2024 FitFest Preview: Team Europe and Team Rest of World Go Head-to-Head
The second annual FitFest is scheduled for December 6-8, and it will once again take place in Birmingham, UK.
- Among the eight competitions that will be held over the course of the weekend, the one we’re looking forward to the most is the FitFest CrossFit Invitational.
This unique format of competition was a welcomed offseason celebration of fitness in 2023. It pitted three teams against one another, featuring elite athletes throwing down in an invitation-only, exhibition-style event.
Remind me: Last year, three teams, led by captains Emma Lawson, Danielle Brandon, and Ella Wunger, competed in nine events. In the end, Team Lawson tied Team Brandon, with Team Brandon taking the official win in a tiebreaker.
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2024 FitFest — What You Need to Know
Like in 2023, FitFest will feature more than just CrossFit, as eight individual competitions will take place concurrently.
- Strength in Depth Triple Threat, a team competition for anyone who would like to sign up with no qualifier, is also going down at FitFest. There’s also the British Indoor Rowing Championships, obstacle course racing, a powerlifting meet, and the British Weightlifting Championships.
There will be a total of 5,000 athletes competing, with 10,000 spectators cheering them on.
2024 FitFest Roster
The format for the Pro Showcase will be a bit different this year as only two teams are facing off instead of three.
- Last year, teams were formed by captains drafting their teammates. This year, the teams are divided by region: Team Europe versus Team Rest of World.
Captains and FitFest vets Dallin Pepper and Arielle Loewen will head up Team Rest of World, while Bjorgvin Karl Gudmundsson, another FitFest alum, will co-captain Team Europe alongside Emma McQuaid.
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Here’s the rest of the team rosters:
Team Europe:
- Emma McQuaid
- Bjorgvin Karl Gudmundsoon
- Aimee Cringle
- Aniol Ekai
- Ella Wilkinson
- Harry Lightfoot
- Jelle Hoste
- Jonne Koski
- Lucy McGonigle
- Sara Sigmundsdottir
Team Rest of World:
- Arielle Loewen
- Dallin Pepper
- Abbie Domit
- Jayson Hopper
- Colten Mertens
- Emily Rolfe
- Fee Saghafi
- Nick Mathew
- Sam Dancer
- Shelby Neal
It’s worth noting that this will be the first time we’ve seen fan-favorite Games veteran Sara Sigmundsdottir compete since the 2023 Europe Semifinal.
In addition to three captains, four athletes —Jelle Hoste, Lucy McGonigle, Jayson Hopper, and Nick Mathew — will be returning to FitFest for the second time.
While the event is again being promoted as an exhibition, the weekend will see 18 highly competitive elite athletes vying for the overall win. You can be sure there will be some big moments, highlights, and fierce competition.
- Tickets are still currently on sale, with an option for a VIP experience.
More CrossFit Stories
- Tia-Clair Toomey-Orr and Laura Horvath Made History at the 2024 Rogue Invitational
- From Dancing to CrossFit, Australia’s Emily Cairns Takes Center Stage at the Adaptive CrossFit Games
- CrossFit’s New Athlete Council – Learning Lessons From the Past
Featured image: @fitfest_uk
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