2023 NOBULL CrossFit Games: Teams Spotlight

Image Credits: CrossFit LLC

Similar to the Male and Female athlete spotlights that Brian Friend has created as living documents, this will act as a guide to the Teams leaderboard of the NOBULL CrossFit Games. Starting with five teams and adding in fives until all 38 teams competing in Madison this year are covered. (Pending drug testing etc.)

Historically, the team division has been somewhat of a “who’s finishing second to Mayhem Freedom?”, but, this year we have a returning Oslo Navy Blue who finished second the last two years, another firm challenger in Invictus as well as the newly formed PRVN East Nashville, Torian Mayhem, No Shortcuts, Franco’s Misfits and a host of other strong contenders all coming together to give us, possibly, the best Affiliate Cup bout in years.

We have less data points to cover than the individuals as the teams have only competed together in Quarterfinals and Semifinals and we also acknowledge that the waters are slightly murkier given the rosters for Quarterfinals were expanded for some teams with alternates’ scores playing a part.

The teams have been compared against the other Games qualifiers in the field based on their performances so far and we’ll look at their strengths, weaknesses, how they qualified and their team members.

CrossFit East Nashville PRVN

Photo Credit: Athlete’s Eye Photography

Athletes: Tola Morakinyo, Taylor Williamson, Andrea Nisler, Tim Paulson

Qualified: 1^st in North America East Semifinal

Best 2023 Season Test: Quarterfinals Tests 1, 2, 3 and Semifinals Tests 1, 4, 5 (1^st)

Worst 2023 Season Test: Semifinals Test 3 (12^th)

What they’re hoping to see at The Games: They good, they real good. 

So far, they’ve had two finishes outside the top-10 from 11 Tests and they were an 11^th and a 12^th. This team was built around Andrea and Taylor – the two most successful female team athletes in the history of the sport. Tola has long been known as one of the strongest guys around, and will surely have a chance to prove it in Madison, but, he’s also made leaps and bounds on his conditioning and endurance, shoring up gaps once held in his abilities, as shown by narrowly missing out to Jeffrey Adler in the Open this year. Throw in six-time Games athlete, Tim Paulson and this team are rightfully being talked about as the one to beat this year. 

CrossFit Invictus

Photo Credit: Carlos Bown

Athletes: Joshua Al-chamaa, Brittany Weiss, Devyn Kim, Jorge Fernandez

Qualified: 2^nd in North America West Semifinal

Best 2023 Season Test: Quarterfinals Tests 1 and 4 and Semifinals Tests 3 and 4 (2^nd)

Worst 2023 Season Test: Semifinals Test 5 (24^th)

What they’re hoping to see at The Games: On paper, their worst event was that 24^th place showing in the cleans of Semifinals but, Al-chamaa essentially ran the gauntlet for the male pair of the team solo on that event with Fernandez protecting a shoulder injury, so, their ‘worst’ could be given to their 8^th in Test 2 of Semifinals. This exact Invictus line up finished third last year after elbowing their way past Annie and other, more talked about, teams to the bronze medal. There is serious strength team (2^nd place on ‘Strong’ last year), they can move odd objects (2^nd place on ‘Payload’ last year), they have teamwork (2^nd place on ‘Team 2-2-2-2’ last year), they have experience, fitness and grit and no workout will phase them. Expect a strong podium charge with these athletes looking to finish off their team careers in gold-laden style. 

CrossFit Franco’s Misfits

Photo Credit: Athlete’s Eye Photography

Athletes: Brandon Luckett, Alexis Johnson, Logan Collins, Shaylin Laure

Qualified: 1^st in North America West Semifinal

Best 2023 Season Test: QuarterfinalsTest 4 and Semifinals Tests 3 and 6 (1^st)

Worst 2023 Season Test: Semifinals Test 4 (27^th)

What they’re hoping to see at The Games: If you predicted Franco’s Misfits to qualify for the Games then you’re not alone. If you predicted they would podium, or, in fact win their Semifinal, beating Invictus and Omnia to the top spot, then you’re a savant and know more than any of us. Top-10 finishes in nine out of the 11 team Tests so far, it’s quicker to find a weakness than to list off areas of strength. They’re very skilled at the necessary components to make them a challenger for the podium at the Games. They’re dangerous, no longer a wildcard or a dark horse – a contender.

CrossFit Mayhem Independence

Photo Credit: Mayhem Media

Athletes: Angelo DiCicco, Kyra Milligan, Zoe Jones, Sam DeMeester

Qualified: 4^th in North America East Semifinal

Best 2023 Season Test: Semifinals Test 1 and 4 (3^rd)

Worst 2023 Season Test: Semifinals Test 3 (31^st)

What they’re hoping to see at The Games: Froning stepping away from team competition and Andrea and Taylor leaving the barn left a gap. Dicicco stepped up and drafted in Kyra, Zoe and Sam and got to work at making Independence a force in the team competition. 3^rd place against the rest of the Games field in Tests 1 and 4 at Semifinals, they’ve got capacity, grit and fitness – not surprising for a Mayhem team. They’ve also got an experienced leader in Dicicco who finished 5^th with Independence last time out. They’re not going to roll over and surrender the Affiliate Cup to anyone. Kyra, their Underdogs loanee, finished 32^nd in the Open and 43^rd in individual Quarters, she ran with the Elites, she got it. Give them a worm, throw in some longer pieces and watch them go.

CrossFit Omnia

Photo Credit: Athlete’s Eye Photography

Athletes: Kelly Stone, Cooper Wise, Jacob Schmidt, MaryKay Dreisilker

Qualified: 3^rd in North America West Semifinal

Best 2023 Season Test: Semifinals Test 6 (2^nd)

Worst 2023 Season Test: Quarterfinals Test 2 (33^rd)

What they’re hoping to see at The Games: Omnia, meaning prepared in all things, showed that to be true enough in Semifinals. Maybe a little underprepared for the sandbag hold of Test 1, but, every other finish being 11^th or better against the rest here shows their potential. A 2^nd globally in Test 6 should get you excited to see these four take on the Tests (or Events as we’d all rather call them) in Madison. I’m excited to see them tackle the worm.

Move Fast Lift Heavy 247

Photo Credit: Athlete’s Eye Photography

Athletes: Christian Harris, Winter Rodriguez, Chloe Gauvin-David, William Carter

Qualified: 2^nd in North America East Semifinal

Best 2023 Season Test: Semifinals Tests 1 and 2 (2^nd)

Worst 2023 Season Test: Semifinals Test 5 (17^th)

What they’re hoping to see at The Games: Christian Harris has been to The Games twice before, finishing 4^th and 8^th in ‘16 and ‘22 respectively in the team competition. 3 of the 4 from 2022 return, with Chloe Gauvin-David the new face. Last year they had top 10 finishes on odd object work in Payload and Muscle Pig and did well on the worm too. Expect an improved performance from last year and enjoy watching them make light work of whatever odd object is left on the field this year.

CrossFit Torian Mayhem

Photo Credit: CrossFit LLC

Athletes: Royce Dunne, Christee Hollard, Marnie Sykes, Brandon Swan

Qualified: 1^st in Oceania Semifinal

Best 2023 Season Test: Quarterfinals Test 2 and 3 (2^nd)

Worst 2023 Season Test: Semifinals Test 1 (30^th)

What they’re hoping to see at The Games: If you tuned into Torian Pro after Test 1 of Semifinals you’d have been left a bit underwhelmed with this team’s performance (4^th there and only enough for 30^th in this overall field), but, once Brandon Swan had a couple of IV drips passed through him, they rallied to show something closer to their best selves. They won every remaining event, finished first and got back to work. This team had a major blip during that Semifinal run and still sit high on the list of qualifiers. They will have a say on who finishes on the podium, either standing on it themselves or forcing those that do to crawl over them to get there. Give them a worm, some lifting and a chance to show their all round strength and maybe they’ll finish the week with a shoey on the podium.

NoShortcuts CrossFit

Photo Credit: CrossFit LLC

Athletes: Andre Houdet, Julie Hougård Nielsen, Nienke Van Overveld, Julian Kragh-Maschvitsz

Qualified: 1^st in Europe Semifinal

Best 2023 Season Test: Quarterfinals Test 2 and Semifinals Test 5 (3^rd)

Worst 2023 Season Test: Semifinals Test 6 (18^th)

What they’re hoping to see at The Games: Andre Houdet’s decision to pause individual ambitions to pursue a run at the Affiliate Cup raised a few eyebrows earlier in the year, when they stood in first place in Berlin, ahead of Oslo Navy Blue, they raised many more. This team will be incredibly well prepared. Houdet is notorious for his level of meticulousness and attention to detail and their consistency across the Tests so far, while not spectacular or headline grabbing, points to a team that will knee deep in podium talk as the week progresses. A team of strong lifters, good with odd objects, with a titanic amount of worm and syncro practice under their belts in Denmark – watch.them.closely.

CrossFit OBA

Photo Credit: Athlete’s Eye Photography

Athletes: Joey Tortora, Kels Kiel, Nik Hecht, Emelie Lundberg

Qualified: 7^th in North America East Semifinal

Best 2023 Season Test: Quarterfinals Test 1 (4^th)

Worst 2023 Season Test: Semifinals Test 4 (31^st)

What they’re hoping to see at The Games: We’re deep into teams that will be looking to push all the way at The Games and who will have a big impact on scores, OBA are another who fit the bill. Top-10 finishes against the Games field in Quarters’ Tests 1, 2 and 4 and Semis’ Test 5 show the team’s capabilities with gymnastics, strength and redline fitness. A team to watch in a sprint with some pulling or something upside down thrown in.

CrossFit Invictus Unconquerable

Photo Credit: Athlete’s Eye Photography

Athletes: Tyler Soderback, Eric Carmody, Emily Rethwill, Jessi Smith

Qualified: 6^th in North America West Semifinal

Best 2023 Season Test: Semifinals Test 3 (3^rd)

Worst 2023 Season Test: Semifinals Test 6 (36^th)

What they’re hoping to see at The Games: The second of three Invictus teams headed for Madison and top-10 placings in 5 of the 11 Tests thrown at them so far show that they’re not trying to play second-best to anyone. Most of the tests that brought those strong finishes involved interval work so expect to see Invictus difficult to conquer if similar style workouts surface in Wisconsin. 

AB CrossFit Mayhem

Photo Credit: Athlete’s Eye Photography

Athletes: Ivan Verdun, Mario Santaella, Laura Sanchez, Maria Quintero

Qualified: 3^rd in North America East Semifinal

Best 2023 Season Test: Semifinals Test 2 (1^st)

Worst 2023 Season Test: Quarterfinals Test 1 (36^th)

What they’re hoping to see at The Games: “Mayhem will podium at Semifinals”, hardly a bold prediction to have made at the beginning of May. I don’t think many predicted it would be this Mayhem team. Last year this group of four backfilled a spot at the Games and went on to finish 23^rd. This year they finished 3^rd with two first place finishes in Tests 2 and 6, they also beat the entire Games field to first overall in Test 2, so gymnastics is a strength then. They also had top-15 finishes on Tests 1, 3, 4 and 6, so they are a very capable team then. A last minute call-up last year and a rushed and frantic preparation – expect a strong push from the Floridians this year, they’ll be in the mix.

CrossFit Walleye Athlete

Photo Credit: Niclas Ericsson

Athletes: Mia Hesketh, Sam Stewart, Joshua Wichtrup, Antonia Fält-Kottulinsky 

Qualified: 3^rd in Europe Semifinal

Best 2023 Season Test: Semifinals Test 5 (5^th)

Worst 2023 Season Test: Quarterfinals Test 2 (30^th)

What they’re hoping to see at The Games: Kicking off our top-10 teams headed for Madison with CrossFit Walleye Athlete. Mia and Antonia have two Games appearances apiece on teams at the Games while Sam and Joshua competed in 2019 as National Champions of Ireland and Germany. This is a strong team. Mia and Antonia were fantastic to watch on Test 5 in Berlin and the boys more than held up their end of the bargain with the barbell too. Four strong individuals who have a good team chemistry and plenty of practice together in Sweden, at the very least – they’ll be aiming to leave the highest placed European team and Games workouts will suit them too: odd objects, longer pieces, worm work. They’ll be Prepared.

CrossFit Oslo Navy Blue

Athletes: Eivind Dahl Ringard, Lena Richter, Ingrid Hodnemyr, Nicolay Billaudel

Qualified: 2^nd in Europe Semifinal

Best 2023 Season Test: Quarterfinals Test 4 (3^rd)

Worst 2023 Season Test: Quarterfinals Test 3A and Semifinals 1 and 2 (21^st)

What they’re hoping to see at The Games: Two-time runners up behind Mayhem Freedom the last two years. Mayhem is gone, does that make Navy Blue their most likely successors? In a word – no. In four words – no, but actually yes. Are they the flashy, headline making successor? No. They’re going about their business quietly, like they did last year and the year before. In 2021 a 25^th and a 15^th place finish handed gold to Mayhem, in 2022 an 8^th and 10^th place did enough damage to see Froning and Co. lift the Affiliate Cup. Last year everyone was talking about Froning and Annie, Oslo finished second. This year, people need to pay attention, Oslo will do the rest. They’re outside the top-10 heading into the Games, they’ve far from peaked and still look good. They won’t be outside the top-10 at prize giving.

TTT CrossFit Black

Athletes: Jordan Adcock, Mike Needleman, Hannah Hardy, Tanner Balazs

Qualified: 8^th in North America East Semifinal

Best 2023 Season Test: Semifinal Test 4 (5^th)

Worst 2023 Season Test: Quarterfinals Test 2 (31^st)

What they’re hoping to see at The Games: Give the Training Think Tank crew a work/rest workout and they won’t disappoint. A third on the box jumps in Test 4 in Orlando behind PRVN and Mayhem – these guys will have something to say if a similar workout pops up in Madison. Finishing inside the top-20 against the rest of this field on the worm and rope climbs of Test 6 and in Test 1 give a glimpse at the overall potential here too.

CrossFit CLT The Grit Haus

Photo Credit: Athlete’s Eye Photography

Athletes: Caroline Kluttz, Stevie Dellinger, Josh Hardin, Kevin Steinhaus

Qualified: 6^th in North America East Semifinal

Best 2023 Season Test: Quarterfinals Test 4 (10^th)

Worst 2023 Season Test: Semifinals Test 2 (27^th)

What they’re hoping to see at The Games: Two finishes just outside the top-10 against this field in Tests 4 and 5 of Semifinals give a taste of the broad prowess of Grit Haus. Heavy cleans and a classic trio of machine, dumbbell work and box jumps brought the best out of them at Semifinals and a 10th on the shuttles and thrusters Test in Quarters will surely have Grit in the mix on shorter, classic CrossFit workouts.

Plus64 CrossFit 64ARMY Endgame

Athletes: Clint Kohl, Kelly Benfey, Pieta Hansen, Kendall Peterson

Qualified: 2^nd in Oceania Semifinal

Best 2023 Season Test: Quarterfinals Test 3 (5^th)

Worst 2023 Season Test: Quarterfinals Test 6 (32^nd)

What they’re hoping to see at The Games: Finishing 15 points behind CrossFit Torian Mayhem, beating them in Test 1 and coming second behind them in 4 of the other 5 Tests, tells you what you need to know about 64Army. They’re not here to make up the numbers and they’re going to have a big impact on the leaderboard. A bit of cardio endurance or some grunt work will see these four shine.

CrossFit Prestanda

Photo Credit: Niclas Ericsson

Athletes: Alexander Elebro, Maria Langfors, Viktor Langsved, Hanna Karlsson

Qualified: 6^th in Europe Semifinal

Best 2023 Season Test: Quarterfinals Test 4 (1^st)

Worst 2023 Season Test: Semifinals Test 6 (35^th)

What they’re hoping to see at The Games: A first place in the world on Test 4 in Quarterfinals of shuttle runs and thrusters tells us Prestanda have a dark place they are frequent visitors of and a fifth on Semifinal Test 1 shows the kudos this crew have with fitness and grit. It will also be nice to see Viktor Langsved getting his moment in the sun after being disqualified from competing with Nordic last time out due to Affiliate Cup regulations at the time, Alexander Elebro and the rest of that team went on to finish 16^th. 

CrossFit Krypton

Photo Credit: Athlete’s Eye Photography

Athletes: Ben Smith, Alec Smith, Erin O’Donnell, Caroline Spencer

Qualified: 5^th in North America East Semifinal

Best 2023 Season Test: Quarterfinals Test 2 (4^th)

Worst 2023 Season Test: Quarterfinals Test 4 (26^th)

What they’re hoping to see at The Games: A team with 17 Games appearances notched up between them. Granted, most belong to, former Games champ, Ben Smith, but, there’s a wealth of experience here. The last time Alec Smith was on a team at the Games, he stood on the podium, finishing second in 2019 with the Krypton team. Add in the fact that Laura Horvath and The Training Plan crew of BKG, Jonne and others are training in Krypton before the Games kicks-off and you’ve got a powder keg of a team ready to light it up. If the team can stay niggle free, expect a big impact on the scoring over the week. These four will be strong all-rounders with experienced heads. A seventh against this field on the sprint, pistols and handstands of Test 3 and a 6^th and fourth on Quarters’ Tests 1 and 2 point towards anything upside down or gymnasty being a workout to watch them on. 

CrossFit Believe

Athletes: Lauren Olson, Josh Mattes, Hayden Weddle, Shelby Jones

Qualified: 10^th in North America West

Best 2023 Season Test: Semifinals Test 5 (5^th)

Worst 2023 Season Test: Semifinals Test 6 (38^th)

What they’re hoping to see at The Games: Three top-10 finishes in Tests 2, 4 and 5 of Semifinals papered over the cracks in Tests 3 and 6 a bit, but, the variation in those strong finishes of Test 2’s gymnastics and thrusters, the erg and dumbbells of Test 4 and the heavy lifting in Test 5 will have a lot of people believing in a couple of weeks. Let’s see what they can do under the lights with the rig and a barbell in front of them.

CrossFit Trondheim

Athletes: Vår Thurmann-Moe, Stine Moen Nilsen, Jørgen Skevik, Tobias Møller Opdahl

Qualified: 8^th in Europe Semifinal

Best 2023 Season Test: Quarterfinals Test 4 (7^th) 

Worst 2023 Season Test: Quarterfinals Test 4/Semifinals Test 5 (37^th)

What they’re hoping to see at The Games: Trondheim held steady for, pretty much, the entire weekend in Berlin. Four top-10 finishes against that field and two of those coming inside the top-5 might leave Trondheim feeling a bit hard done by coming this early on the list. Expect them to improve on their 29^th place at the Games last year and keep an eye if there are machines placed between them and the finish line.

CrossFit Oslo Blackout

Athletes: Henrik Yttervik, Veslemøy Kollstad, Ingrid Jacobsen Tøndel, Henrik Negård

Qualified: 4^th place in Europe Semifinal

Best 2023 Season Test: Semifinals Tests 3 and 6 (6^th)

Worst 2023 Season Test: Quarterfinals Test 1 (33^rd)

What they’re hoping to see at The Games: Navy Blue’s little brother isn’t to be overlooked. A fourth in Europe is an impressive return and two 6th place finishes in Berlin with a nice balance of pairs, team and individual work in those strong placings, Blackout won’t go quietly from Wisconsin and will be looking to step out of Navy Blue’s shadow and push them, and others, all the way. A test of teamwork and communication will suit Blackout well but expect a decent showing on interval style pieces too.

CrossFit Kilo II

Photo Credit: Athlete’s Eye Photography

Athletes: Brandon Hornback, Ally Zierke, Austin Nedelcoff, Deidre Franzen

Qualified: 4^th in North America West Semifinal

Best 2023 Season Test: Semifinals Test 5 (4^th)

Worst 2023 Season Test: Semifinals Test 6 (32^nd)

What they’re hoping to see at The Games: CrossFit Kilo II could start pushing into the top-20. Last year Kilo barely squeaked into a Games spot, this year they had over 150 points to spare. Last time out, Kilo fell victim to the cuts in Madison. Three top-10 Semifinal finishes against their fellow Games qualifiers, I don’t see these four looking over their shoulder for that first cut and can look forward to a longer stint on the big stage, throw a heavy barbell their way and enjoy.

CrossFit Genas

Athletes: Carole Castellani, Jules Verne, Lucas Heuzé, Eliott Genin

Qualified: 5^th in Europe Semifinal

Best 2023 Season Test: Quarterfinals Test 4 (3^rd)

Worst 2023 Season Test: Semifinals Test 5 (33^rd)

What they’re hoping to see at The Games: The return of 2021’s bronze medalists to Madison has been quiet so far, sneaking in under the radar while everyone focuses on the top-3 teams from Europe. A third in Quarters on Test 4 and a fourth on Test 6 at Semis, Genas are going to pile the pressure on at the Games and have the experience to run with it. I’m looking forward to seeing what they do when they’re faced with the worm again.

Invictus Sea of Green

Athletes: Lalo Torres, Kelsey Schulte, Sean Early, Lauren Stallwood

Qualified: 8^th in North America West Semifinal

Best 2023 Season Test: Semifinal Test 3 (15^th)

Worst 2023 Season Test: Semifinal Test 5 (32^nd)

What they’re hoping to see at The Games: The first of three CrossFit Invictus teams on our list. Nothing spectacular at the Semifinals stage, but, again, decent consistency. Did well on the sprint, bench, pistol and upside down combo of Semifinal Test 3 so expect a strong showing on brisk workouts in Madison.

CrossFit PSC Invasion

Athletes: Nicholas Anapolsky, Julie Simon, Shawn Clark, Erica Folo

Qualified: 9^th in North America East Semifinal

Best 2023 Season Test: Semifinal Test 6 (10^th)

Worst 2023 Season Test: Semifinal Test 2/Quarterfinals Test 3A (29^th)

What they’re hoping to see at The Games: A top-10 finish on Test 6 in the last stage and a 13^th on Test 3 shows PSC have some chops with the worm, push/pull combos and team work. A few mid-pack finishes early could see them do a legless climb up the leaderboard before the first cut. 

Koda CrossFit Redemption

Photo Credit: Athlete’s Eye Photography

Athletes: Randel DeRose, Taylor Sanders, Casey McCallister, Kevin Schuetz

Qualified: 5^th in North America West Semifinal

Best 2023 Season Test: Semifinal Test 5 (8^th)

Worst 2023 Season Test: Quarterfinal Test 4 (36^th)

What they’re hoping to see at The Games: Eighth place on the cleans in Test 5 in Pasadena, here’s hoping for a heavy bar for Koda to light up the Coliseum. Five of the 6 tests in top-20 or better suggests Koda will be involved in conversations come game day.

CrossFit Milford Team Conquer

Photo Credit: Athlete’s Eye Photography

Athletes: Tony Facchini, Sierra Cameron, Jay Adams, Nicki Torreggiani

Qualified: 10^th in North America East Semifinal

Best 2023 Season Test: Semifinal Test 5 (5^th)

Worst 2023 Season Test: Semifinal Test 1 (32^nd)

What they’re hoping to see at The Games: The Jason Leydon coached Milford team clawed their way to Madison in an epic finish in the Semifinal in Orlando, beating 8th Day CrossFit for the final spot. Both teams finished with 402 points, but Milford made it by virtue of a tiebreak based on event finishes, thanks, in no small part, to a fantastic 5^th place finish on the cleans. Grit and determination will be plentiful in Madison for these four, throw in some lifting and who knows what we’ll witness.

CrossFit Rotherham

Athletes: Georgia Davenport, Moritz Neumann, Dan Tai, Alexandra Demetriou

Qualified: 10^th in Europe Semifinal

Best 2023 Season Test: Semifinal Test 1/Quarterfinals Tests 1,2,3A and 3B (14^th)

Worst 2023 Season Test: Semifinal Test 2 (38^th)

What they’re hoping to see at The Games: Heading into Semifinals Rotherham were rocked by Sapphire Goddard’s ruptured ACL in the build up to Berlin. Alexandra Demetriou stepped in and despite the uphill battle and the odds being stacked against them with the late change, Rotherham punched their ticket. That strong consistency of four 14^th place finishes in Quarterfinals along with the determination shown in Berlin shows a strong unit capable of a decent finish in August.

CrossFit Fly High Kolesnikov Team

Photo Credit: Erin Henderson

Athletes: Kseniia Trubetskaia, Alexandra Buzunova. Aleksandr Plyushkin, Grigoriy Gribenyuk

Qualified: 1^st in Asia Semifinal 

Best 2023 Season Test: Semifinal Test 2 (12^th)

Worst 2023 Season Test: Semifinal Test 3 (37^th)

What they’re hoping to see at The Games: Finishing just outside the top-10, in this field, in a longer muscle-up and thruster race is no mean feat. The Underdogs coached crew from Russia, competing out of UAE have some work to do in other areas but expect to see them knocking on the door of a bar gymnastics and gas combo, team Fran anyone?

CrossFit Oslo NAJS

Photo Credit: CrossFit LLC

Athletes: Ragnhild Seim, Marian Johnsen, Morten Rasch Arnesen, Trygve Nilsen

Qualified: 9^th in Europe Semifinal

Best 2023 Season Test: Quarterfinals Test 3A (11^th)

Worst 2023 Season Test: Semifinals Test 2 (36^th)

What they’re hoping to see at The Games: The first of three teams from CrossFit Oslo we’ll familiarize you with on this list of qualifiers had a really strong showing in the waterfall-style test in Quarterfinals with each athlete working at a time on muscle-ups, deadlifts and GHDs in a down-and-back race, perhaps showing their individual strength and capacity. Hopefully, the time since competing in Berlin has given them the opportunity to hone in their strength and capacity as a team.

PFC CrossFit 3076

Photo Credit: PFC CrossFit 3076

Athletes: PJ TeWhaiti, Tremaine Jensen, Holly Hiney, Alexandra Bulic

Qualified: 3^rd in Oceania Semifinal

Best 2023 Season Test: Quarterfinals Test 3A (9^th)

Worst 2023 Season Test: Quarterfinals Test 3B (38^th)

What they’re hoping to see at The Games: Finishing inside the top-10 in that Quarterfinals waterfall-style test and just outside the top-10 in Semifinals Test 1 with the cardio and sandbag combo shows a nice bit of scope for the first of the Aussies on our list. They have some work to do in other areas but will likely do well in a longer monostructural event, especially if it’s a swim – if nothing else then just by virtue of being Australian. 

CrossFit Portti

Photo Credit: CrossFit LLC

Athletes: Mirka Henriksson, Laura Isopoussu, Petteri Peuronen, Joosua Eskelinen

Qualified: 7^th in Europe Semifinal

Best 2023 Season Test: Quarterfinals Test 1 (14^th)

Worst 2023 Season Test: Quarterfinals Test 3A (36^th)

What they’re hoping to see at The Games: An unchanged line-up from the Finland based Portti, who were cut in Madison in 2021 and finished 19th the Games last year, returns for a third run. There has been nothing stand out, spectacular from the Fins so far this season, but, there has been consistency and getting the job done with their 36^th place finish in Quarterfinals Test 3A an outlier to the other low 20s placings they’ve handed in. Some tweaks, while maintaining that consistency, and they should “Finnish strong” (I’m not even sorry).

Rhino CrossFit Dawgs

Photo Credit: Vincenzo Franzeo

Athletes: Raphael Durand, Christine Middleton, Brittany Marella, Ethan Helbig

Qualified: 7^th in North America West Semifinal

Best 2023 Season Test: Semifinal Test 5 (2^nd)

Worst 2023 Season Test: Quarterfinal Test 4 (35^th)

What they’re hoping to see at The Games: The second Underdogs team on our roster made a statement by finishing second in Test 5 of Semifinals behind East Nashville PRVN and ahead of teams like Andre Houdet’s NoShortcuts. The big dogs from Vegas are ready to lift. Expect fireworks if there’s cleans on the menu.

CrossFit Marvel Black

Photo Credit: Erin Henderson

Athletes: Carlos Albaladejo, Choi Mi-Jung, Bityeoul Hwang, Min Sun Kim

Qualified: 2nd in Asia Semifinal

Best 2023 Season Test: Semifinals Test 6 (21^st)

Worst 2023 Season Test: Semifinals Test 1 (37^th)

What they’re hoping to see at The Games: Going on their performance with the worm squats and burpees in Test 6 at Semifinals and a matched 21^st in Test 1 of Quarterfinals, light, higher volume squatting seems to be something Marvel Black would relish in Madison and with cuts looming from the off, they’ll have their work cut out for them to stay in the mix.

Q21 CrossFit

Athletes: Matho Vizcarra, Aguu Haag, Agustina Corradini, Gonza Duro

Qualified: 2nd in South America Semifinal

Best 2023 Season Test: Quarterfinal Test 5 (19^th)

Worst 2023 Season Test: Quarterfinal Test 1 (38^th)

What they’re hoping to see at The Games: Throw some thrusters at Q21 and they’ll hold their own, but, again, comparing them to the other Games qualifiers on the tests so far, they’ll have an uphill battle making it inside that line for the first cut.

Cape CrossFit Wolfpack

Photo Credit: CrossFit LLC

Athletes: Michael Van Tonder, Callum Deeble, Reegan Finkel, Brady Finkel

Qualified: Backfilled through Africa Semifinal after member of winning team failed drug test

Best 2023 Season Test: Quarterfinals Test 2 (10^th)

Worst 2023 Season Test: Semifinals Test 4 (37^th)

What they’re hoping to see at The Games: This is a fit team. That low skill, zero equipment workout on Quarterfinals Test 2 of burpees and shuttle runs brought them a top-10 finish against this field.

Templo SA CrossFit

Photo Credit: CrossFit LLC

Athletes: Luiz Outor, Tata Rebane, Caroline Ribeiro Ferreira, Henrique Moreira

Qualified: 1st at South America Semifinal

Best 2023 Season Test: Semifinals Test 2 (18^th)

Worst 2023 Season Test: Quarterfinals Tests 2 and 3; Semifinals Tests 1 and 3 (38^th)

What they’re hoping to see at The Games: The synchro bar and rings muscle-ups and ascending thrusters at Semifinals brought Templo their best finish to date so some high skill synchro work could play in the South American champions’ favor in Wisconsin.

Einhorn CrossFit Ascend

Photo Credit: CrossFit LLC

Athletes: Zach Carroll-Ramirez, Casey Viator, Abby Fletcher, Cierra Cole

Qualified: 9^th in North America West Semifinal

Best 2023 Season Test: Semifinals Test 6 (16^th)

Worst 2023 Season Test: Quarterfinals Test 5 (37^th)

What they’re hoping to see at The Games: Their worst finish being back in Quarterfinals and three top-25 finishes in Semifinals shows Einhorn might be ramping up nicely heading into the Games, couple that with their three stronger finishes being on the worm squats and burpee combo, the heavy weightlifting of Test 5 and the longer endurance Test 1 and maybe Einhorn could have a good thing going.

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