The competitive season has been up in the air due to coronavirus and the constantly changing landscape. There were whispers of events moving to the internet, including the main event. But then HQ shared that it was their intent to bring the CrossFit Games back to the ranch in Aromas, where it all started.

However, a number of Sanctionals have already cancelled because there was no feasible way to bring athletes and spectators together for the competition — social distancing and all. And the Games must abide by the same rules. That explains HQ’s recent announcement that the pool of competitors invited to the Games will be reduced rather substantially.

Check out their latest Instagram post.

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On April 16, we announced that we are reviewing all options to host the CrossFit Games in Aromas while monitoring events globally. That effort is ongoing. Due to current limitations on social gatherings, and professional sport in particular, the field of athletes in attendance will be reduced. The Open Since the inception of the CrossFit Open, the top 20 athletes on the Open leaderboard have always included the future CrossFit Games champion among their ranks, and the Open winner has gone on to become the Games winner eight times. The top 20 men and 20 women worldwide will receive invites to Aromas. If an athlete declines their invite, the invite passes to the next athlete. Sanctionals The ten Sanctionals that were able to host in-person competitions this season will be invited to send their champions to this year’s CrossFit Games. Sanctionals invites are affected by placement in the Open. If a Sanctionals champion has already qualified through the Open, the invite passes to the next athlete. This process will hold true for this reduced field. For this reason, some invites that were extended before the government lockdowns may pass back to the original invitee. Beginning today, all previously invited individuals will be contacted with an update on the status of their invite. There will not be a team competition at the 2020 Reebok CrossFit Games. National Champions Last year, CrossFit Headquarters expanded the field of athletes in attendance at the Games to include the fittest athlete in every eligible country. In light of current constraints, it will not be possible to host the previously invited 239 national champions in Aromas. The national champion race will reset in 2021 with invites extended to champions who earn top placement in the upcoming CrossFit Open. 2021 Season The changes above have been made in consideration of the current challenges globally. The CrossFit Games will reset for the 2021 season with the intent of returning to crowning national champions and including teams, age group athletes, and a deep field of individuals competing for the title of Fittest on Earth in Madison, Wisconsin. #CrossFitGames @crossfitranch

A post shared by CrossFit Games (@crossfitgames) on May 9, 2020 at 1:15pm PDT

Of note, regarding the Open…

The top 20 men and 20 women worldwide will receive invites to Aromas. If an athlete declines their invite, the invite passes to the next athlete.

For the Sanctionals that were already held…

The ten Sanctionals that were able to host in-person competitions this season will be invited to send their champions to this year’s CrossFit Games.

Here’s the thing, though. Remember that if a Sanctionals winner had already qualified for the Games through the Open, that Sanctionals invite would be passed to the next athlete. However, because the field of competitors is now reduced, some invites that had been extended pre-coronavirus may now be going back to the original invitee, as Open invites get priority over Sanctionals invites.

Additionally, for the remaining Sanctionals that had either postponed or hadn’t made a call yet as to what they were going to do, they’re pretty much a moot point now, as the winners wouldn’t qualify for the Games anyway, based on this announcement from HQ.

Team competitors received some bad news.

There will not be a team competition at the 2020 Reebok CrossFit Games.

However, note that athletes who had originally turned down an invite as an individual competitor will have the opportunity to claim this spot once again.

And lastly, the change that brought so much excitement and diversity to the Games has to be put on hold this year.

Last year, CrossFit Headquarters expanded the field of athletes in attendance at the Games to include the fittest athlete in every eligible country. In light of current constraints, it will not be possible to host the previously invited 239 national champions in Aromas. The national champion race will reset in 2021 with invites extended to champions who earn top placement in the upcoming CrossFit Open.

All of this means that only the top 20 men and 20 women from the Open will get an invite, plus 20 Sanctionals winners from the competitions that have already happened. However, none of this takes into consideration travel restrictions, which could once again alter who we see in Aromas.

While this might be a huge disappointment for some athletes, we can’t forget that one alternative was not having the Games at all (which, to be clear, could still actually happen).

Still, the update is noteworthy, as it reduces the number of competitors attending from well over 300 to just 60 (top 20 men from the Open, top 20 women from the Open, top 10 men from Sanctionals, and top 10 women from Sanctionals).

In other words, a good majority of those who had planned to be there (or hopefully be there) will be forced to sit it out this year. HQ plans to reset and go back to normal for 2021.

Main image: Tia-Clair Toomey/Instagram