The Last Chance Qualifier Overview
The Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) took place over the weekend, marking the 12th and final qualification event for the highly anticipated 2025 CrossFit Games. This online competition gave athletes the opportunity to complete five workouts for the chance to secure the last remaining men’s and women’s spots at the Games, set to be held in Albany, NY, this summer.
Results from LCQ
At the end of the competition, Jonne Koski emerged as the top male athlete, while Lydia Fish claimed the leading position for the women. Although these results are not officially confirmed at the time of this publication, should they be verified, Koski will attain the impressive milestone of being a 10-time Games competitor, while Fish would receive her first invite to the Games.
Declining Participation Numbers
Interestingly, the LCQ experienced significantly lower participation than in previous years. From a pool of 150 qualified male and 150 female athletes hailing from various in-person qualifying events and in-affiliate semifinals, less than 10% chose to complete the LCQ workouts. In stark contrast to prior qualifications, only 10 men officially registered and competed, alongside 19 women, with just 15 submitting scores.
Comparing Previous Years’ Outcomes
The LCQ has been a staple of CrossFit’s qualification process since 2009, typically seeing robust participation. For instance, in 2021, the LCQ welcomed 33 qualified men and 34 women, with 29 men and 28 women ultimately competing. Similarly, 2022 witnessed 30 men and 30 women qualifying, with a majority participating—27 men and 22 women.
Insights into Low Turnout
Training Think Tank coach Perrin Behr, who coaches Lydia Fish, has suggested several potential causes for this year’s low turnout. Key among these was the lack of robust communication about the event.
“I don’t think the details were advertised heavily leading up to the competition,” Behr remarked. He also noted that Fish had not received any official notification inviting her to compete, and when she attempted to register, the platform initially indicated she was ineligible.
Additionally, the requirement for significant resources—including two judges for each workout—may have discouraged many potential participants. Behr speculated that many athletes assessed the situation and deemed the endeavor not worth the effort required, especially following public scrutiny and penalties that accompanied earlier rounds of qualifying events.
Furthermore, many athletes are facing mental and physical exhaustion from a long season, which Behr indicated has also contributed to the low participation rate.
Voices from the Community
Brute Strength coach Matt Torres echoed Behr’s viewpoint, emphasizing that several athletes felt the potential reward of performing in the LCQ outweighed the effort required. “People saw the workouts and decided they had a low chance of getting the one spot and chose not to compete,” Torres explained. He remarked that many competitors might be “running on fumes, physically and emotionally.”
Justin Cotler, owner of Underdogs Athletics, added to this sentiment by noting that this event came on the heels of several competitions within a short timeframe, likely contributing to burnout among athletes.
An Athlete’s Perspective
Among those athletes weighing the decision to participate was Spain’s Fabian Beneito, who felt he had a legitimate shot at the single LCQ spot but ultimately opted out, citing the financial burden involved. He explained, “Finding two judges was quite complicated,” and added that travel and registration costs made the effort untenable.
The Bigger Picture
While the LCQ will ultimately serve its purpose by sending one man and one woman to the Games, the strikingly low participation this season cannot be ignored. This situation underscores some of the significant challenges athletes are facing this competitive season, with mental burnout being a prominent issue for many.