CrossFit has attempted to correct the team prize money payouts for the 2026 CrossFit Games. We initially reported several anomalies in the placement payouts earlier this week. A day after the CrossFit Athlete Council’s meeting (CAC) with CrossFit’s leadership, the placement payouts have been adjusted.
In the updated article on the CrossFit Games website, it read, “Due to an error by CrossFit impacting CrossFit Games Team prize money payouts, the prize money table has been updated. Please note that no team will receive less that originally communicated so in a few cases, teams will receive more than is shown on this table.“
The problem is the payouts are still not correct!
The total Team Prize Purse Total is listed at $242,832.0 on the website. However, the payouts are still slightly off…and 13th place is understated by almost $720!
Take a look at the updated payout table below. The payout for 13th place is less that 14th and 15th place.
Based on the 2026 CrossFit Games rulebook, 13th place should receive 1.20% of the Team Prize Purse Total. That amount should be $2,913.98, a difference of $719.98.
The rest of the prize money is off a negligible amount, as in a few cents. Regardless, it makes you wonder how these are not correct…
For example, the recalculated 1st place prize is now listed at $72,849.76. The 2026 rulebook calculation states it should be 30% of the Team Prize Purse Total. Taking $242,832.03 multiplied by 0.30 is $72,849.60, a difference of $0.16. Again, it’s not material but just makes you wonder what’s going on over at HQ.
ACTUAL PAYOUTS
Pennies aside, CrossFit has stated that teams will receive the higher of the originally reported amount or the “recalculated” amount. That is, CrossFit Whip (who won the team competition) received a giant check on the podium for $75,107.94. They will get to keep that despite the correct calculation being $72,849.76.
The biggest winner in all of this is the 5th place team, Camp Rhino CrossFit. The original calculation showed a payout of $8,766.24. However, the recalculated payout is now $12,141.60, an increase of $3,375.36.
Six teams (5th-9th and 11th place) each will now receive a larger payout because of the recalculation. The other teams will keep the higher amount originally reported.
In total, this error will cost CrossFit $6,191.91 as the total payout will be $249,023.94 (once the 13th place payout is corrected).
