The CrossFit Games are the pinnacle of the sport of fitness.
It’s like the Olympics – only they can literally challenge the athletes to any event in order to test their mettle.
Hundreds of thousands of CrossFitters battled through the Open and Regional qualifiers – but it all boils down to the 50 most elite athletes on the planet.
If you’ve ever seen the absolute machine that is Rich Froning Jr in action, you will know what we mean.
These 50 top men, women and teams have taken everything CrossFit can throw at them – and now we’re about to see who’s going to be crowned the fittest on earth.
Here’s some reasons why you should tune in to see this global sporting event…
1. The Brits are coming
Britain has never had a male athlete in the world’s top 50 since the CrossFit Games began back in 2008. The sport has been dominated by the big US athletes, and one man in particular – Rich Froning Jr. The American CrossFitters have strong athletic backgrounds in American Football, weightlifting and college sports.
But the Brits are catching up. Now our plucky island nation has two CrossFitters flying the Union Jack over Carson City.
Lancashire lads Steven Fawcett, of CrossFit JST in Wigan, and his good friend Phil Hesketh, who coaches at Inner Strength in Dubai, both qualified for the first time ever.
Here’s our video interview with Fawcett about how he did it.
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2. Briggs is back
We might have never had any British men at the Games, but Leeds firefighter Sam Briggs went and won the women’s crown two years ago. Briggs was named the Fittest Woman on Earth after battling back from a serious knee problem in 2012 to beat training partner Lindsey Valenzuela to the title.
The world was shocked when the reigning champion failed to qualify for the CrossFit Games last year – despite dominating many events she fell short with her handstand walk and just missed out on the final.
But Briggs has been training like an absolute beast and she’s back among the Games elite for 2015.
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3. Froning is gone
Well not completely, but the four-time Fittest Man on Earth won’t be coming back to the individual men’s competition to contest a historic fifth title.
With the half-man-half-machine out of the running, it throws the men’s event wide open. We’re going to see a new CrossFit champion crowned so there’s going to be a real power struggle there.
Many people are tipping Mat Fraser, who finished a close second in 2014 after only a year in the sport, to emerge victorious.
But there are so many top guys like Noah Olsen, Josh Bridges and Dan Bailey that will make it a close-run thing.
Froning will of course be gunning for glory in the team event with CrossFit Mayhem and you wouldn’t bet against him leading them to victory.
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4. The women are tougher than ever
It’s going to be one of the hardest-fought women’s events in CrossFit history. You’ve got the imperious reigning champion Camille LeBlanc-Bazinet looking to hold onto her title.
Then you’ve got 2013 champ Sam Briggs looking fit, fearsome and ready to spill blood. Two-time Games winner Annie Thorisdottir will surely be among the favourites to do well.
Then you’ve got wild cards like the sensational Sara Sigmundsdottir who posted some insane times at Regionals in her debut year.
Big name contenders stack the women’s division, so it’s anyone’s guess who will claim that 2015 title.
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5. The competition
You might not follow CrossFit week to week. You might never have heard of any of the athletes. But if you’re a sports fan then the CrossFit Games will be one of the best shows you’ve ever seen.
If you’re one of those people that gets really into the decathlon or becomes an armchair expert at curling during the Winter Olympics, then you’ll love the Games.
The drama is unreal. You’ve got athletes from across the globe running, swimming, swinging kettlebells, climbing ropes, walking on their hands and lifting huge weights above their heads.
And don’t get us started on the God-like physiques these men and women have. This is the pinnacle of human performance that even Olympians would struggle to out-do.
It’s here for the next five days, so get stuck in.
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