The French Throwdown is one of two In-Person Qualifying Events in Europe for the 2025 CrossFit Games season. The French Throwdown was the host of the 2024 CrossFit European Semifinal and is now incorporating last year’s results into how the 40-athlete field is selected this year.
The French Throwdown is using a mix of an online qualifier and historical performance to find the 40 men and 40 women who will compete in the elite individual division. Here is how it all works:
INVITATIONS
The French Throwdown will invite 20 athletes based on their performance in 2024. Of those, 17 invitations will be awarded to the best athletes of the 2024 CrossFit European Semifinal. In other words, the top 17 at last year’s European Semifinal receive an automatic invite to this year’s French Throwdown.
The other three invites will go to the three best French athletes from the 2024 Quarterfinals.
If an athlete declines their invitation, it will be assigned to the next athlete in the ranking (either the 2024 Semifinal finish or 2024 Quarterfinal for French athletes).
Who’s Invited?
Here are the top 17 athletes who will be invited based on the French Throwdown’s process:
2024 Semifinal Invites
Men | Women |
Jelle Hoste | Laura Horvath |
Henrik Haapalainen | Gabi Migala |
Aniol Ekai | Emma Tall |
Luka Đukić | Karin Freyova |
Victor Hoffer | Aimee Cringle |
Bjorgvin Karl Gudmundsson | Claudia Gluck |
Harry Lightfoot | Linda Keesman |
Calum Clements | Elisa Fuliano |
Moritz Fiebig | Emma McQuaid |
Uldis Upenieks | Jacqueline Dahlstrom |
Luka Vunjak | Emelie Lundberg |
Jonne Koski | Jennifer Muir |
Colin Bosshard | Andrea Solberg |
Fabian Beneito | Ella Wilkinson |
Guillaume Briant | Manon Angonese |
Michael Smith | Thuri Helgadottir |
Kevin Jurs | Connie Easby |
2024 French Quarterfinal Invites
Men | Women |
Lucas Heuze | Margaux Masset |
Jules Castor | Lisa Janin |
Willy Georges | Laura Mugnier |
Given the list and athletes who have indicated they will not compete in the 2025 Games season, it is likely the French Throwdown will have to utilize it backfill process.
ONLINE QUALIFIER
For those who don’t receive an automatic invite based on their performance last year, athletes will need to qualify via the online qualifier. The French Throwdown is hosting its own qualifier where the top 20 men and top 20 women will also advance to the In-Person Qualifying Event.
The 10-day online qualifier runs from February 14-24. Registration is already open on Competition Corner. There are no geographical restrictions for athletes looking to compete and qualify for the French Throwdown.
IN-PERSON QUALIFYING EVENT
Regardless of how an athlete qualifies for the French Throwdown, all athletes must register for the 2025 CrossFit Open and finish in the top 1% worldwide.
The French Throwdown is at the Sud de France Arena in Montpelier on May 9-11.