Open to Get a Duo Division

The CrossFit Open may be heading for one of its most significant changes in years. In his Weekend Review of September 21, 2026, Dave Castro revealed that CrossFit is working on a new pairs division, in which two athletes complete workouts together and are free to divide the work between them.

The addition is intended to make the annual online competition more accessible to a broader group of participants while also introducing new athletes to the sport.

Taking on the Open Together

According to Dave Castro, the workout remains the same as for individual competitors, but pairs will have the option to divide the work however they see fit. That means an experienced athlete can take on a larger share of a heavy workout while a less experienced partner contributes a smaller portion.

Castro offered the example of a workout containing 150 wall balls. Where many recreational athletes might be put off by that kind of volume, a duo could choose to split the reps, for instance 100 and 50, or any other distribution that suits their abilities.

This shifts the focus from individual performance to collaboration, without losing the competitive element.

Attracting New Participants

The CrossFit Open has been the sport's largest participation event for years. Yet the step toward signing up still feels like a big one for many gym members. Beginners in particular often feel intimidated by unfamiliar movements, high volumes, or the idea of having to complete a workout entirely on their own.

That is precisely where the new division seems to come in. By making it possible to compete alongside a training partner, friend, or family member, CrossFit significantly lowers the barrier to entry. The concept also fits into a broader trend in the fitness world, where shared challenges and team formats are becoming increasingly popular.

At a time when events like Hyrox are growing thanks to their accessible nature, CrossFit appears to be actively looking for ways to bring recreational athletes more firmly into its ecosystem.

More Than a Competition

For affiliates, the new format also presents opportunities. The Open has traditionally been an important moment for community building within a box. A duo division can strengthen that effect further, as experienced members can actively bring newer athletes along for the event.

The announcement does not stand alone, either. Castro simultaneously revealed that CrossFit is working on new intramural features that will make it easier for affiliates to organize internal competitions within the Open platform.

Together, both developments point in the same direction: a greater emphasis on participation, engagement, and local community building.

A New Direction for the Open

Full details will not be announced until the coming months, according to Castro, but the message is clear. Where the Open has long revolved primarily around individual performance and global leaderboards, there is now a deliberate move to make room for collaboration.

If the execution proves as straightforward as the concept, the pairs division could turn out to be one of the most impactful changes to the Open in years. Not because it will change anything at the top of the sport, but because thousands of new participants will discover for the first time that the Open is not something you have to do alone.