Two of CrossFit’s most decorated athletes will kick off the 2021 CrossFit Games semi-final stage, as Rich Froning looks to book his 11th ticket to the finale and Tia-Clair Toomey targets her fifth consecutive title.
Froning, who won four straight titles as an individual from 2011 before switching over to the team competition, leads a brand new roster for CrossFit Mayhem Freedom into the Mid-Atlantic CrossFit Challenge in Knoxville, Tennessee, from May 28-30. Froning has won four team titles and came second once (2017), but last year CrossFit Inc. axed the team competition due to Covid-19 restrictions.
The American will be joined by three new teammates – Andrea Nisler, Taylor Williamson and Chase Hill – largely due to new requirements that include all four athletes living within 100 miles of one specific CrossFit gym.
Mayhem Freedom will be joined by 19 other teams, who will try to finish at least fifth to qualify for the 2021 CrossFit Games. Australia’s Tia-Clair Toomey, who lives and trains in the US, has been given a special exemption to compete at the MACC and will line up against the likes of Haley Adams, who came fourth at the 2020 games, and Brooke Wells, who came fifth.
The MACC kicks off a complicated semi-final season that will feature 10 total events. Five of them will be virtual due to the pandemic limiting travel and various country’s quarantine restrictions.
The Torian Pro will also be held from May 28-30 in Queensland, Australia, and feature Kara Saunders, Khan Porter and Jay Crouch.
Only the top three men, women and teams will advance from their respective semi-finals that are taking place outside of North America and Europe, while the top five in each category will qualify from the latter.
The full semi-final schedule is as follows:
Week One – May 28-30
Mid-Atlantic CrossFit Challenge – Knoxville, Tennessee, US
Torian Pro – Queensland, Australia
Week Two – June 4-6, 2021
Granite Games – Eagan, Minnesota, US
CrossFit Fittest In Cape Town – South Africa
Week Three – June 11-13
CrossFit Lowland Throwdown – North America – Virtual Event
Brazil CrossFit Championship – South America – Virtual Event
CrossFit German Throwdown – Europe – Virtual Event
Week Four – June 18-20
West Coast Classic – Las Vegas, Nevada, US
CrossFit Atlas Games – North America – Virtual Event
CrossFit Asia Invitational – Asia – Virtual Event
The 2021 CrossFit Games will then take place in Madison, Wisconsin, from July 27 to August 1.
