World Fitness Project

world fitness project

The World Fitness Project (WFP) is a new competitive fitness league announced in 2024, with its inaugural year planned for 2025.

Created by CrossFit Games veteran Will Moorad alongside Isabella and Jackson Terry, the WFP aims to transform the world of functional fitness by providing a structured, inclusive, and globally accessible platform for athletes.

With its innovative format and focus on elite competitors and aspiring athletes, the WFP seeks to set a new benchmark in fitness competition.

Why the WFP matters

The World Fitness Project is poised to revolutionise the competitive fitness landscape.

By offering professional-level contracts, opportunities for emerging athletes, and a globally accessible competition format, the WFP promises to elevate the sport and create a new standard for functional fitness events.

With a star-studded roster and innovative approach, the WFP is set to become a must-watch league in 2025 and beyond.

How will the WFP work?

The WFP will feature a season-long competition comprising three key stages:

how does the world fitness project work
  1. Pro Division: Twenty male and twenty female athletes will be signed to professional contracts, guaranteeing automatic invitations to compete in WFP events throughout the season. These contracts, reportedly worth up to $100,000, ensure professional-level support for athletes.
  2. Challenger Qualifier: Aspiring athletes can qualify for the league through an online competition. This one-week event includes three workouts, with the top 10 male and female performers earning the chance to compete alongside the pros in the Tour events.
  3. World Fitness Tour and Finals: The season includes two three-day Tour events followed by the World Fitness Finals. Athletes accumulate points throughout the Tour events to qualify for the Finals, where the season's top performers will compete for the ultimate prize.
  • Tour Event I: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA โ€“ May 9-11, 2025
  • Tour Event II: Phoenix-Mesa, Arizona, USA โ€“ August 29-31, 2025
  • World Fitness Finals: Copenhagen, Denmark โ€“ December 18-21, 2025
world fitness project dates

These events will feature the signed professional athletes competing alongside challengers who qualify through online preliminaries to earn points and secure their standings for the season.

Will the WFP clash with the 2025 CrossFit Games?

The WFP has carefully structured its schedule to avoid direct clashes with the CrossFit Games Final. However, the first WFP Tour event planned for May (Indianapolis, Indiana) will clash with the French Throwdown. 

crossfit vs world fitness project

Which athletes are competing in the WFP in 2025?

The WFP has already signed some of the biggest names in functional fitness to its Pro Division for the 2025 season. Here's what we know so farโ€ฆ

Men

Women

Jay Crouch

Haley Adams

Luka ฤukiฤ‡

Manon Angonese

Victor Hoffer

Danielle Brandon

Jayson Hopper

Aimee Cringle

Jelle Hoste

Bethany Flores

Ricky Garard

Alex Gazan

Bjรถrgvin Karl
Guรฐmundsson

Emma Lawson

Roman Khrennikov

Arielle Loewen

Jonne Koski

Emma McQuaid

Sam Kwant

Alexis Raptis

Guilherme Malheiros

Emily Rolfe

Travis Mayer

Paige Semenza

Justin Medeiros

Maddie Sturt

Saxon Panchik
Austin Hatfield

Emma Tall

Dallin Pepper

Brooke Wells

Chandler Smith

Sydney Wells

James Sprague

Lucy Campbell

Pat Vellner

Dani Speegle

Noah Ohlsen

Olivia Kerstetter

Jeffrey Adler

Laura Horvath

These athletes are among the 20 men and 20 women selected to hold professional contracts for the 2025 season, granting them automatic invitations to the WFP's events throughout the year.

They represent a mix of seasoned CrossFit Games competitors and emerging talents, ensuring a dynamic and competitive season.

athletes world fitness project

How can I qualify to compete in the WFP?

If you're not part of the Pro Division, you can still compete in the WFP by participating in the Challenger Qualifier.

This online event takes place over one week and consists of three workouts.

The top 10 male and female athletes from the qualifier will earn a spot in the Tour events, allowing them to compete alongside the pros and accumulate points towards the Finals.

What is the Prize Money for the WFP?

The WFP has announced professional contracts worth up to $100,000 for its signed Pro Division athletes.

Additional prize money will be awarded throughout the Tour events and the Finals, rewarding top performances and incentivising athletes at every competition stage.

Exact prize amounts for the Tour and Finals have yet to be disclosed but are expected to rival other major functional fitness competitions.

Who are the investors of the WFP?

The WFP is financially backed by the Gillette family, with Beth Gillette serving as the registered agent for World Fitness Project, LLC. Beth is a Masters CrossFit Games athlete and the CEO of PowerGrid Services.

Is the WFP an official “CrossFit” competition? 

No, the World Fitness Project (WFP) is not branded as a CrossFit competition. While the WFP was founded by individuals with strong ties to the CrossFit community, it is an independent competitive fitness league. The WFP is designed to offer a distinct platform for functional fitness athletes, separate from the CrossFit Games and the broader CrossFit ecosystem.

Key differences between the WFP and The CrossFit Games

Branding and Licensing:

  • The WFP is not affiliated with CrossFit, Inc. and does not use the CrossFit trademark in its branding or events.
  • This distinction ensures the WFP operates independently within the broader realm of functional fitness.

Competition Structure:

  • The WFP features a unique season-long format, including Pro Divisions, Challenger Qualifiers, and the World Fitness Finals.
  • Unlike the CrossFit Games, the WFP includes professional athlete contracts and incorporates a league-style points system.

Athlete Inclusion:

  • While many WFP athletes are also notable CrossFit Games competitors, the league is open to more participants through online qualifiers and Tour events.
  • The WFP aims to provide opportunities for elite athletes and rising talents, creating a more inclusive competition structure.

Is the WFP like the iF3 World Championships? 

While the International Functional Fitness Federation (iF3) and the  iF3 World Championships are similar to the World Fitness Project (WFP) in that both focus on functional fitness competitions, they differ significantly in structure, purpose, and approach.

world fitness project vs if3

Organisational scope and goals

iF3: The iF3 is the global governing body for functional fitness, aiming to standardise and grow the sport internationally. It promotes functional fitness as a recognised sport, potentially in the Olympics.

WFP: The WFP is a competitive fitness league designed as an independent professional platform for elite and aspiring athletes. It prioritises innovation and creating a sustainable, inclusive league.

Competition Structure

iF3: Structured like traditional international sporting events. Athletes represent their countries. Competitions adhere to a defined rulebook focusing on fairness and standardisation. Includes tests across six areas: endurance, strength, body weight, skill, mixed modal, and power.

WFP: It's a professional league with a season-long structure. Features Pro Divisions (signed athletes) and Challenger Qualifiers (aspiring athletes). It includes tour events and culminates in the World Fitness Finals.

Emphasises both individual competition and building a global fitness community.

Athlete Participation

iF3: Open to athletes who qualify via national championships or specific pathways established by the federation. Emphasises amateur and national representation.

WFP: Features signed professional athletes under contracts worth up to $100,000. Allows broader access through online Challenger Qualifiers, enabling individuals to compete alongside pros.

Event Scale and Focus

iF3: Focused on international representation and standardising functional fitness. Appeals to athletes seeking to represent their country on a global stage.

WFP: Focused on professionalising the sport with a league-style format.

It aims to create a sustainable ecosystem for elite athletes while engaging a wider audience.

Sponsorship and Commercialisation

iF3: Operates more as a federation, with less emphasis on commercial sponsorships.

WFP: Is backed by high-profile sponsors like Nike and Rogue Fitness, focusing on athlete support and commercial appeal.

While the iF3 and WFP both promote functional fitness, the iF3 focuses on standardisation and global recognition of the sport, aligning with traditional sports federation models.

The WFP is akin to a professional sports league, providing opportunities for elite athletes to compete professionally in a season-long format. They complement each other differently, with the iF3 fostering grassroots development and the WFP pushing the sport's professional boundaries.

How can I watch the WFP? 

The World Fitness Project (WFP) has not released specific details regarding live streaming or broadcast options for their 2025 events. However, in a recent interview, WFP co-founder Will Moorad mentioned that they are considering outsourcing the production of live streams and media coverage for their competitions.

Given this, the WFP is likely to provide live-streaming options for its events, either through its official website or via platforms like YouTube or social media channels. We will update this page when we know more.

Vicki McLeod

by

Vicki McLeod

Vicki McLeod is a writer, photographer and broadcaster living and working in Mallorca, Spain. She has interviewed many elite-level athletes and is fascinated by the psychology of sports, andย competition.