All 40 Games-qualifying spots for each CrossFit Semifinal have been revealed after CrossFit has finalised the Quarterfinals leaderboard this week.
We told you that Quarterfinals were extremely important for the CrossFit season. Now with the leaderboard reviewed and officially locked, the new worldwide ranking system dictates how many Games-qualifying spots each Semifinal will have.
CrossFit Games-Qualifying Spots for Each CrossFit Semifinal
CrossFit HQ has revealed how many Games-qualifying spots each Semifinal will have this year.
Applying the D’Hondt method in which the worldwide ranking system decides which Semifinal is “more challenging,” the competition with more athletes from the top 100 possibly receives more Games-qualifying spots.
In the end, this is the number of Games-qualifying spots each CrossFit Semifinal will have in 2023.
| Semifinal | Guaranteed | Awarded | Final Women | Awarded | Final Men |
| Africa | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Asia | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Europe | 5 | 6 | 11 | 6 | 11 |
| NA East | 5 | 6 | 11 | 7 | 12 |
| NA West | 5 | 5 | 10 | 4 | 9 |
| Oceania | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| South America | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Source: Photos Courtesy of CrossFit IncFor those who want to understand the math and how it was applied each round for the 17 remaining Games-qualifying spots, click here.
Comparing with 2021 and 2022 Games-Qualifying Spots
Let’s take a trip down memory lane and compare the numbers of Games-qualifying spots for each Semifinal this year with 2021 and 2022. We chose those two years because it is when CrossFit first introduced the path to the Games with Semifinals.
In those 2 years, the number of Semifinals was also different. CrossFit had 4 Semifinals in North America and two in Europe. We simply added them together in the European Semifinals and divided them into 2 the four North American Semifinals from the previous years to be able to compare them properly.
In 2021 and 2022, CrossFit also had the Last-Chance Qualifier. Each year it was given to the 2 best athletes from any region in the world after a series of new events. This year, the allocated spots for men and women differ depending on the Semifinal, while in past years the number was fixed for both categories.
Games-Qualifying Spots in 2021
In 2021, Roman Khrennikov (Asia) and Alexandre Caron (Atlas Games/NA East) received invitations through the Last-Chance Qualifier. In the women’s division, those spots were earned by Emma Tall (Europe) and Kristi Eramo O’Connell (Granite Games/NA West).
| Semifinal | Final Women | Final Men |
| Africa | 1 | 1 |
| Asia | 2 | 3 |
| Europe | 11 | 10 |
| NA East | 10 | 11 |
| NA West | 11 | 10 |
| Oceania | 3 | 3 |
| South America | 2 | 2 |
Games-Qualifying Spots in 2022
In 2022, Timothy Paulson (Granite Games/NA West) and Jonne Koski (Europe) earned their spot through the Last-Chance Qualifier. In the women’s division, those spots were given to Arielle Loewen (Syndicate Crown/NA West) and Elena Carratala Sanahuja (Europe).
| Semifinal | Final Women | Final Men |
| Africa | 1 | 1 |
| Asia | 2 | 2 |
| Europe | 11 | 11 |
| NA East | 10 | 10 |
| NA West | 11 | 11 |
| Oceania | 3 | 3 |
| South America | 2 | 2 |
So, depending on which year you look at, there was a slight change in the final Games-qualifying spot for each CrossFit Semifinal, but in either case, North America West in the men’s division has lost at least one qualifying spot to a different region.
Compared to 2021:
- Men’s division – Asia (-1), NA West (-1), Europe (+1), NA East (+1)
- Women’s division – NA East (-1), NA West (+!)
Compared to 2022:
- Men’s division – NA West (-2), NA East (+2)
- Women’s division – NA West (-1), NA East (+1)
Read More: Official 2023 CrossFit Semifinal Dates and Locations
Image Sources
- Games-qualifying spots 2023: Photos Courtesy of CrossFit Inc
- abs like a corssfit games athlete: Courtesy of CrossFit Games