The WFP Challenger Qualifier 1 workouts are announced and has drawn attention from around the world, with more than 1.4 million views on the World Fitness Project’s platform. Athletes who compete in this online event can qualify for the WFP Tour 1 and end up pursuing their pro card for the next season.
The competition pushes athletes through three demanding WFP workouts. They must complete a 20-minute AMRAP challenge and tackle a complex three-round workout with multiple movement patterns. The final test combines handstand walks with heavy lifts in two parts. These challenging workouts will end at the first-ever WFP Tour Event 1 at Indianapolis’s Grand Park Sports Campus.
Understanding the WFP Qualification System
The World Fitness Project runs a well-laid-out qualification system that identifies and rewards elite fitness athletes. WFP’s two-division competition structure creates clear paths to advance while you retain control of competitive standards.
The system has a prestigious Pro Division and a developmental Challenger Division. The Pro Division has 20 male and 20 female contracted athletes who qualify automatically for all tour events. These elite athletes compete among 10 “Challenger” qualifiers who earn their spots through the WFP Challenge Qualifier 1 and other online competitions.
Athletes can enter this system through three key stages:
- A one-week Challenger Qualifier with three workouts (like the current WFP Challenge Qualifier 1)
- Tour Event evaluations to qualify for Finals
- World Fitness Trials – a month-long, three-stage online qualifier for the Finals
The point system strengthens this hierarchy. Pro Division athletes score higher points than Challenger competitors. Pro Division athletes get more points than Challenger Division winners, even when they finish last.
Athletes who rank 11th through 30th in the WFP Challenge Qualifier 1 can still compete in Tour events in the Challenger Division. This gives them ground experience and a chance to earn points toward future Pro status.
The 2025 WFP season has two Online Challenger Qualifiers, two Tour Stops, one World Fitness Trials, and one World Fitness Finals. Tour Events last three days with six workouts. The Finals in Copenhagen (December 18-21) features nine workouts across four days.
Athletes earn points from each competition throughout the season. The top 20 men and women get Pro cards for the 2026 season. This clear pathway lets athletes advance through ranks based on how well they perform consistently.
WFP Challenger Qualifier 1 Workouts
The WFP Challenge Qualifier 1 features three well-crafted workouts that challenge athletes in multiple fitness areas. Athletes can demonstrate their abilities through different challenges within a one-week submission window from March 19-25.
Workout 1: Endurance and Transition Speed
This 20-minute AMRAP includes:
- 20/15 calorie row (men/women)
- 20 lateral burpees over the rower
- 40 shuttle runs (7.6m per rep)
Athletes need to complete as many rounds and reps as possible. Their final score shows the total work completed. The workout includes a strategic tiebreaker that gets recorded after the third round.
Workout 2: Skill Progression Under Fatigue
Athletes must complete this time-capped challenge:
- 150 double-unders
- 30.4m farmer hold walking lunges (22.5/15kg dumbbells)
- 45 pull-ups
- 120 double-unders
- 30.4m front rack walking lunges
- 30 chest-to-bar pull-ups
- 90 double-unders
- 30.4m double overhead walking lunges
- 15 bar muscle-ups
This workout has a 15-minute time cap and tests higher skill movements as muscle fatigue builds up.
Workout 3: Two-Part Technical Challenge
The final test combines two connected parts:
Part A (7-minute cap): Five rounds of 15.2m handstand walks (two unbroken segments) and 10 heavy deadlifts (143/102kg).
Part B (after 2-minute rest): A 5-minute AMRAP starts with 15 wall walk complexes (wall walk + handstand push-up). Athletes then perform maximum cleans (102/70kg) in the time left.
Each part needs a separate score and has its own tiebreakers.
Athletes must submit an unedited video that shows their complete performance. The video needs to verify weights and display all movements clearly against a running clock. Each workout offers up to 100 points, and final rankings depend on total points from all three tests.
Strategic Approaches for Each WFP Workout
Raw fitness alone won’t get you through the WFP Challenge Qualifier 1. Athletes need smart tactics for each workout to improve their placement and boost their chances to qualify.
The first workout is a 20-minute AMRAP with rowing, burpees, and shuttle runs. Smart pacing is key here. Going too hard too early will hurt your performance, so keep moving steadily through all twenty minutes. The rowing section gives you a great chance to rack up calories faster than other movements. Athletes should row for calories instead of using the typical long, slow pulls used for distance rowing. This quick way helps maximize your total rep count.
Workout 2 needs careful planning as you tackle progressively harder gymnastics elements. You’ll move from standard pull-ups to chest-to-bar pull-ups and finally to muscle-ups, so save your grip strength and shoulders. The walking lunges get tougher too – starting with farmer’s carry, then front rack, and finishing with overhead position. Pace yourself well or you’ll burn out before hitting the technical gymnastics moves.
The two-part structure of Workout 3 needs smart effort distribution. Part A requires a steady pace through handstand walks and heavy deadlifts, knowing you’ll get two minutes rest before Part B. Quick completion of fifteen wall walk complexes in Part B leaves more time for cleans, where you can really boost your score.
Mental toughness matters just as much as physical strategy in all workouts. The “Fight Gone Bad” style keeps you working non-stop, and you’ll need grit especially when fatigue hits hard in those final minutes.
Athletes should check movement standards carefully to qualify. Set up your equipment right and make sure your video submission shows everything clearly. The best strategy combines maximum reps with sustainable pacing through these three tough tests.
Movement Standards and Common Pitfalls
The World Fitness Project has clear guidelines for each workout. Athletes face specific penalties that substantially affect their performance and ranking when they violate these standards.
Judges call “no-reps” during live competitions when movements don’t meet required standards. Athletes must repeat these repetitions. Too many no-reps lead to time or rep penalties based on the workout structure. A 15-second penalty applies to athletes who start before the official signal.
Online submissions face stricter scrutiny. Video review judges check each movement carefully and mark no-reps with designated penalties. Online competitions differ as false starts make the score invalid instead of just adding time penalties. This shows why athletes must follow countdown protocols exactly when they record submissions.
The WFP requires all judges who review OCQ submissions and officiate Pro and Challenger Divisions to be members of the Association of Fitness Judges or similar WFP-approved organizations. These certified officials ensure fair and precise scoring based on specific workout criteria.
Athletes often get no-reps for these common mistakes:
- Short range of motion in gymnastic movements
- Poor body position during handstand walks
- Broken movement patterns in complex sequences
- Bad video angles that stop judges from checking standards
The WFP rulebook has an “Uncommon Movement Clause” that lets judges reject any irregular movement or changes to accepted standards. Athletes should tell judges about any non-standard movements before they start.
Proper form and full range of motion help competitors avoid penalties and injuries. Quick fixes might boost performance temporarily. Yet athletes who stick to movement standards end up with better long-term results in strength, mobility, and competitive standing.
Preparing Yourself for Challenger Qualifier 1 Workouts
Physical preparation is a vital part of succeeding in the WFP Challenger Qualifier 1 workouts. Athletes need to complete all qualifying workouts in a specific week. Their physical conditioning must be on point to handle everything these three tests throw at them.
The timeline is tight. Athletes must use their energy wisely when attempting workouts multiple times. They have exactly seven days from March 19 to submit all scores and videos. Recovery between attempts becomes just as important as the actual performances.
Many top athletes in the WFP Challenge Qualifier 1 are getting ready for other competitions too. This creates some unique training hurdles. The coaches who work with athletes doing both CrossFit Games and WFP events say their athletes will compete “considerably more, likely double” compared to previous seasons. Smart training cycles become key to avoid burning out.
Here’s what to focus on for the best physical preparation:
- Build metabolic capacity: Workout 1 lasts 20 minutes. Better aerobic output through heart training helps keep performance steady
- Improve technical efficiency: Workout 2 moves through harder gymnastics elements. You need smooth transitions between skills when tired
- Work on position-specific strength: Workout 3 combines handstand walks and heavy lifting. This needs special strength work
Each video submission must be “one continuous shot” that shows everything from when athletes introduce themselves until they finish. Athletes should practice their workouts with camera setup in mind.
The World Fitness Project format puts unique demands on the body. Tour Events pack six workouts into three days. Finals ramp up to nine workouts over four days. Athletes must train their recovery abilities as much as their work capacity.
Good movement mechanics matter throughout all workouts. This helps athletes score better and stay injury-free, especially when they try multiple submissions during qualification week.
Final Words
The competition tests athletes with three intense WFP workouts: Success in the WFP Challenge Qualifier 1 requires more than raw fitness—strategic execution is key. Athletes must complete all workouts within a set week, ensuring their conditioning is sharp to handle the demands of each test.