The 2024 Down Under Championship (DUC) takes place in Wollongong, Australia, from October 18-20
- Excitement is thick as the workouts for Australia’s largest offseason competition have been released and athletes are taking the competition floor.
This year, DUC will host two elite divisions — individuals and pairs — for men and women.
- Check out the full leaderboards for all divisions and the event schedule.
Here’s our guide on who to watch.
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Elite Individual Women — 2024 Down Under Championship
There are 24 elite individual women hitting the competition floor:
- Aimee Cringle (UK)
- Alexandra Bulic (AUS)
- Alys Scott (NZ)
- Bec Glenister (AUS)
- Brittany Weiss (USA)
- Chelsea Lane (AUS)
- Christina Livaditakis (ZI)
- Ella Price (NZ)
- Emily Clements (AUS)
- Emily De Rooy(AUS)
- Georgia Farrow (AUS)
- Erika Palasty (AUS)
- Isabella Andueza (AUS)
- Jess Green (AUS)
- Jesse Ward (AUS)
- Jessi Smith (USA)
- Kaitlyn Matuschka (AUS)
- Laura Clifton (NZ)
- Laura Yardley (AUS)
- Linda Keesman (NL)
- Maisie Wilde (AUS)
- Marnie Sykes (NZ)
- Mekenzie Woodhouse (AUS)
- Samantha Pugh (USA)
Reigning back-to-back winner Madeline “Maddie” Sturt is missing from the lineup, as is Oceania Semifinal winner Grace Walton, who had previously been listed on Instagram as a participant in the individual competition.
- Out of the 24 athletes listed, six have Games experience either as an individual or on a team.
Who to Watch
Emily De Rooy
De Rooy is part of the reigning Fittest Team on Earth – Raw Iron CrossFit Mayhem Thunder – along with Kara Saunders, Khan Porter, and James Newbury.
- The DUC will be De Rooy’s first individual competition since the DUC last year.
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Aimee Cringle
The 2024 Games rookie is making the journey from the Isle of Man, UK, to compete in her second DUC.
- As a former track and field athlete, Cringle will be able to showcase her running skills in two of the seven events.
Linda Keesman
Another European making the journey to Australia is Linda Keesman, who will compete at her first DUC.
- Heralding from the Netherlands, Keesman punched her first ticket to the Games this year. She loves a heavy barbell and has been working hard on her gymnastics skills.
Dark Horse Picks
Jessi Smith
The CrossFit Invictus athlete is returning to the DUC, but this time as an individual.
- Last year, Smith and her California Gurls teammates Dani Speegle and Emily Rethwill won the Elite Team division.
Marnie Sykes
The New Zealander has carved her niche as a team specialist, competing on a team at the Games for four consecutive years.
This year, Sykes came second in the team division at the Games as part of the CrossFit Torian Mayhem crew. Sykes is our dark horse pick for a top-three finish this year.
Elite Pairs Women — 2024 Down Under Championship
It looks like we’re going to have an epic battle in the Women’s Elite Pairs division.
There’s a mix of youth and experience in this field, with 24 pairs listed on the DUC website:
- 129: Abby Ashton and Raquel Jade
- 2 Nuggs: Taylah Baker and Maddy McArthur
- Aus-Merican Gals: Lisa Burrill and Jordan Malm
- Chirny Girls: Kathryn Micheli and Tanikka Pignataro
- Chocolate Alley: Georgia Welsman and Abby Carvell
- CrossFit Karuna: Katreena Drake and Mel Halstead
- Girls on Fire: Emily Atton and Caitlin Danyi
- Grit Girls in the Gong: Kirra Csurhes and Nikki Kramer
- Horsham CrossFit Twins: Maddie Iredell and Ema Iredell
- Injustice Transition: Stephanie Papini and Heidi Hughes
- Loose Skids: Josie Winfield and Nicole Crouch
- Mayhem at the WARC: Daisy McDonald and Hayley Adams
- Muscle Mummies: Meg Davis and Emily Fenech
- Nik & Fizz: Fenella Richards and Nikita Bryant
- No Biceps No Problem: Rach Toomua Faumuina and Simone Arthur
- Script Fitz: Sarah Corrigan and Courtney Fitzharris
- Starr Strength E&L: Lissandra Larobina and Emilie Hogan
- Strong Gals: Emily Julian and Gabriella Napper
- The Hamster & the Lioness: Charlotte Baldwin and Julia Hannaford
- Timebirds: Clara Allemand and Maddy Huggins
- Tribe Black: Cherie Myers and Gia Davis
- Tribe HQ x Messina: Erin Felton and Amy Alessi
- True: Christee Hollard and Briony Challis
- YTG: Amber Koen and Olivia Kelly
Who to Watch
True: Christee Hollard and Briony Challis
This team is a favorite for a podium finish in the pairs division.
- Both Hollard and Challis have Games experience, and Hollard was on the CrossFit Torian Mayhem team that finished second at the Games this year. This experienced duo finished second at DUC in the team division last year.
Mayhem at the WARC: Daisy McDonald and Hayley Adams
On the heels of her rookie year at the Games, Daisy McDonald is teaming up with her training partner, the Australian Hayley Adams, in the Elite Women’s Pairs division.
- McDonald loves all things gymnastics, and Adams doesn’t shy away from a gutsy workout. There’s a good chance these two young guns will be standing on the podium at the end of the weekend.
The Hamster & The Lioness: Julia Hannaford and Charlotte Baldwin
Aussie cowgirl Julia Hannaford is teaming up with up-and-coming athlete Charlotte Baldwin, who made her Torian Pro debut this year.
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- Hannaford is known for her epic weightlifting abilities, and both athletes are strong in inverted gymnastics. We’ll soon find out if these athletes have been working on their running in the offseason.
Darkhorse
Strong Gals: Emily Julian and Gabriella Napper
We believe that Emily Julian and teen athlete Gabriella Napper have the potential to shake up the leaderboard in the Women’s Elite Pairs division.
- Both Julian and Napper competed on teams at the Oceania Semifinal. Strong Gals put up some impressive scores in the online qualifier for DUC, and we’re excited to see what they can do when they hit the competition floor.
Elite Individual Men — 2024 Down Under Championship
Here’s the roster of 24 athletes who’ll be hitting the competition floor in the Elite Individual Men division:
- Adam Mansy (AUS)
- Álvaro Teixeira (BR)
- Andrew Sambell (AUS)
- Ben Fowler (NZ)
- Brandyn Gaskill (AUS)
- Conor McEleny (AUS)
- Dante Karangaroa (NZ)
- Darcy Hancock (AUS)
- Ethan van der Velden (AUS)
- George Rhigas (AUS)
- Gonzalo Del Rio (ES)
- Isaac Newman (AUS)
- Jack Fleming (AUS)
- Jack Monaghan (AUS)
- Jack Sweeney (AUS)
- Jack Verman (AUS)
- James Hargreaves (AUS)
- Luke Fowler (NZ)
- Morteza Sedaghat (IR)
- Peter Ellis (AUS)
- Riley Martin (NZ)
- Royce Dunne (AUS)
- Ryan Mulvaney (AUS)
- Thor Hajnal (NZ)
There’s plenty of experience on this list, including six Games athletes.
- Teen athlete Brandyn Gaskill will be making his first appearance in the Elite Men’s division.
Who to Watch
Royce Dunne
Royce Dunne is returning to the Down Under Championship, but this time as an individual competition.
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- With six years of Games experience under his belt, including a second-place finish in the team division this year, Dunne is a hot favorite for a podium finish. Last year, he won the DUC Elite team division with teammates Jay Crouch and Bayley Martin.
Peter Ellis
The young gun from Australia is returning to defend his DUC 2023 title after a career-best season in 2024, which culminated in his first Games appearance in August.
- This Games rookie is not afraid to do the work to get the job done.
Ben Fowler
Ben Fowler topped the leaderboard for the DUC qualifiers with a dominant performance in the online format.
- This New Zealander has Games experience, having competed on CrossFit Selwyn in the team division in 2022.
Dark Horse
Issac Newman
Newman finished second in the online DUC qualifiers.
- He also had an impressive sixth-place finish at the Oceania Semifinal earlier this year, and we believe that Newman could be a dark horse for a podium spot.
Elite Pairs Men — 2024 Down Under Championship
We’re in for an exciting battle in the Men’s Elite Pairs, with a depth of field that is second to none.
The list below is headlined by a gang of Games athletes, including Ricky Garard, James Newbury, Khan Port, and Aniol Ekai, among others. Full leaderboard here.
- +64 Army Mahi Dawgs: Kendall Peterson and Hauwai McGahan
- 1 2 9: James Keen and Nick Luksich
- All Gravy Baby: Bradley Spreadborough and David Mayall
- BaiFit Black: Bailey O’Brien and Marty Strong
- Carv: Mitchell Case and Zeke Grove
- Change: Khan Porter and James Newbury
- CrossFit Currumbin: Harry Calverley and Tom Marais
- Flax Mahi Dawgs: Aidan Te Wake-Hope and Bryce Shearer
- Frog Wannabes 2.0: Dylan Chow and Josh Marple
- Gorilla: Zac Thomas and Jake Soles
- International BILS: Asier Moreno and Rada Sovljanski
- Jakes at Work: Jake Douglas and Jake Marconi
- Logan’s Finest: Alex Herewini and Jordy Wilson
- Men of Culture: Shane Ormerod and Patrick Clapin
- Team Ape: Ricky Garard and Aniol Ekai
- Team Brute Strength: Daniel Faumuina and Cameron Gray
- Team Mojo: Moses Petelo and Jonathan Dunlop
- Team Remi/Raw Iron: Nathan Corden and Jadyn Whakatope-Stewart
- Team Sugartits: Morten Almaas and Dylan Roberts
- The Baseline Bros: Kieren Power and Jordan Bailey
- Tob&Ben: Ben Hickson and Toby Crouch
- Training Culture: Calum Clements and Pablo Cazalis
- Woodham and Lees: Max Lees and Thomas Woodham
- Your Mum’s Ex-Boyfriends: Brodie Scott and Thomas Bartley
Who to Watch
Team Ape
We predict a strong performance from Ricky Garard and his teammate Aniol Ekai, who competed in his rookie Games season in Fort Worth earlier this year.
- With experience and determination on their side, Team Ape will be hard to beat.
Gorilla
Zac Thomas is making his return to competition after his cardiac episode in the first event of the Oceania Semifinal earlier this year. Jake Soles has replaced Luke de Jonge as Thomas’ teammate.
- These Wollongong locals have endurance and grit on their side. Can they bring it all together for a podium finish this year?
Change
Aussie CrossFit veterans Khan Porter and James Newbury are teaming up once again in the Men’s Elite Pairs division.
- Can these living legends continue their winning form after taking home the Fittest on Earth title as part of the CrossFit Mayhem Thunder team in August this year?
Dark Horse
Carv
Our dark horse pick goes to Mitchell Case and Zeke Grove from team Carv.
- These Aussie athletes competed on a team together at the Oceania Semifinal earlier this year. Grove’s four years of Games experience could help steer Carv into a podium spot by the end of the weekend.
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Featured image: @downunderchampionship / Instagram
