Visa issues have long plagued international athletes trying to make the trip to the United States to compete at the CrossFit Games. Morteza Sedaghat is the latest athlete to qualify for the Games, but is unable to compete in Madison.
Sedaghat is from Iran. He took second place at the Asia Semifinal last month, good enough to qualify for his first appearance at the CrossFit Games. Unfortunately, however, Sedaghat has been unable to obtain a visa to travel to the United States.
In speaking with Sedaghat, he said his visa application had been denied. He told The Barbell Spin that CrossFit sent him an official invitation to use for his documentation when applying for his visa, but that it was not enough to get approved to travel to the United States.
According to the FAQs on the U.S. Embassy website, Iran has been designated by the United States as State Sponsors of Terrorism along with Cuba and Syria. Iran does not technically have a U.S. Embassy so Iranians must make appointments for their visa application at a non-immigrant visa issuing post.
Sedaghat has been the fittest man in Iran four consecutive years since 2020 and this was the first time he qualified to compete at the CrossFit Games.
With Sedaghat unable to compete, CrossFit has invited 3rd place finisher at the Asia Semifinal, Ant Haynes, to backfill Sedaghat’s spot. It will be Haynes’ second appearance at the CrossFit Games. He finished 27th at the 2019 CrossFit Games.
