The CrossFit Games are an annual athletic event where men and women compete for the title of “Fittest on Earth.” The first games were held in the summer of 2007 and the popularity of the competition is growing at an astounding rate.
This cutting edge sport is sponsored by Reebok, and not for the faint of heart. Competitors are pushed to their limits as they participate in various challenges testing their strength, agility, speed, and endurance.
Qualifiers from over 120 countries are invited to participate in the games, which are held in Madison, Wisconsin. In order to qualify, contestants must perform well enough in either the Open or one of the 28 global CrossFit Sanctionals. The CrossFit Games can also choose to invite an individual, even if they did not qualify in either of these events.
This year, the games will take place in September (depending on the COVID-19 situation).
Unique to these games is that competitors don’t know exactly what challenges the games will consist of until right before the events begin.
The games consist of individual and team competitions, with grand prizes up to $300,000.
With increasing publicity and broadcasting by ESPN and CBS, CrossFit has made a name for itself. Competitors and champions are recognized as real professional athletes; with this comes the desire to place bets on who will come out on top in the next Games.
With this comes the public interest to place bets on who will be the next champion. If you like sports betting, this is one more hardcore sport that you can bet on and win big.
Below, we will tell you everything you need to know to bet on the CrossFit Games in 2020.
Where Can I Bet on the CrossFit Games?
At this time, you would have some difficulty finding a land-based sportsbook to place bets for the CrossFit games. Your best option to place your bets is through offshore sports betting websites. This is not illegal, but keep in mind that you will not be protected by any government regulations when gambling this way. This is why it is important to find a reputable website that has obtained the necessary certifications.
You should only use websites that:
- Have good reviews.
- Offer quick payouts.
- Have a quality customer support team.
- Are safe and secure with your personal information.
- Have various banking options that suit your needs.
Once you have found an online sportsbook that possesses these qualities, you are ready to begin placing your bets on the fittest person on Earth.
How to Know Who to Bet On
Although extremely popular, CrossFit is still an up-and-coming sport. It is considered to be one of the fastest-growing sports since UFC and the athletes are well-known within the community, but champions are not yet household names.
However, this should not deter your motivation to place bets on the upcoming games.
Mathew Fraser is the American athlete who has been winning competitions and making headlines for the past four years after beating Rich Froning Jr. (four-time champion) and Ben Smith.
Fraser is projected to win for his fifth year in a row. His biggest contenders are Noah Ohlsen of the USA, and the current Icelandic CrossFit champion, Björgvin Guðmundsson. They joined him on the podium in 2019 after receiving second and third place in the games. Patrick Vellner is also competing very well and has a chance to take home the title.
This year the women’s division might be a little more unpredictable than the men’s. Annie Thorisdottir and Tia-Clair Toomey are multiple-time champions and both have the ability to win again. However, Sara Sigmundsdóttir, Kari Pearce, Kristin Holte, and Jamie Simmonds are equally as likely to win. The competition will be fierce.
There is normally also the option to place bets in the team series, however, the organization has decided to cancel this division in 2020 due to public health concerns.
There are various types of bets you can make on the games. The most obvious option being who will win the title in each division. But you also have the option to bet on who will podium (first, second, third), and you can even wager on who will finish higher out of two particular contenders.
How to Watch the Games
So, you’ve found a trustworthy sportsbook and reviewed the odds; what’s next?
After placing your bets, you can watch the games on CBS to see if you win big. While you can place bets from many countries throughout the world, the games are only shown in the United States. If you would like to watch the games from another country, it requires a VPN.
Once you have secured a way to view the games, get ready to witness incredible performances from the most tenacious athletes in the world.
Remember to view the odds and go with your gut! Good luck.
Note: Stay up to date on the latest COVID-19 developments to see if the date of the games changes.