2020 CrossFit Games explained

Event:2020 CrossFit Games
Venue:CrossFit Ranch
Location:Aromas, California
Dates:October 23–25, 2020
Men: Mat Fraser
Women: Tia-Clair Toomey
Previous:2019
Next:2021

The 2020 CrossFit Games was the 14th CrossFit Games held on October 23–25, 2020, at the CrossFit Ranch in Aromas, California, United States.[1] Mathew Fraser and Tia-Clair Toomey were again the respective winners of this year's men and women competitions[2] [3]

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 forced major changes to the Games season, including the postponement and relocation of the Games. The format was altered, and only 30 men and 30 women were invited to compete in an online-only first stage with the top five men and women qualifying for the final stage to compete in person. There were no teams, masters, or teens events.[4] The Games returned to live broadcast on CBS Sports after the 2019 Games when only online streaming was available.[5]

This year both Fraser and Toomey produced the most dominant performances the Games have ever seen: Fraser won 10 of the 12 events in the last stage of the competition, while Toomey won 9. They set a further series of records in their respective competitions, such as their margin of victory, the number of consecutive event wins and cumulative event wins.[6] This was Fraser's fifth consecutive Games title, overtaking Rich Froning's record of four, and Toomey's fourth, a new record for the women's competition.[7] [8]

Qualification and format changes

The 2020 qualifying events started with the Open held in October and November 2019—the date had been moved forward from previous Opens which were usually held in February/March.[9] As with previous seasons, the Open lasted five weeks from October 10 to November 11, 2019, with a workout released every week.[10] [11] [12] A total of 239,106 athletes registered for the Open, a drop of a third from the previous year, which has been attributed to the change in date and withdrawal of CrossFit from the main social media platforms this year.[13] [14] The Open was won by Patrick Vellner and Sara Sigmundsdóttir.[15]

The Sanctional events began in November 2019,[16] and the events proceeded as scheduled until March 2020 when the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic caused Sanctioned events to be postponed and then canceled amidst social distancing requirements, bans on large gatherings of people, and travel restrictions for international competitors.[17] [18] The Games were initially scheduled to be held from July 29 to August 2 in Madison, Wisconsin, but the Games were postponed a few times,[19] and as spectators were not allowed at many venues during the pandemic, the final stage moved to the CrossFit Ranch in Aromas where the Games were first held from 2007 to 2009. Originally 332 athletes, including 239 previously invited national champions,[20] would have participated in the Games, but due to the pandemic, only the top 20 men and women from the Open and 10 Sanctional champions from Sanction events that took place were invited.[21] [22] The pandemic also necessitated major changes to the format and a reduction in scale, including the removal of the teams, masters, and teens events. [23] [24]

The Games were split into two stages. In the first stage held from September 18–19, 60 invited athletes (30 men and 30 women) from around the world competed online in their own homes or in local gyms. Rankings for the athletes were determined at the end of the first stage; those placed number 6 to number 20 received prize money,[25] while the top five men and women proceeded to the second stage for the final events in Aromas to compete in person.[26] [27] Due to the smaller number of competitors, most events did not have a time cap, but a "full effort" rule was introduced where athletes would receive zero points if they were judged to be not giving their full effort.[28] Scores from the first stage were not carried over to the second stage,[29] and the scoring system in the second stage was also changed due to fewer competitors, with 100 points awarded to the winner of an event, and 75, 55, 35, 15/0 for the second to fifth placings.[30]

Stage 1

There were two stages in the 2020 CrossFit Games consisting of only the individual events. In the first stage, seven events were held over two days in September where 30 men and 30 women competed from their own gyms or local CrossFit affiliates to determine the five men and women who would compete in the second stage of the finals. Each athlete was judged by a member of CrossFit's seminar staff, and their performances were recorded and sent online to the CrossFit headquarters.[31] [32] Four events were held on the first day (September 18),[33] [34] three the next (September 19).[35] The seven events were:[36]

Mat Fraser won four of the seven events, while Tia-Clair Toomey won the first three events in a row.[37] Toomey also won the last event; Kara Saunders was initially announced the winner,[38] but the error was later corrected.[39] The ten finalists were Fraser, Noah Ohlsen, Justin Medeiros, Samuel Kwant, and Jeffrey Adler for the men, and Toomey, Brooke Wells, Haley Adams, Katrín Davíðsdóttir, and Kari Pearce for the women.[40] Justin Medeiros, who at 21 was the youngest competitor in the men's field, was named Rookie of the Year.[41]

Stage 2

The ten athletes competed in 12 events over three days (October 23–25) at the CrossFit Ranch, but some events held at the Morgan Hill Aquatics Center and Morgan Hill Sports Complex. Scoring was reset in the second stage, with greater differences in points won for individual rankings from first to fifth.

Friday, October 23, 2020

The first two events were held at the CrossFit Ranch, the next two at Morgan Hill Outdoor Sports Center, before returning to CrossFit Ranch for the final event.

Saturday, October 24, 2020

First three events held at Morgan Hill Sports Complex, last event at CrossFit Ranch

Sunday, October 25, 2020

First two events held at Morgan Hill Aquatics Center and Morgan Hill Sports Complex

Fraser won ten of the twelve events, while Toomey won nine. Fraser won with the biggest margin in history (545 points); his points total of 1,150 was nearly doubled that of that the runner-up Samuel Kwant (605).[2] Fraser was only beaten to second place by Kwant in Swim 'N' Stuff,[46] and Jeffrey Adler in CrossFit Total.[47] In the women's competition, all events were won by Toomey apart from Katrín Davíðsdóttir winning on Ranch Loop, Brooke Wells on Handstand Sprint, and Kari Pearce on Atalanta. Toomey margin of victory of 360 was also a record for the women's competition.[48]

Fraser's fifth win in the CrossFit Games overtook Froning's record of four, while Toomey's fourth win set a record for the women.[49] Both Fraser and Toomey also set a series of further records, such as the most number of event wins in a Games (14 for Fraser including stage 1, 13 for Toomey), most number of cumulative event wins (29 for Fraser, 24 for Toomey), and most consecutive event wins in a single Games (6 for both).[50] [51]

Podium finishers

Place Men[52] Women [53]
1st Tia-Clair Toomey
2nd Samuel Kwant Katrín Davíðsdóttir
3rd Kari Pearce

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Schedule of Events and How to Watch the 2020 CrossFit Games . October 13, 2020. Morning Chalk Up.
  2. Web site: Mat Fraser Wins the 2020 CrossFit Games for Fifth-Straight Victory. Spenser . Mestel . October 26, 2020 . Men's Health.
  3. Web site: Mat Fraser and Tia-Clair Toomey Dominate 2020 Games in Historic Fashion. October 25, 2020 . Kay . Wiese . Joe . Genetin-Pilawa . Morning Chalk Up .
  4. Web site: Who Is Competing at the 2020 CrossFit Games . CrossFit Games . September 10, 2020.
  5. Web site: CrossFit Games' Return to Live TV Brings 400,000 Additional Viewers . November 1, 2020 . Kay . Wiese .
  6. Web site: The most event wins of any athlete, with 29 event wins in his career . October 25, 2020 . Kay . Wiese . Joe . Genetin-Pilawa . Morning Chalk Up .
  7. Web site: 2020 Reebok CrossFit Games Final Payouts . October 25, 2020 . Patrick . Clark. Morning Chalk Up.
  8. Web site: The most event wins of any athlete, with 29 event wins in his career . October 25, 2020 . Kay . Wiese . Joe . Genetin-Pilawa . Morning Chalk Up .
  9. Web site: 2020 CrossFit Open Registration Numbers Down From Last Year . Fitness Volt . October 15, 2019.
  10. Web site: First Look: The 2020 CrossFit Games Rulebook and Drug Testing Policy . August 29, 2019 . Tommy . Marquez . Morning Chalk Up .
  11. Web site: Watch CrossFit Open 20.1 as Rich Froning takes on Scott Panchik, workout announcement live . Mark . Agnew . South China Morning Post . October 11, 2019 .
  12. Web site: How to Watch the CrossFit Open 20.5 Announcement. Brett . Williams . November 6, 2019 . Men's Health.
  13. Web site: 2020 CrossFit Open Registration Numbers Show Drop from 2019. Celia . Balf. October 15, 2019 .
  14. Web site: Open Registration Decline Again – What Does This Mean For the Sport Of Fitness? . Boxlife Magazine .
  15. Web site: Official 2020 CrossFit Open Results – Final Review and Adjustments. January 8, 2020. Caro . Kyllmann . BoxRox .
  16. Web site: The Definitive Guide to Qualifying for 2019-2020 Season Sanctionals . September 11, 2019 . Morning Chalk Up .
  17. Web site: Coronavirus Wave Spreads Through CrossFit Sanctionals Season. March 12, 2020 . Tommy . Marquez . Morning Chalk Up .
  18. Web site: Down Under CrossFit Championship Canceled, Tally Hits Eight . May 4, 2020 . Joe . Genetin-Pilawa. Morning Chalk Up .
  19. Web site: 2020 CrossFit Games Delayed Again, Earliest Start Date Now September 14 . June 25, 2020 . Patrick . Clark. Morning Chalk Up .
  20. News: 2020 CrossFit Games' 239 national champions announced – Hong Kong's Ant Haynes and Shanghai's Chen Aichan to represent China. Patrick. Blennerhassett. January 8, 2020. South China Morning Post.
  21. Web site: CrossFit Announces Major Changes for the 2020 Games. Emily . Shiffer . May 11, 2020 . Men's Health.
  22. Web site: These Individuals Will Receive Invitations To The 2020 CrossFit Games . May 9, 2020 . Tommy . Marquez. Morning Chalk Up .
  23. Web site: CrossFit Games to Move to Original Aromas Ranch, Will Not Be Public Event . BOXROX. April 17, 2020 . Caro . Kyllmann .
  24. News: Coronavirus forces CrossFit Games 2020 behind closed doors to avoid cancellation; competition moves to California . PatrickA. Blennerhassett . April 17, 2020 . South China Morning Post.
  25. Web site: 2020 CrossFit Games Stage One Payouts . Morning Chalk Up . September 19, 2020.
  26. Web site: Here's Everything We Know About What the 2020 CrossFit Games Will Look Like. Philip. Ellis . August 13, 2020 . Men's Health .
  27. News: CrossFit Games 2020: How to watch, schedule, explainer on competitors . Justin. LoFranco . CBS Sports . October 22, 2020 .
  28. Web site: 2020 CrossFit Games Finals: No Time Caps And New 'Full Effort' Rule. Phil . Blechman. October 22, 2020 . Bar Bend.
  29. Web site: The 2020 Reebok CrossFit Games Finals Events Have Been Revealed. Phil . Blechman. October 25, 2020 . Bar Bend.
  30. Web site: 2020 CrossFit Games Scoring Table . September 18, 2020 . Morning Chalk Up .
  31. Web site: How To Watch The 2020 Reebok CrossFit Games Stage One. Phil. Blechman. September 11, 2020. BarBend.
  32. Web site: 2020 CrossFit Games First 6 Events Announced . Caro. Kyllmann . September 17, 2020 . BoxRox.
  33. Web site: 2020 CrossFit Games Online Stage: Event 1 and 2 Recap . September 18, 2020 . Patrick. Clark. Morning Chalk Up .
  34. Web site: 2020 CrossFit Games Online Stage: Event 3 and 4 Recap . Patrick. Clark. Morning Chalk Up. September 18, 2020.
  35. Web site: 2020 CrossFit Games Results And Leaderboard . Andrew . Gutman. October 25, 2020 . BarBend.
  36. News: CrossFit Games 2020 workouts: awful Annie, friendly Fran, nasty Nancy and a one-rep max front squat. Mark. Agnew. September 17, 2020 . South China Morning Post.
  37. Web site: 2020 CrossFit Games Event Winners, Stage 1 . CrossFit .
  38. News: CrossFit Games 2020: Kara Saunders' win in event seven is not enough to secure California final place. Mark . Agnew. September 20, 2020. South China Morning Post .
  39. Web site: Tia-Clair Toomey, Mat Fraser Win Awful Annie. Andrew . Gutman . September 22, 2020. BarBend.
  40. Web site: What You Need To Know About The 2020 CrossFit Games Finalists. Andrew . Gutman. October 13, 2020 . Bar Bend .
  41. Web site: Justin Medeiros: Rookie Debut. Nicole . Peyton. CrossFit . October 25, 2020.
  42. Web site: 2020 CrossFit Games Finals: Day 1 . CrossFit Games. Nicole . Peyton .
  43. Web site: 2020 CrossFit Games Finals: Day 2 . CrossFit Games. Nicole . Peyton.
  44. Web site: 2020 CrossFit Games Finals: Day 3 . CrossFit Games . Nicole . Peyton.
  45. News: CrossFit Games 2020 workouts: Atalanta announced with weighted vests, runs and pull ups. Mark . Agnew. October 21, 2020 . South China Morning Post .
  46. Web site: For CrossFit Games Finalist Samuel Kwant, Fitness Is A Family Affair. Jessica . Danger. October 26, 2020 . Bar Bend.
  47. Web site: Jeffrey Adler Beats Mat Fraser In Event 3 Of The 2020 CrossFit Games. Andrew . Gutman. October 26, 2020. Bar Bend .
  48. Web site: Kari Pearce Crushes Final 2020 Games Event, Atalanta. Phil . Blechman. October 25, 2020 . Bar Bend.
  49. Web site: A League Of Their Own — Mat Fraser, Tia-Clair Toomey Win 2020 CrossFit Games. Phil. Blechman. October 25, 2020. BarBend .
  50. Web site: Among the All-Time Greats, Where Mat Fraser and Tia-Clair Toomey Measure Up . November 1, 2020 . Tommy . Marquez. Morning Chalk Up .
  51. Web site: Mat Fraser & Tia-Clair Toomey Win 2020 Reebok CrossFit Games With Record-Breaking Performances In Toughest Test Ever . PR Newswire .
  52. Web site: Leaderboard > 2020 > Men . CrossFit Games .
  53. Web site: Leaderboard > 2020 > Women . CrossFit Games .

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