Predictions for the 2025 CrossFit Open

The 2025 CrossFit Open could mark the start of a reimagined season for CrossFitters worldwide. With the removal of the Quarterfinals and a more streamlined qualification process leading directly to the Semifinals and the Games, this year's Open has the potential to be more demanding than previous years. As the first stage in a more selective season, the Open is likely to feature an exciting combination of inclusivity and elevated complexity over the 3 weeks.

Here’s what I predict we can expect for the 2025 CrossFit Open workouts:

1. Accessible Yet Challenging Programming

The CrossFit Open has always been designed to accommodate a wide range of participants, from beginners to the elite. Expect the 2025 Open to stay true to this ethos by including accessible movements like burpees and box jumps alongside light-to-moderate weightlifting and foundational skills like rowing and wall balls. However, without the Quarterfinals, the pathway to the Semifinals is now more exclusive and from the Open, they will be looking for the top 1%. We might see the return of workouts include thresholds that athletes have to complete a certain amount of work to advance to the next stage of that workout, where we could see an increased number of repetitions or an escalation in complexity and loading as the rounds progress.

2. Gradual Increase in Complexity

Open workouts historically progress in difficulty over three weeks, and 2025 will likely follow this trend with a sharper focus on finding the fittest athletes early on in the CrossFit season who will advance to the next stage. For instance:

●  Week 1: High-rep AMRAPs with simpler movements like rowing and burpees.

●  Week 2: Mixed formats introducing technical elements such as double-unders or handstand push-ups.

●  Week 3: Chippers or task-priority workouts testing advanced gymnastics (e.g.,

muscle-ups) and heavier barbell cycling.

CrossFit has always done this relatively well in previous years; this progression ensures participation for all while highlighting the most skilled. But I believe this year, it's going to be amplified.

3. Repeat Workouts with a Twist

Repeating past Open workouts is a hallmark and fan favourite, offering benchmarks for progress. But this year, we could see a repeat workout with added complexity, such as:

●  A repeat of Open Workout 19.1 (wall balls and rowing) with an added gymnastic element such as handstand push-ups or wall walks.

●  Or a modified 17.5 (thrusters and double-unders), increasing the weight or adding a time cap.

4. Introduction of New Movements & Standards

This has happened in previous years, and while we might not see a brand new movement, we can expect to see a variation of an existing movement or a change in the standards. We could potentially include movements that have previously only been done at the Games introduced in a workout where the degree of difficulty in the movement standards increases as an athlete progresses through the workout.

5. Emphasis on Judging Standards

With affiliates playing a much more significant role, workouts will likely focus on easily judged and standardised movements. Clear lockout positions, straightforward criteria, and detailed video requirements are expected to ensure fairness. Expect the movement standards to be made much clearer in the workout briefings.

I hope the 2025 CrossFit Open will find the right balance of fun workouts that are exciting and challenge people to better themselves but also add a degree of complexity, thereby identifying the fittest athletes for the next stage and allowing the broader CrossFit community to challenge themselves. Remember, foundational movements and accessibility have always been the core of the Open, but the workouts will likely ramp up in complexity this year.

Whether you’re participating for fun or aiming for the Semifinals, the 2025 Open is another excellent opportunity to come together as a community, challenge yourself and have a really awesome workout.