On Feb. 2, 2021, CrossFit HQ shared new details regarding the Semifinals and Last-Chance Qualifiers for the 2021 CrossFit Games. Included in the updates are how many Semifinal events each continent will host, the number of athletes that will compete in the Semifinals and qualify for the Games, and which athletes will be invited to compete in a Last-Chance Qualifier following the completion of the Semifinal events.
To qualify for the 2021 CrossFit Games, athletes must participate in up to three phases of competition: the Open, the Quarterfinals, and the Semifinals. North America will host four Semifinals, Europe will host two, and each other continent will host one.
Additionally, the deadline “for any owners who wish to change their Licensee of Record (LOR) or establish a new address for team qualification” has been extended to Feb. 15, 2021. This is an important addition of time for potential teams competing to adhere to the new “100-mile rule” which states that “team athletes all must live within 100 miles of the CrossFit affiliate they are representing” in section 1.14 of the CrossFit Games Rulebook.
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Semifinals Updates
Each continent will host at least one Semifinal event which offers 2021 CrossFit Games qualification opportunities to individual athletes and teams.
North America
- Four Semifinal events.
- The top 120 men, 120 women, and 80 teams total will be invited to compete. Each Semifinal event will include 30 men, 30 women, and 20 teams.
- The top five men, top five women, and top five teams from each Semifinal competition will advance to the 2021 CrossFit Games.
Europe
- Two Semifinal events.
- The top 60 men, 60 women, and 40 teams will be invited to compete. Each Semifinal event will include 30 men, 30 women, and 20 teams.
- The top five men, top five women, and top five teams from each Semifinal competition will advance to the 2021 CrossFit Games.
Oceania
- One Semifinal event.
- The top 30 men, 30 women, and 20 teams will be invited to compete.
- The top three men, top three women, and top three teams will advance to the 2021 CrossFit Games.
Asia
- One Semifinal event.
- The top 30 men, 30 women, and 20 teams will be invited to compete.
- The top two men, top two women, and top two teams will advance to the 2021 CrossFit Games.
South America
- One Semifinal event.
- The top 30 men, 30 women, and 20 teams will be invited to compete.
- The top two men, top two women, and top two teams will advance to the 2021 CrossFit Games.
Africa
- One Semifinal event.
- The top 30 men, 30 women, and 20 teams will be invited to compete.
- The top man, woman, and team will advance to the 2021 CrossFit Games.
In total: 38 men, 38 women, and 38 teams will qualify for the Games via the Semifinal events. Two additional men and two additional women will qualify via the Last-Chance Qualifier (more information below).
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Last-Chance Qualifier Updates
The Last-Chance Qualifiers are exactly what their name implies — a final opportunity for athletes who narrowly missed qualifying for the Games via the Semifinals events to still earn a spot to compete on CrossFit’s biggest stage. The Last-Chance Qualifiers are scheduled for the week of June 28 through July 4, 2021.
Per CrossFit’s press release, the Last-Chance Qualifiers are “reserved for Individual athletes that finished within three spots of a Games qualifying position.” Note that that means there will not be a Last-Chance Qualifier for teams.
Each continent will have its own eligibility standard for an invitation to their Last-Chance Qualifier.
- North America — Athletes who finished in sixth through eighth place from each respective Semifinal event.
- Europe — Athletes who finished in sixth through eighth place from each respective Semifinal event.
- Oceania: Athletes who finished in fourth through sixth place at the Semifinal event.
- Asia: Athletes who finished in third through fifth place at the Semifinal event.
- South America: Athletes who finished in third through fifth place at the Semifinal event.
- Africa: Athletes who finished in second through fourth place at the Semifinal event.
At the conclusion of the competition weekend, the top two men and two women from the Last-Chance Qualifier will advance to the Games. In total, 40 men and 40 women will compete in individual competition at the 2021 CrossFit Games for the title of Fittest on Earth®.
Feature image via CrossFit Games Instagram page: @crossfitgames