BREAKING: Roman Khrennikov Gets U.S. Visa
Four-time CrossFit Games qualifier, Russian Roman Khrennikov, has received a visa to enter the United States. It grants him the opportunity to travel for any competition in the country for the next five years.
In a statement sent to Morning Chalk Up, Snorri Baron, who manages Khrennikov, explained how happy he is to finally have the chance to compete at the CrossFit Games after having his visa denied three times. Khrennikov was able to compete in the 2020 CrossFit Games because it was online due to the pandemic, where he came 13th.
- “Ever since Roman burst onto the scene by winning the Europe Regionals in Berlin in 2018, he has been unsuccessful in securing a visa to travel to the USA to compete amongst the best of the best at the CrossFit Games,” said Baron. “This story has been widely reported and has touched a lot of hearts. Various people have approached me or Roman directly to offer their assistance and for this he is eternally grateful.”
One big thing: Khrennikov is widely considered to be the fittest athlete to never have competed at the CrossFit Games in person, despite qualifying for the Games four years in a row. In 2020, he was able to compete in the online portion of the Games, finishing a respectable 13th. His in-person match-ups against similar Games athletes, however, have been much more impressive.
- 2021 Dubai CrossFit Championship – 1st
- 2021 Madrid CrossFit Championship – 1st
- 2021 Butcher’s Classic (MM Team) – 1st
- 2021 CrossFit Last Chance Quaifier – 1st
- 2021 Russian Functional Fitness Championships – 1st
- 2019 CrossFit Italian Showdown – 1st
- 2019 Dubai CrossFit Championship – 3rd
- 2019 Filthy 150 – 2nd
How this went down: Baron said last summer Khrennikov, who won the 2021 Dubai CrossFit Championship this past December, adding to a long list of impressive victories outside of the US, was approached by gym owners Pat and Roza Giles, who run Pat’s Gym in Madison, Wisconsin. He said they took a “special interest Roman’s story and offered him a helping hand. A friendship was formed and the process that today proved fruitful was started.”
The journey for Khrennikov is a long and storied one within the world of CrossFit and is the culmination of four years of frustration for the athlete.
Khrennikov has tried multiple routes in the past to obtain a visa to attend the CrossFit Games, including applying for both a tourist visa and an athlete’s visa. CrossFit LLC has provided assistance on his behalf, writing letters detailing his role as an athlete and intent to compete at the CrossFit Games.
Khrennikov’s addition to the CrossFit Games season is big news as many pundits believe he is, and has been in the past, a podium threat in the men’s elite division. His best finish in the CrossFit Open was 10th in 2020.