The Trump administration proposed additional travel ban restrictions earlier this month, which could affect CrossFit Games athletes coming from outside the U.S. later this summer.
- Remind me: The 2025 CrossFit Games will take place in Albany, NY, from Friday, August 1, to Sunday, August 3, at MVP Arena. It’s a new venue for the Games, which were held in Fort Worth, TX, in 2024.
The Games mark the conclusion of the official season and gather the fittest athletes worldwide to compete for the title of Fittest on Earth. However, recent actions by the U.S. federal government could threaten at least one athlete’s ability to participate.
According to the Associated Press, the travel ban is currently in effect for the following countries.
- Afghanistan
- Myanmar
- Chad
- The Republic of the Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Libya
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Yemen
The ban stipulates that no new visas be issued to nationals from these 12 countries, though existing visas would not be revoked. You can read the full proclamation here.
There are also 36 countries on the administration’s list that need to “improve their citizens’ travel documentation” or face bans, according to the Associated Press.
These include primarily African and Middle Eastern countries:
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Burkina Faso
- Cabo Verde
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Ethiopia
- Egypt
- Gabon
- The Gambia
- Ghana
- Kyrgyzstan
- Liberia
- Malawi
- Mauritania
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Senegal
- South Sudan
- Syria
- Tanzania
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Vanuatu
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
CrossFit athletes like Roman Khrennikov and Sam Briggs have previously faced visa issues, but both managed to compete in the Games. Still, domestic politics in the U.S. around immigration enforcement and an uncertain geopolitical situation are highlighting visa issues, especially for travelers from certain countries.
It’s worth noting that the men’s winner of the Far East Throwdown, one of this season’s 10 In-Person Qualifying Events (IPQE), Morteza Sedaghat, hails from Iran.
- He previously faced visa issues in 2023, which forced him to relinquish his spot at the Games. Further details on his visa progress are currently unavailable.
There is an exemption in the travel ban for “any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event as determined by the Secretary of State.”
The CrossFit Games, or any other strength sport, like bodybuilding or strongman, were not mentioned specifically in the proclamation. We will have more information as details become available.
More CrossFit Stories
- Breaking: Tia-Clair Toomey-Orr Will Compete at the 2025 CrossFit Games
- The 2025 CrossFit Games Roster Features Athletes From 20 Countries — Here’s How It Breaks Down
- Dani Speegle Joins the New Cast of ‘American Gladiators’
Featured Image: Scott Freymond
