Colten Mertens has emerged victorious in the 2025 CrossFit Open, securing the title of male champion following a three-week online series of workouts held from February 27 to March 17. A native of Iowa and multiple-time CrossFit Games participant, Mertens delivered consistently dominant performances—winning the first two workouts and placing second in the final one—with only four points overall. His win came after narrowly missing qualification for the 2024 CrossFit Games, making this victory a moment of redemption. He also set a world record in workout 25.2, further solidifying his status among the sport’s elite.
While Mertens captured the male title, Mirjam von Rohr topped the women’s division for the second consecutive year. She finished with 13 points, narrowly edging out Fee Saghafi, who came in second by just one point. The tight competition highlighted the depth of talent still present in the sport despite changes and challenges.
However, the 2025 CrossFit Open experienced a steep decline in participation. Just 233,815 athletes registered, a 32 percent drop from the 343,528 registrants in 2024. This marked the lowest turnout since 2014. Analysts and insiders attribute the decline to several factors, including new rules requiring gym affiliates to maintain active CrossFit certifications to register participants. Many smaller or international affiliates failed to meet the new requirements in time, limiting athlete access to official workout locations.
Community sentiment has also played a role in declining participation. A wave of de-affiliations led to over 1,400 gyms separating from CrossFit in 2024. Meanwhile, several high-profile athletes, including Patrick Vellner, Annie Thorisdottir, and Laura Horvath, chose not to compete in the 2025 season. They cited ongoing concerns about leadership, transparency, and athlete safety within the organization.
In a significant structural shift, CrossFit replaced the traditional quarterfinals with a new competitive format known as the Community Cup. This new tier allows athletes who submitted all three Open workouts—but did not qualify for semifinals—to continue competing at a level matched to their abilities. Qualification for the semifinals is now based directly on Open rankings, with the top 1 percent or a minimum of 1,200 athletes in each division advancing. Age-group competitors can move forward through in-affiliate semifinals if they rank in the top 2 percent or meet a minimum of 200 participants.
The decline in participation also has financial implications. CrossFit funds its season prize pool through Open registration fees, and with fewer entrants, the 2025 purse is the smallest since 2016. This has raised concerns about sustainability and whether the sport can maintain its current structure amid shrinking revenues and community disengagement.
Leadership decisions in response to recent controversies have further divided the CrossFit base. The organization has faced criticism over its handling of a competitor’s death during the 2024 Games, with calls from the Professional Fitness Athletes’ Association for independent oversight and better safety measures. CrossFit has responded by forming an internal advisory board and reaffirming its leadership team, but many in the community remain skeptical.
With the Open now complete, the CrossFit season moves forward to the semifinals, which will be held either virtually or at participating affiliate gyms. The top 30 individual finishers will earn spots at the 2025 CrossFit Games, scheduled to take place from August 1 to 3 in Albany, New York, at the MVP Arena.
As CrossFit navigates reduced participation, internal criticism, and structural changes, the upcoming Games will be a crucial test for the sport’s ability to retain its audience and rebuild trust among athletes and fans alike.
