2025 CrossFit Open Registrations Down 32%; Lowest Total Since 2014

CrossFit Open workout 25.1 is done, and the results are in. 

While many are pondering their own fitness level, the leaderboard, as always, also highlights overall registration and participation.

Since registration opened on January 15, we have been building toward this moment. The first workout of the 2025 CrossFit Games season was announced, scores have been submitted, and the dust has started to settle.

Year	Total	YoY Growth
2019	358,646	-13.79%
2020	239,106	-33.02%
2021	263,529	10.21%
2022	293,805	11.49%
2023	323,014	9.94%
2024	343,496	6.34%
2025	233,815	-31.93%

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This Type of Decrease Happened Once Before

A year-over-year reduction in Open registrations this high has only happened once in CrossFit’s history, back in 2020. 

• However, the 2020 season really started in the fall of 2019. Just after the 2019 CrossFit Games, CrossFit announced that the 2020 Open would start in October, meaning there would be two Opens in one year. 

The 2020 Open began on October 14, 2019, which is only 199 days after the end of the 2019 Open.

In that second Open of 2019, there was a 33.3% reduction in registrations. Shortly after the 2020 Open, CrossFit released these numbers to the media:

• 2019 CrossFit Open: 358,646 
• 2020 CrossFit Open: 239,106
• Total Open participants for this calendar year: 450,386

While registrations dropped significantly, CrossFit pointed out that overall participation was the highest ever for a single year of Open participants.  

• Go deeper: This Morning Chalk Up article from 2020 provides more context for that year’s numbers.

Things are different this year.

The last Open ended 346 days ago, with 6.34% year-over-year growth from 2023, after three straight years of around 10% growth. 

• The rollercoaster was ticking up for a second time after the drop from 2018 to 2020.

With today’s preliminary numbers, the CrossFit community stands at 233,815 registered members, of whom 216,700 participated in 25.1. Many more affiliate members likely did the Open in their gyms during class or during their Friday Night Lights without officially registering to have their names on the leaderboard and results added to their Games profile.

Elite Athletes Not On the Leaderboard

Many athletes have posted that they are sitting out for the 2025 Open. Some are focused on other sports, family, working through injuries, or many other things. 

• Other athletes have pointed to the death of Lazar Ðukić at the 2024 Games and the subsequent investigation and safety response by CrossFit LLC as a reason for sitting out. 

The reasons for the overall registration reduction will likely be discussed in more detail in the days and weeks to come. 

Here are some numbers regarding recent Semifinal and Games athletes who are sitting out in 2025.

How Many Athletes Will Qualify for Semifinals?

For now, one set of numbers matters more to competitors than any other: How many athletes per division will move on to the In-Affiliate Semifinals and/or meet the eligibility requirements to qualify for the CrossFit Games through in-person qualifying events.

But wait, registration isn’t technically over, right? 

• Unlike the prize money, which will be determined after the final numbers are totaled after week three, the qualification spots for the next stage are finalized after week one.

Rule 2.01 of the 2025 CrossFit Games rulebook states (emphasis added): 

• “Based on the worldwide Open rank, the top 1%* (or a minimum of 1,200 athletes) in the Individual men and women divisions will qualify to participate in Semifinals. The top 2%** (or a minimum of 200 athletes) in each age-group division will qualify to participate in the Age-Group Semifinals. ALL teams from the Open will be eligible to participate in the Team Semifinals with a chance to qualify for the CrossFit Games.

• “*Percentages will be based on the number of athletes registered for the Individual division worldwide at the close of 25.1.
• “**Percentages will be based on the number of athletes registered for each Age-Group division worldwide at the close of 25.1.”

Here’s the breakdown of how many athletes will qualify for the next stage after the Open is done.

• These numbers are unofficial, based on the total number of registrations shortly after the 25.1 deadline date and time (March 3, 2025, at 5 p.m. PT).

The “Open Division” is made up of athletes that would compete for a spot as an Individual in the 2025 CrossFit Games:

Open Division	Total Registration	1%	Qual SF (minimum)	Actual %
Men (16-54)	119,700	1,197	1,200	1.003%
Women (16-54)	89,901	899	1,200	1.335%

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The Age Group Divisions also include athletes who are eligible to compete for a spot as an Individual in the 2025 CrossFit Games and athletes who are competing for a spot at the Masters and Teen Games:

Age Group Divisions	Total Registration	2%	Qual SF (minimum)	Actual %
Men 35-39	26,444	529	200	2.000%
Men 40-44	20,240	405	200	2.000%
Women 35-39	19,590	392	200	2.000%
Women 40-44	20,240	405	200	2.000%
Men 45-49	13,185	264	200	2.000%
Women 45-49	9,585	192	200	2.087%
Men 50-54	8,044	161	200	2.486%
Women 50-54	5,499	110	200	3.637%
Men 55-59	4,901	98	200	4.081%
Women 55-59	3,582	72	200	5.583%
Men 60-64	2,626	53	200	7.616%
Women 60-64	2,091	42	200	9.565%
Men 65-69	1,184	24	200	16.892%
Boys 16-17	1,179	24	200	16.964%
Women 65-69	1,121	22	200	17.841%
Girls 16-17	1,150	23	200	17.391%
Boys 14-15	1,084	22	200	18.450%
Girls 14-15	957	19	200	20.899%
Men 70+	626	13	200	31.949%
Women 70+	609	12	200	32.841%

For the Adaptive CrossFit Games presented by WheelWOD, the top 20 of each division advance to Semifinals.

Seventeen out of 22 divisions will require the use of minimums due to a lack of registration. 

Only the 35-39 men and women, 40-44 men and women, and the 45-49 men will be based on 2% of the total. 

What’s Next?

In the days and weeks to come, we will discuss Open participation, “new” versus “returning” athletes, and prize money in more detail. 

If you have suggestions for what you would like to see, drop a DM to Mike Halpin on Instagram at @known_knowable.

Featured image: Heather Weir, @hweirphotography / Instagram