In 2023, Team Invictus, comprised of Josh Al-Chamaa, Jorge Fernandez, Devyn Kim, and Brittany Weiss, put on a show at the CrossFit Games in Madison.
- A podium favorite, but not necessarily for the top spot, the foursome made a statement and took home the gold. They only finished outside of the top five in only one event all week.
With the members of that squad going their separate ways, in addition to many other changes, the Invictus training camp has a fresh coat of paint heading into the 2025 season.
Invictus, a training camp known primarily for the caliber of teams it produces, had two teams competing at the 2024 CrossFit Games, with a third competing at the North America West Semifinal.
Following the Games, coach Holden Rethwill wanted to give his athletes more time than usual to recover physically and mentally.
Recovering From 2024
There was a lot to process after the 2024 Games.
- Rethwill explained to the Morning Chalk Up: “A lot of people were unsure as to what their plans were going to be heading into this year. And so we just let folks do whatever they felt like doing in the off-season to make sure that they were having fun and enjoying the process.”
This season, a rulebook change limited the number of affiliate teams allowed to compete at the Games to one per affiliate.
- It “kind of pulls the rug out for a lot of those aspirational athletes that maybe are not quite at the level of being on the number one team yet,” says Rethwill.
The 2025 CrossFit Games Rulebook specifically states, “Only one team per affiliate will advance to represent that affiliate at the finals.” (Rule 2.14)
- “They maybe had the potential to be on a second or a third team that could have still qualified for the Games. Unfortunately, it kills the momentum for a lot of those folks,” Rethwill continued.
Due to this, Invictus saw five or six athletes decide not to return to Southern California to train.
They made these decisions due to work, school, or financial reasons, as they understood that their chance to be on a team and compete at the Games was drastically diminished with this new rule.
- The core goal of Invictus continues to be to provide opportunities for as many as many people as possible to compete.
The team hopes to incorporate their other locations — Miami, Seattle, Boston, and DC — to help more athletes get involved. Even though the logistics are still unclear, the goal is solid.
Moving On…Kind Of
This year, Invictus has seen some high-profile athletes move on for various reasons.
- In late November, Chandler Smith posted a shot from the CrossFit Games with the caption, “Not stopping, just turning. Good run.”
He has since signed with the World Fitness Project and participated in HYROX, but he still regularly trains in the San Diego facility and participates with the community.
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Lauren Fisher is also moving on.
On February 1, Fisher posted a farewell video on Instagram, announcing her step away from competitive CrossFit.
- Her post read, “12 Years. 9 CrossFit Games. Countless Memories. After more than a decade of competing at the highest level in CrossFit, it’s time to close this chapter. This decision has been on my heart for a while, and as my mom always told me… Follow your heart. Deep down, I know this is the right moment.”
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While some high-level athletes have left Invictus, but many remain.
Jessie Smith, a 2024 Invictus CrossFit Games team member, is still in San Diego. She is interested in both individual and team competitions this season.
- We last saw Smith at TYR Wodapalooza Miami, where she competed with Aimee Cringle and Anikha Greer. They finished in fifth place. Dani Speegle also remains on the Invictus roster.
Availability and financials continue to be considered, especially regarding younger athletes like Hannah Black training in Southern California.
- Rethwill told us that Black’s schedule last year, being between jobs, allowed her the availability to easily travel back and forth to San Diego from her home base in Texas.
It is still up in the air if that will be a financially feasible option this year – San Diego is expensive.
With so much still up in the air regarding the Games season, Rethwill and the Invictus camp remain liquid.
- “Winning is nice, but we also have a lot of different people and opportunities. And so if I can help any of our athletes in any different way, then that’s always my goal,” Rethwill concluded.
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Featured image: @crossfitinvictus / Instagram
