With the new rules regarding which region athletes will compete out of in their quest to qualify for the 2023 CrossFit Games, athletes were able to request an exemption to compete at a different Semifinal event. Many expected Roman Khrennikov to receive the exemption as examples for an exemption included political hardship, financial hardship or visa/immigration restrictions.
With the 2023 CrossFit Open just over a month away, CrossFit issued its first two exemptions. Roman Khrennikov and Anotnio Barrias both have been granted an exemption.
Khrennikov, who recently moved to Cookeville, Tennessee, will now compete out of the North America East region. Khrennikov, a native of Russia, received his visa last year which allowed him to compete at his first CrossFit Games. Without the exemption, Khrennikov would have been required to travel to the Rupublic of Korea for the Far East Throwdown.
Now, Khrennikov will be able to stay in the United States throughout the 2023 CrossFit Games season.
As for Barrias, he has been granted an exemption to compete out of the Asian Semifinal. Barrias, originally from Portugal, currently owns CrossFit XVI in Macau, a city and special administrative region of China. Barrias finished 670th in Europe for the individual quarterfinals last year.
Athletes have until February 1 at 5:00pm PST to apply for an exemption.
