, at the in , the Games featured 40 men and 40 women in the elite individual divisions, 40 teams, over 200 age-group competitors, and 80 adaptive athletes, marking the return to a full in-person format after the virtual and limited elements of the 2020 event due to the . The season began with the CrossFit Open from March 11 to 28, 2021, an online global qualifier that drew over 415,000 participants worldwide and seeded athletes into subsequent stages. This was followed by Quarterfinals (April 8–11 for individuals and April 22–25 for teams), Semifinals across six regions (April–June), and finally the Games themselves, where athletes competed in 15 varied and unannounced events testing strength, endurance, skill, and metabolic conditioning, such as with fins, , sled drags, and pig flips. The event distributed a record prize purse exceeding $2.5 million across all divisions, with $300,000 awarded to the individual winners alone. In the individual competitions, of the claimed his first title in the men's division with 1,234 points, edging out Patrick Vellner of (1,152 points) and of (1,028 points), in a breakthrough performance on his Games debut. of dominated the women's field for the fifth consecutive year, amassing 1,435 points to secure the title ahead of of (1,179 points) and Annie Thorisdottir of (1,099 points), further cementing her status as one of the most accomplished athletes in history. Team Mayhem Nationals from won the team division, while age-group and adaptive podiums highlighted emerging talents and inclusive performances, with over 57,000 spectators attending in person.

Background

COVID-19 Impact and Recovery

The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly disrupted the CrossFit Games in 2020, leading to the cancellation of the traditional in-person event planned for Madison, Wisconsin. Instead, organizers shifted to a hybrid format featuring an online first stage on September 18-19, where 30 top men and 30 women competed remotely, followed by a low-key in-person finals stage on October 23 in Aromas, California, limited to the top 10 athletes (five men and five women) with no spectators allowed. The Age Group competition was entirely canceled in early May 2020, reflecting the broader uncertainties caused by lockdowns and travel restrictions. The pandemic also posed significant challenges to the community throughout , with widespread gym closures forcing affiliates to halt in-person operations for months, often three or longer in regions like . Athletes and members adapted by training at home, using creative workouts, and participating in virtual sessions via platforms like Zoom, while CrossFit launched initiatives such as the "Support Your Local Box" fundraiser to aid struggling affiliates. These disruptions delayed the competitive season, pushing the start of structured events into late 2020 and contributing to a sense of instability across the global network of over 10,000 affiliates. For the 2021 Games, prioritized a return to a full in-person format in , from to August 1, marking a recovery from the previous year's virtual-heavy approach, though online contingency plans remained in place should conditions worsen. Comprehensive health protocols were implemented to ensure safety, requiring all athletes, staff, and spectators to adhere to federal, state, and local guidelines from the Madison and Dane County Department. Unvaccinated individuals, including athletes, underwent COVID-19 testing upon arrival, supplemented by pre-travel tests where required, along with daily symptom screenings, on-site medical evaluations, mask provisions, and enhanced cleaning measures throughout the venue. Pre-competition testing for all individual athletes and staff confirmed no positive cases by , enabling the event to proceed without interruptions. The qualification process was revamped with additional virtual components to accommodate lingering adaptations.

Organizational and Sponsorship Changes

In 2021, CrossFit concluded its long-standing partnership with , which had served as the title sponsor of the from 2010 to 2020. This marked the end of a decade-long era that began with Reebok's exclusive apparel deal and evolved into full title sponsorship. On March 1, 2021, CrossFit announced NoBull as the new title sponsor, initiating a multi-year agreement that positioned NoBull as the official footwear and apparel provider and renamed the event the NOBULL . This transition represented the first Games without Reebok's branding since the competition's inception in 2007. A key structural innovation for the 2021 season was the reintroduction of the Affiliate Cup, a team competition designed to highlight gym affiliations worldwide. The Affiliate Cup integrated into the qualification process starting with the CrossFit Open, where athletes from the same affiliate could form teams scored based on their individual Open performances. Top affiliate teams advanced through quarterfinals and semifinals to compete at the Games, fostering community engagement and emphasizing the role of CrossFit boxes in athlete development. Additional format evolutions included the replacement of traditional regionals with expanded semifinals held across multiple regional events in May and , allowing for broader geographic participation while maintaining competitive integrity. The season also debuted dedicated adaptive divisions in the qualification pipeline, with 16 categories introduced in the Open for athletes with physical or intellectual impairments, culminating in three divisions competing live at the Games. These changes, alongside an increased overall prize purse of $2.5 million, reflected CrossFit's efforts to diversify and professionalize its competitive ecosystem.

Overview

Venue, Dates, and Attendance

The 2021 NOBULL CrossFit Games were held at the in , from July 27 to August 1, with July 27 designated as a preparation and initial competition day focused on age-group and adaptive athletes. The venue, a 164-acre complex featuring exhibition halls, coliseum arenas, and expansive outdoor fields, served as the central hub for most strength and endurance events, including and running circuits around the grounds. Aquatic events, such as and , utilized the adjacent for open-water competitions, leveraging the lake's proximity to the center for seamless transitions between water and land-based challenges. Following the limitations of the 2020 Games due to the , the 2021 edition marked a return to a full in-person format with enhanced safety protocols. Attendance reached approximately 57,000 spectators over the six days, averaging about 9,500 per day, reflecting strong community enthusiasm post-restrictions. For broader , all events were live-streamed on the official website and YouTube channel, allowing virtual participation from global audiences. Logistical challenges included high temperatures exceeding 90°F (32°C) during outdoor sessions, prompting hydration stations and shaded recovery areas, as well as a brief relocation of on-site campers indoors on July 28 ahead of forecasted severe storms. Despite these elements, the venue's infrastructure supported smooth operations, contributing to an estimated $12 million economic boost for Madison.

Format, Divisions, and Prize Money

The 2021 CrossFit Games adopted a multi-stage qualification process culminating in a five-day in-person finals event, where athletes competed in a series of varied workouts to determine the Fittest on . The divisions began with 40 men and 40 women, while the division started with 38 teams, each consisting of two men and two women from the same affiliate. To heighten competition intensity, cuts were implemented: after the first nine events (concluding Day 2), the fields reduced to the top 30 men, 30 women, and 30 teams; following the 10th event (end of Day 3), further cuts narrowed each to the top 20, with the remaining events determining final rankings. This format emphasized endurance and adaptability, building on qualification through the Open, Quarterfinals, and Semifinals as the primary pathway to entry. The Games encompassed diverse divisions to promote inclusivity across ages, abilities, and team formats. Elite divisions included separate men's and women's individual categories, alongside co-ed teams qualifying via the Affiliate Cup system. Masters athletes competed in age-specific brackets for men and women: 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, and 65+, with 20 athletes per group advancing from online qualifiers. Teenage divisions featured 14-15 and 16-17 categories for boys and girls, also with 20 per group. A landmark addition was the adaptive division, introducing eight impairment-based categories—Intellectual, Neuromuscular, Short Stature, Upper Extremity, Lower Extremity, Seated with Hip Function, Seated without Hip Function, and Vision Impairment—with top performers from select categories (Upper Extremity, Lower Extremity, and Neuromuscular) competing live, while others participated online. The event offered a record-breaking total prize purse exceeding $2.5 million, distributed across divisions to reward top performers. In the elite individual divisions, the men's and women's winners each received $310,000, with payouts descending to $8,000 for 20th place, totaling $1,764,000 shared between genders. The team division allocated $100,000 to first place, tapering to $5,000 for 10th, for a subtotal of $255,000. Masters divisions provided $25,000 to the 35-39 winners (per gender), with decreasing amounts for older brackets down to $2,000 for third in 65+, aggregating $280,000. Adaptive competitors in the three live categories earned up to $5,000 for first place, contributing $60,000 overall. These incentives underscored CrossFit's commitment to broadening accessibility and financial support in the sport.

Qualification

Open

The 2021 CrossFit Open served as the initial qualification stage for the , running from March 11 to March 29 and featuring three workouts released weekly on Thursdays (March 11, 18, and 25), with submission deadlines each Monday. This format allowed participants worldwide to complete the workouts at home or local affiliates, fostering broad participation without requiring specialized equipment or facilities. Over 263,500 athletes registered globally, marking it as CrossFit's most inclusive event to date, with competitors spanning 172 countries and representing all skill levels from beginners to elites. The top 10 percent of performers in each age group, gender, and region advanced to the Quarterfinals, ensuring a merit-based progression while accommodating diverse demographics such as teens, masters (over 35), and adaptive athletes. The workouts emphasized benchmark-style tests accessible to a wide , including scaled, , and equipment-free variations to support beginners and those with limited resources. Workout 21.1 was a 15-minute for-time effort scaling from 1 to 15 wall walks paired with increasing double-unders (up to 150). Workout 21.2 extended to 20 minutes, progressively increasing dumbbell snatches (starting at 10 reps with 50/35 lb) and burpee box jump-overs (15 reps over a 24/20-inch box). The final workout, 21.3, tested total time over 15 minutes of work (plus 2 minutes rest) with rounds of 15 front squats and 15 thrusters (95/65 lb) combined with gymnastic progressions from toes-to-bars to bar muscle-ups, immediately followed by a 7-minute max clean-and-jerk in the tied-in 21.4 segment. These designs prioritized functional movements like squats, pulls, and metabolic conditioning, enabling virtual submissions via video for leaderboard rankings.

Quarterfinals

The Quarterfinals marked the second qualification stage for the 2021 , transitioning top performers from the Open to a more rigorous online test of elite fitness. Held virtually from April 8 to 12 for individual athletes and April 22 to 26 for teams, featured five workouts per division released progressively over the weekend, emphasizing strength, endurance, and skill under time caps. Approximately 25,000 individual athletes—representing the top 10 percent of Open finishers per continent—received invitations, though over 13,000 men and women ultimately submitted scores for at least one workout. Similarly, the top 25 percent of Open teams per continent (with a minimum of 50 advancing from each) competed, introducing a structured roster of two men and two women without mid-event substitutions. To maintain competition integrity, athletes performed at licensed affiliates under the supervision of a registered judge, with video submissions required for validation, particularly for top leaderboard contenders. A key innovation was the use of continent-specific leaderboards, which ranked performances regionally to account for varying participant densities and foster balanced global qualification. This format filtered the field more selectively than the Open's accessible benchmarks, incorporating complex movements like rope climbs, handstand push-ups, and heavy barbell complexes to assess readiness for live events. Advancement to the Semifinals hinged on aggregate scores across the workouts, with the top 120 men and 120 women from , 60 from , and 30 from each of , , , and qualifying—a total of 600 individuals. For teams, 80 from , 40 from , and 20 from each other continent advanced, totaling 200 squads. Standout performances included five-time Fittest Woman on Earth Tia-Clair Toomey-Orr, who dominated with just 13 points to secure first place, underscoring her consistent excellence in the early season stages.

Semifinals

The Semifinals represented the culminating stage of the three-stage qualification process for the 2021 , transitioning from online formats to live, in-person competitions that tested athletes under competitive conditions with travel requirements. These events occurred over four consecutive weekends from May 28 to June 20, 2021, spanning 10 locations across six continents to accommodate regional participation. hosted four events, including the Mid-Atlantic CrossFit Challenge and the Granite Games, while featured two, such as the Lowlands Throwdown; single events took place in (Torian Pro), (Dubai CrossFit Championship), (SouthFit Games), and Africa (Cape Town CrossFit Championship). Each Semifinal drew the top 30 men, 30 women, and 20 teams from the Quarterfinals on their respective continents, who competed in four to five workouts designed to evaluate diverse fitness capacities, including strength, endurance, and skill-based movements. Qualification for the Games was determined by regional performance, with the top athletes and teams advancing directly or via a Last-Chance Qualifier; overall, 40 men, 40 women, and 30 teams secured spots at the . Notable performances included securing third place in the men's division at the Mid-Atlantic Challenge, showcasing his rising prominence ahead of his eventual Games victory. The 2021 Semifinals also introduced adaptive athletes into the qualification pipeline for the first time, with select divisions from the Open advancing to compete and potentially qualify for the , broadening inclusivity in the .

Competitions

Individual Events

The individual competition at the 2021 CrossFit Games featured 40 men and 40 women competing in 15 distinct events from July 28 to August 1, testing a broad range of fitness capacities including endurance, strength, gymnastics, and metabolic conditioning. Athletes were scored based on their finishing placement in each event, with ties broken by head-to-head comparisons; the lowest cumulative score determined overall rankings. The format included progressive cuts to narrow the field: after Event 9, the bottom 10 athletes in each gender were eliminated, reducing the competitors to 30; following Event 12, another cut to the top 20 occurred before the final two events. On Day 1 (July 28), the competition opened with water-based and strongman-style challenges at the in . Event 1 was a for-time workout combining a 1-mile swim using swim fins followed by a 3-mile paddle on . Event 2 tested heavy pulling and gymnastics with a 126-foot sled drag (loaded at 220 lb for men and 180 lb for women), 5 pig flips (510 lb for men, 350 lb for women), and 12 bar muscle-ups, reversed in the same order. Event 3 shifted to pure speed with a 550-yard sprint on the track, capped at 4 minutes. The day concluded with Event 4, a descending pyramid for time: 10 to 1 reps of wall walks and thrusters (185 lb for men, 135 lb for women). Day 2 () overlapped with events, focusing on mixed-modal tests, maximal lifts, and cardio. Event 5 was 4 rounds for time of 4 legless climbs (20 ft), 400 m (women)/500 m (men) SkiErg, and 200 m carry (100 lb women/200 lb men). Event 6 required 5 rounds for time of a 250 m run followed by an increasing-weight clean (women: 165-205 lb; men: 245-315 lb in 20 lb increments), capped at 7 minutes. Event 7 was 5 rounds for time of a 200 m run followed by an increasing-weight clean (women: 210-230 lb; men: 325-350 lb in 5-10 lb increments), capped at 8 minutes. Event 8 was a walking course for time, capped at 5 minutes. Event 9 was 21-15-9 reps for time of Bike calories and snatches (75 lb women/105 lb men using short bars), capped at 8 minutes. After Event 9, the field was cut to the top 30 athletes per gender. Day 3 (July 31) featured high-volume , running, and strength before the second cut. Event 10 was for time: 30 toes-to-bars, 1.5-mile run, 30 toes-to-bars, 1.5-mile run, 30 toes-to-bars, capped at 27 minutes. Event 11 was an 11-minute AMRAP: 1 pegboard ascent, 7 single-arm overhead squats (70 lb men/50 lb women), and 15 heavy double-unders (jump rope loaded to twice body weight). Event 12 was to establish a one-rep-max snatch. After the cut to 30 athletes following Event 9 and to 20 following Event 12, Event 13 was 4 rounds for time of 20 GHD sit-ups, 8 burpees over a hay bale (loaded with 100 lb women/70 lb men plate), and a 168-foot carry (605 lb men/425 lb women), with a 1-minute rest between rounds and a 20-minute overall cap—incorporating a nod to local dairy culture via the "cheese curd" movement. The finals on Day 4 (August 1) emphasized strength-endurance hybrids for the remaining 20 athletes per gender. Event 14 was an ascending ladder for time: 6-10-14 reps of deadlifts (405 lb men/275 lb women using short bars) and freestanding push-ups, capped at 7 minutes. The competition concluded with Event 15, a three-part workout for time: 600-meter row, 90 chest-to-bar pull-ups, then 108 feet of walking lunges (36 feet each back-rack, front-rack, and overhead at 185 lb men/135 lb women), capped at 11 minutes. These events highlighted the Games' tradition of unpredictable, multi-disciplinary tests, with unique elements like the fin-assisted swim, , pig flips, and drags underscoring the outdoor and influences.

Team Events

The team events at the 2021 CrossFit Games featured 10 cooperative workouts tailored for the 10 qualifying co-ed teams, each consisting of two men and two women. Held from to August 1, 2021, these events emphasized synchronization, load sharing, and strategic division of labor among teammates to complete complex movements efficiently. Many workouts scaled elements from the competitions, such as sled-like pushes and heavy flips, but adapted them for group execution, requiring constant communication to avoid penalties and optimize pacing. The competition began on with three events focused on and integration. Event 1 was an aquatic relay where pairs completed a 500-meter swim followed by a 1,000-meter , then pairs repeated the sequence, with a 90-minute time cap that tested transitions and stamina. Events 2 and 3 involved pushing a 1,200-pound weighted frame ("Bob") across the field while performing 25 and then 50 synchronized bar muscle-ups, interspersed with a 70-pound hold for stability, followed by four rounds of 42 synchronized toes-to-bars and additional Bob drags, each capped at 12 minutes to demand precise alternation between pairs. Event 4 required / pairs to complete rounds of synchronized walks and thrusters (135/185 pounds), with one pair doing seven rounds of five reps and the other five rounds of seven reps within 27 minutes, balancing workload across the team. July 30 brought two events highlighting formats and mixed modalities. Events 5 and 6 consisted of four rounds where one pair performed synchronized rope climbs while the other skied 500/400 meters, switching stations, alongside full-team Bob pulls and field runs, capped at 25 minutes to encourage seamless handoffs. Event 7 was a sequential on bikes and barbells, with the first pair accumulating 35 calories and completing 35 snatches (75/105 pounds), followed by the second pair doing 25 calories and snatches plus an additional 10 each, within 15 minutes, allowing teams to sequence athletes by strength in lifts and cardio output. On , the schedule included Events 8 and 9—a 1.5-mile run paired with 168 feet of walks, repeated once, capped at 40 minutes—followed by each female/female and male/male pair establishing a three-rep-max back squat in eight minutes per pair, assessing both aerobic capacity and maximal strength. Event 10 featured five rounds of one ascending the pegboard while the other three performed synchronized burpees, then the full completing eight Worm squats with a 553-pound load, capped at 16 minutes, to test individual skill alongside group heavy-object handling. The final day, August 1, concluded with three events blending , throws, and . Event 11 involved pairs alternating 20 GHD sit-ups holding a and eight curd tosses over 10 feet, completing two full rounds plus a partial, before the team performed 40 Worm hang clean-and-jerks at 265 pounds, capped at 17 minutes. Event 12 was a descending 21-15-9 rep scheme of 805-pound deadlifts and strict synchronized push-ups, capped at seven minutes, requiring all four athletes to coordinate on the . Event 13 had each athlete complete three sets of 30 chest-to-bar pull-ups before the team lunged a 428-pound Worm 36 feet in three carries (right shoulder, left shoulder, overhead), also capped at seven minutes. With no cuts in the team division, all 10 squads advanced through the full program to determine the fittest team on . Throughout the events, centered on assigning roles based on individual strengths, such as stronger athletes handling heavier segments of shared loads like the Worm or Bob, while faster teammates led runs and swims to set the pace. Synchronized elements, including muscle-ups, burpees, and rope climbs, necessitated tight timing and verbal cues to maintain flow, while relays allowed for recovery rotations to sustain output over long efforts. This cooperative structure fostered strategies like conserving energy in early stations for later demands, enabling teams to leverage collective endurance and power in ways unattainable individually.

Age-Group and Adaptive Events

The Age-Group and Adaptive Events at the 2021 NOBULL provided dedicated competitions for non-elite divisions, held from July 27 to July 29 at the in , with separate heats from the elite individual and team events. These events followed the same qualification pathway as other divisions, with athletes advancing through the Open, Quarterfinals, and Semifinals. Age-group divisions included four teen categories (boys and girls 14-15, boys and girls 16-17) and seven masters categories each for men and women (35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, and the newly introduced 65+). Adaptive events marked their debut, featuring eight divisions for men and women: Upper Extremity Rx, Upper Extremity Seated Rx, Lower Extremity Rx, and Lower Extremity Seated Rx, with 48 athletes qualifying overall. Masters athletes, aged 35 and older, completed 7 to 9 scaled events designed to test well-rounded fitness while adjusting for age-related considerations, such as reduced distances and lighter loads to ensure accessibility and safety. For instance, Event 1 required a 4.5-mile run for those aged 35-49 but only 3.75 miles for ages 50 and up, emphasizing endurance without excessive strain. Other events incorporated movements like rope climbs, deadlifts, and thrusters with scaled weights—for example, lighter dumbbells for shoulder-to-overheads in older divisions—to maintain competitive integrity across the seven masters categories. These adaptations allowed top performers, such as those in the inaugural 65+ division, to showcase strength and skill in a format that prioritized longevity in . Teen athletes aged 14-17 participated in similar scaled workouts, with 9 events for the 16-17 divisions and 7 for 14-15, featuring age-appropriate modifications like reduced repetitions in AMRAP formats to align with developmental stages. Examples included shorter run laps and lighter implements in chipper-style events, such as sandbag squats and walks, to build foundational fitness without overwhelming younger competitors. This structure enabled boys and girls in both teen brackets to compete on the same venue, fostering early exposure to high-level while ensuring safety through scaled parameters. Adaptive events consisted of 7 inclusive workouts over the three days, tailored for athletes with impairments in upper or lower extremities, including seated variations for accessibility, such as wheelchair-friendly runs and modified rope climbs. For example, featured rope climbs paired with deadlifts and snatches using specialized equipment to accommodate prosthetics or seated positions, ensuring all 48 qualified athletes could fully participate. These designs represented a milestone in inclusivity, allowing competitors across the eight divisions to vie for podium spots in a shared competitive environment that highlighted adaptive resilience and innovation in functional fitness.

Podium Finishers

Elite Individuals and Teams

The 2021 CrossFit Games elite individual divisions showcased the world's top male and female athletes vying for the title of Fittest on Earth, with rankings determined by cumulative points earned from placements across 15 events. In the men's division, of the claimed victory with 1,234 points, marking him as the youngest champion in Games history at age 22. Patrick Vellner of finished second with 1,152 points, while , also from , took third with 1,028 points.
RankAthleteCountryPoints
11,234
2Patrick Vellner1,152
31,028
In the women's division, of dominated to secure her fifth consecutive title, amassing 1,435 points and achieving a career total of 33 individual event wins, including nine victories that year. of earned second place with 1,179 points, and Annie Thorisdottir of rounded out the podium in third with 1,099 points. Toomey's event wins were a key factor in her substantial lead.
RankAthleteCountryPoints
11,435
21,179
3Annie Thorisdottir1,099
The elite team division featured 38 teams competing in scaled versions of the individual events, with points similarly accumulated based on placements. Mayhem Freedom from the won the Fittest Team on Earth title with 1,237 points. Oslo from placed second with 958 points, and Genas from secured third with 942 points, marking the first European teams to podium in the division.
RankTeamCountryPoints
1CrossFit Mayhem Freedom1,237
2CrossFit Oslo958
3CrossFit Genas942
The overall scoring system awarded points inversely to event placements, with first place earning the maximum and ties resolved by time or reps. winners each received $310,000 from the $2.5 million total prize purse, while the winner earned $100,000.

Masters Divisions

The Masters Divisions at the 2021 NOBULL CrossFit Games catered to athletes aged 35 and older, with events scaled appropriately for age groups to ensure safety and competitiveness while maintaining the core challenges of the competition. Podium finishers in the 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, and 60+ brackets demonstrated exceptional endurance, strength, and skill across workouts like runs, rope climbs, and . Payouts for these divisions awarded $25,000 to first place, $15,000 to second, and $10,000 to third in the 35-39 and 40-44 brackets, $15,000, $10,000, and $7,500 for 45-49, and $10,000 to first, $5,000 to second, $3,000 to third in the 50-54, 55-59, and 60-64 brackets, contributing to a total masters prize purse of $280,000 across all age groups. For the 65+ bracket, prizes were $5,000, $3,000, and $2,000, respectively.

Podium Finishers

Age BracketMen 1stMen 2ndMen 3rdWomen 1stWomen 2ndWomen 3rd
35-39Kyle Kasperbauer (775 pts.)James Hobart (745 pts.)Adrian Conway (705 pts.)Whitney Gelin (755 pts.)Lauren Gravatt (710 pts.)Aneta Tucker (665 pts.)
40-44Maxime Guyon (720 pts.)David Johnston (680 pts.)Alexandre Jenni (670 pts.)Kelly Friel (775 pts.)Rebecca Voigt Miller (710 pts.)Mary Beth Litson (665 pts.)
45-49Jason Grubb (610 pts.)Mike Kern (520 pts.)Justin LaSala (510 pts.)Annie Sakamoto (550 pts.)Jennifer Dieter (540 pts.)Shanna Bunce (530 pts.)
50-54Bernard Luzi (615 pts.)Kevin Koester (605 pts.)Brent Maier (550 pts.)Tia Vesser (595 pts.)Joyanne Cooper (530 pts.)Carrie Sandoval (525 pts.)
55-59Vincent Diephuis (570 pts.)Ron Ortiz (490 pts.)Bruce Young (460 pts.)Laurie Meschishnick (565 pts.)Karen Lundgren (545 pts.)Rose Wall (485 pts.)
60-64Will Powell (570 pts.)Carl Giuffre (485 pts.)Tim LaFromboise (485 pts.)Susan Clarke (670 pts.)Bianca Williams (630 pts.)Patricia McGill (575 pts.)
65+Ken Ogden (590 pts.)George Koch (580 pts.)David Hippensteel (550 pts.)Patty Bauer (585 pts.)Lidia Beer (495 pts.)Polly McKinstry (490 pts.)

Teens Divisions

The Teens 16-17 division at the 2021 consisted of eight events scaled for athletes aged 16 and 17, with adjustments to loads, distances, and complexities to suit their developmental stage while maintaining the core principles of competition. These young competitors demonstrated exceptional athleticism, with the division highlighting emerging talent poised for future elite-level success. In the Boys 16-17 division, Nate Ackermann from the secured first place with 815 points, earned through consistent top performances across the events. David Bradley, also from the , took second with 755 points, while Hiko o te Rangi Curtis from finished third. The Girls 16-17 division was dominated by Emma Lawson of the , who won with 825 points after excelling in multiple events, including three victories on the first day. Olivia Sulek, also from the , placed second with 780 points, and Paulina Haro from earned third with 670 points. The Teens 14-15 division featured scaled events for younger athletes, showcasing the next generation of CrossFit talent. Ty Jenkins from the won the Boys 14-15 division with 610 points, ahead of Isaiah Weber (570 points) and Caden Poulin (560 points). In the Girls 14-15, Olivia Kerstetter from the claimed victory with 585 points, followed by Lucy McGonigle (560 points) and Hailey Rolfe (520 points). Scoring followed a placement-based system similar to the elite divisions, where athletes accumulated points from their rankings in each event, with the highest total points determining the overall winner; no cash prizes were awarded in the teens divisions, focusing instead on medals and recognition for podium finishers.
Division1st Place2nd Place3rd Place
Boys 16-17Nate Ackermann (USA, 815 pts)David Bradley (USA, 755 pts)Hiko o te Rangi Curtis (NZL, 685 pts)
Girls 16-17Emma Lawson (USA, 825 pts)Olivia Sulek (USA, 780 pts)Paulina Haro (MEX, 670 pts)
Boys 14-15Ty Jenkins (USA, 610 pts)Isaiah Weber (USA, 570 pts)Caden Poulin (USA, 560 pts)
Girls 14-15Olivia Kerstetter (USA, 585 pts)Lucy McGonigle (USA, 560 pts)Hailey Rolfe (USA, 520 pts)

Adaptive Divisions

The 2021 CrossFit Games introduced adaptive divisions for the first time, featuring competitions across six categories for men and women: Upper Extremity Impairment, Lower Extremity Impairment, and Neuromuscular Impairment. These divisions allowed athletes with specific disabilities to showcase their fitness in modified events, qualifying through the inclusive Open, Quarterfinals, and Semifinals. A total of 24 athletes competed over three days, marking a significant step toward broader in elite . Winners in each division earned $5,000, with second-place finishers receiving $3,000 and third-place $2,000, contributing to the event's overall purse exceeding $2.5 million. The competitions emphasized functional movements adapted for impairments, such as modified rope climbs and seated exercises, while maintaining the intensity of the Games format. Below are the podium finishers for each adaptive division.
Division1st Place2nd Place3rd Place
Men Upper ExtremityCasey Acree ()Josue Maldonado ()Logan Aldridge ()
Women Upper ExtremitySabrina Daniela Lopez ()Eileen Quinn ()Anne-Laure Coutenceau ()
Men Lower ExtremityOle Kristian Antonsen ()Séraphin Périer ()Elliot Young ()
Women Lower ExtremityValerie Cohen ()Natalie Bieule ()Sarah Rudder ()
Men NeuromuscularBrett Horchar ()George Simonds-Gooding ()Jcruz Gudino ()
Women NeuromuscularShannon Ogar ()Letchen du Plessis ()Alisha Davis ()
These results highlighted standout performances, such as Horchar's six event wins in the Men's Neuromuscular division and Cohen's dominant 655-point total in Women's Lower Extremity. The adaptive events underscored CrossFit's commitment to inclusivity, inspiring future expansions in the sport.

References

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