Here’s how to keep up with the action in Madison.
On July 26, 2023, the CrossFit organization laid out its schedule for the 2023 CrossFit Games, set to take place on August 1-6, 2023, in Madison, WI. Fans who aren’t making the trek to watch the Games in person at the Wisconsin State Capitol can watch the Games via the free CrossFit app or watch as it streams live on the CrossFit Games website (Games.CrossFit.com). In previous years, viewers could also tune in for event coverage on YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, and the Pluto TV Sports Channel but, at the time of this writing, CrossFit has not yet indicated if those options will return for 2023.
As has been the case in the past, the Individual Men’s and Women’s divisions will likely have more overall coverage and attention than other classes like Adaptive and Age Group. By the time the Individual Finals rolls around, though not yet confirmed at the time of this writing, CBS Television Network will likely air a two-hour portion of the contest’s climactic day on Sunday, August 6, 2023, as they have done in years past. There will be plenty of fallback options for those spectators not traveling to Madison.
2023 CrossFit Games Competition Schedule
Fans at home will be able to enjoy some measure of the 2023 Games throughout its almost week-long run.
Below is the competition schedule for the 2023 CrossFit Games. All listed times are in Central Standard Time:
- Tuesday, August 1, 2023 — 9 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. CST
- Wednesday, August 2, 2023 — 9 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. CST
- Thursday, August 3, 2023 — 8:30 a.m. to 8:30. CST
- Friday, August 4, 2023 — 10 a.m. to 7:50 p.m. CST
- Saturday, August 5, 2023 — 9 a.m. to 6:10 pm. CST
- Sunday, August 6, 2023 — 9 p.m. to 5:35 p.m. CST
The Age Group and Adaptive divisions will begin their segment of the contest on Tuesday, August 1, 2023. After three hard days of competition, they will then crown their respective winners on Thursday, August 3, 2023.
The Individual and Team CrossFit competitors will begin the 2023 Games on Thursday, August 3. Unlike last year’s edition, there will not be a rest day built in for these athletes. All Individual and Team competitors will be featured for four consecutive days through the Finals on Sunday, August 6.
The Games will feature a two-tier cut to pare down the finalists. After the workouts on Friday, August 4, only the top 30 Teams and Individual competitors will continue on to Saturday. After Saturday’s workouts, only the top 20 Teams, the top 20 Individual Men, and the top 20 Individual Women will continue vying for the title.
As for what’s on tap at the 2023 Games, there’s a lot to sort, especially on the Individual side.
For one, Justin Medeiros, the two-time reigning Men’s CrossFit Games champion (2021-2022), is seeking a legendary three-peat. Should he succeed in his mission, the athlete will become only the fourth-ever Individual competitor behind Mat Fraser (2016-2020), Rich Froning Jr. (2011-2014), and Women’s champion Tia-Clair Toomey (2017-2022) to win the contest on at least three consecutive occasions.
Speaking of Toomey, the icon and winningest Individual athlete in CrossFit Games history will not be present to defend her title in Madison. Toomey voluntarily vacated her throne to focus on motherhood and her first pregnancy, though she has not closed the door on a future return. That leaves a potentially seismic gap for any of the other Women’s competitors to fill in now that Toomey’s dominant reign is over. Athletes like Laura Horvath and former CrossFit Games winner (2011-2012) Annie Thorisdottir will be some names to watch in this regard.
On the Team’s side, one dynasty remains intact. Rich Froning Jr’s Mayhem Freedom is seeking its seventh Teams title in nine years (2015-2016, 2018-2019, 2021-2022). Though, this year, after Froning Jr’s retirement from Teams competition, the team will be without its past leader.
The 2023 CrossFit Games will run from Tuesday, August 1, 2023, to Sunday, August 6, 2023.
Featured image: @crossfitgames on Instagram
