South Africa’s CrossFit community is gearing up for what will arguably be the biggest competition on the local calendar.
Following changes to the CrossFit Games qualifying structures, the Fittest in Cape Town (FICT) competition will now form part of 16 sanctioned invitational events where the best athletes can earn a spot at the CrossFit Games, which will once again take place in August 2019, in Madison, Wisconsin at the Alliant Energy Centre.
That means the top male, female and team to emerge after the weekend’s action is over will walk away with a ticket to the 2019 CrossFit Games.
The stakes are high, so the action will be lit as South Africa’s best test their fitness against some of the best athletes from around the world, who will travel to the Mother City to compete.
Top teams
An estimated 450 athletes will descend on Green Point Athletics Stadium to fight for their spot on top of the podium at CrossFit FICT 2019. This will include big-name teams like Cape CrossFit Wolfpack, who are the defending FICT team champions and gained valuable experience in 2018 after competing at the highest level at the Games, placing a credible 30thoverall.
The other major local contender is team Jacked Rebels. The team comprises South Africa’s fittest woman and two members from team CrossFit PBM, who also competed at the 2018 Games. The team’s other female member, Mary Jamieson boasts experience from 5 Regionals events.
The international contenders hoping to dash any ambitions of a hometown victory includes CrossFit XY from Iceland and CrossFit Vondelgym from Holland.
CrossFit XY in particular has a wealth of talent and experience at Games level, having qualified for the Games in 2016 and 2017.
Manning up
The man to beat at FICT will be American Cole Sager. He’s on the hunt for a spot at the Games, which is obviously harder to come by in the highly competitive US region. He has, therefore, travelled to Cape Town to secure his place.
This means SA’s top athlete, Jason Smith will have his work cut out for him as he looks to regain the FICT title he won in 2016 and earn his spot at the 2019 Games. After finishing 10that the Games in 2017, he certainly has the pedigree and ability to contest for the win.
Female showdown
Among the women, all eyes will be on Michelle Merand to fly the local flag, as our perennial local champion Celeste competes in the team competition this year. Michelle is the defending FICT women’s champion, but will face stiff competition this year from international competitors like Mia Akerlund, a former Games athlete, and Aussie athlete Courtney Haley.
It’s all shaping up to be a massive contest. If you’re a CrossFit fan and want to experience the intensity of international-level competition, then get down to the Green Point Athletics Stadium from from 31 January to 2 February to catch all the action. For more info, visit fittestincapetown.com.
Author: Pedro van Gaalen
When he’s not writing about sport or health and fitness, Pedro is probably out training for his next marathon or ultra-marathon. He’s worked as a fitness professional and as a marketing and comms expert. He now combines his passions in his role as managing editor at Fitness magazine.
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