Three Texas women will compete for their chance at a $315,000 prize in the CrossFit Games
Arielle Loewen was ecstatic to find out that the 2024 CrossFit Games would take place in her home state of Texas.
CrossFit was started in 2000 by Lauren Jenai and Greg Glassman, it’s a workout regime that focuses on high-intensity interval workouts mixed with weightlifting movements and running. An example of a workout in this year’s competition is ‘Chad,” which is 1,000 box step-ups on a 20-inch box with a weighted vest.
Loewen will compete with over 300 athletes for a grand prize of $315,000 for the first-place male and female finisher and spoke Wednesday about what this year’s competition being in Texas means to her.
“For me it will be a celebration because my friends and family can actually come for the games, “ said Loewen, who finished in third place in the 2023 Games. “Before it was too expensive to fly to Madison, get a hotel. It’ll be a big celebration of, ‘hey, come see what I can do,’ You saw it on TV? Now you can see it in person.”
The Midland native has been competing in elite CrossFit competitions for over a decade. The Games begin on THursday at 7 a.m. at Dickies Arena.
The games began in 2007 at the ranch of then director of training Dave Castro’s ranch and expanded to the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wis. before moving to Fort Worth. Each year the games have different movements some of which will not be revealed to athletes until the day of competition.
The games use a relative scoring system with 12 events, each being worth 100 points, at the end of the completion all the points are added up and the person with the most points is awarded the title of fittest man or woman on earth.
Tickets can still be bought on Ticketmaster’s website starting at $138.
At Wednesday’s media event, Loewen was joined by Texan competitors Abbie Domit and Bethany Flores as well as CrossFit CEO Don Faul, Fort Worth Sports Commission Executive Director Jason Sands and other members of CrossFit leadership.
Faul explained why Fort Worth was chosen for this year’s games.
“Jason and his team were incredible, they showed us the incredible city of Fort Worth... the Stock Yards, the restaurants, a ton of great stuff to do and we’ve certainly felt like the community’s rolled out the red carpet so we’re really grateful for that. Finally, this incredible facility, Dickies, one of the nicest facilities that I’ve ever been to one of the best in the country. Honestly feels like it was crafted for the CrossFit Games.”
Flores agreed with Faul saying Fort Worth was the perfect spot to host the games to her.
“Texas, it’s my hometown and so it just feels, feels really comfortable just being here. It just brings me peace and it’s like, it’s my happy place. I love Texas and I will always hold like a good place in my heart,” said Flores.
Flores is from Austin and is competing in her sixth CrossFit Games. She was introduced to the sport by her brother when she was 16 after leaving competitive gymnastics. She wasn’t initially hooked by CrossFit ,but a couple of years later decided to give it one more shot and fell in love with the intensity of the sport.
Domit, a San Antonio native, began CrossFit in the Spring of 2020 and is excited for the Texas CrossFit community to be showcased.
“I was just, well, something I noticed is people from Texas are also very friendly and they’re very open and they’re just like, come on in. So I feel like that also reflects on the community of CrossFit.,” said Domit, “It’s super welcoming, there’s tons of options. Everybody’s like hitting you up, like ‘come on, we train here, everybody’s welcome,’ and so it’s not always like that everywhere, but it’s, it’s really prevalent here.”
Domit, Flores and Loewen will all compete for the title of fittest woman on the planet and will enjoy competing in their home state in front of friends and family.
